Saudi Arabia's economy expanded 3.0% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, The figures point to steady growth driven largely by activity outside the oil sector.
Non-oil activities grew 2.9% and contributed 1.7 percentage points to overall real GDP growth, underlining their expanding role in the national economy. Oil activities also rose 2.9%, while government activities increased 1.5% during the quarter.
On a quarterly basis, seasonally adjusted real GDP eased 1.2% compared with the fourth quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, GDP at current prices climbed 6.3% year-on-year to reach approximately SAR 1.27 trillion.
Why it matters
The continued strength of non-oil activities reflects the diversification goals set out under رؤية السعودية 2030, which aims to broaden the economy beyond energy. For residents and businesses across the Kingdom, sustained non-oil growth signals ongoing expansion in sectors such as retail, services, tourism and construction, which support jobs and investment opportunities.
The full GDP publication is available through the General Authority for Statistics official website for those seeking detailed sector breakdowns.
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