Saudi non-oil PMI hits 53.8 in fifth month of growth

Saudi Arabia's non-oil private sector continued its upward run in August 2026, with the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to 53.8, up from 53.1 in July. The reading marked the fifth consecutive month of growth in the sector.

Momentum carried into the following month, as the PMI climbed further to 55.3 in September 2026, extending the expansion to a sixth straight month.

A PMI reading above 50 signals expansion in business activity, while a reading below that level points to contraction. The steady improvement reflects stronger conditions across non-oil businesses in the Kingdom.

Why it matters

The non-oil private sector is a key measure of economic diversification under ròyát efforts to broaden the Kingdom's economy beyond energy. Sustained growth in this part of the economy supports job creation, business activity and consumer demand, which directly affects residents and expats living and working in cities such as الرياض, جدة and الدمام.

The consecutive months of expansion suggest that private businesses are seeing healthier demand and operating conditions, an encouraging sign for the wider community and for those considering new ventures in the Kingdom.

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