Saudi Arabia’s revenue rises to $336bn in 2024 as non-oil income surges 

The rise in revenues was primarily fueled by a surge in non-oil income, which accounted for 40 percent of total revenues and reached SR502.47 billion, reflecting a 9.78 percent year-on-year increase. File
The rise in revenues was primarily fueled by a surge in non-oil income, which accounted for 40 percent of total revenues and reached SR502.47 billion, reflecting a 9.78 percent year-on-year increase. File
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Updated 13 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s revenue rises to $336bn in 2024 as non-oil income surges 

Saudi Arabia’s revenue rises to $336bn in 2024 as non-oil income surges 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total government revenues reached SR1.26 trillion ($336 billion) in 2024, marking a 4 percent increase from the previous year and exceeding the initial budget estimates by 7 percent, the latest official data showed. 

According to the budget performance report released by the Ministry of Finance on Thursday, total expenditures stood at SR1.37 trillion, reflecting a 6 percent annual increase, while the budget deficit widened to SR115.63 billion — up 43 percent from 2023 but in line with projections. 

The rise in revenues was primarily fueled by a surge in non-oil income, which accounted for 40 percent of total revenues and reached SR502.47 billion, reflecting a 9.78 percent year-on-year increase. 

Taxes on goods and services accounted for the largest portion of non-oil revenues, comprising 57.5 percent of the total and increasing by 10.03 percent from 2023. 

Other major sources included non-tax revenues at SR121.94 billion, other taxes at SR35.65 billion, taxes on income, profits, and capital gains at SR31.57 billion, and taxes on international trade and transactions at SR24.5 billion, representing a 4.88 percent share in 2024.  

Despite oil remaining the dominant revenue source, its share of total government income declined from 62.24 percent in 2023 to 60 percent in 2024, with revenues from crude oil and petroleum products reaching SR756.62 billion.  

The decline in oil revenues in 2024 was largely attributed to Saudi Arabia’s commitment to production cuts in line with OPEC+ agreements aimed at stabilizing global oil markets.   

Despite this, the Kingdom remains on an expansionary fiscal path, with increased government spending supporting Vision 2030 initiatives. 

The rise in expenditures reflects sustained investment in infrastructure, economic diversification, and social development projects. 

While the budget deficit widened, it remains within expectations and at a manageable level relative to GDP. 

Saudi Arabia continues to uphold a strong fiscal position, reinforced by prudent debt management and favorable credit ratings. The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the National Debt Management Center, follows a comprehensive borrowing strategy that ensures long-term sustainability by diversifying financing sources across domestic and international markets. 

The government has also expanded its financing channels through sukuk and bond issuances, project-based funding, and partnerships with export credit agencies. 

These measures, combined with substantial financial reserves, position Saudi Arabia to navigate economic fluctuations while sustaining strategic investments. 

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fiscal reforms, emphasizing economic diversification and private sector empowerment as key pillars of long-term financial stability. 

Despite global economic uncertainties, the Kingdom remains well-positioned to drive regional and global economic growth.   

Breakdown of expenditures 

Saudi Arabia’s total government spending grew 6 percent year on year, reaching SR1.37 trillion. Employee compensation remained the largest expenditure category, rising by 4 percent to SR558.92 billion. 

Spending on goods and services followed, comprising 24 percent of total expenditures at SR311.25 billion. Non-financial assets capital expenditures, known as CAPEX, accounted for 14 percent of total spending, amounting to SR190.6 billion. 

In the fourth quarter of 2024, government expenditures reached SR360.52 billion, marking a 9 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2023. 

Despite the rise in the budget deficit, the Kingdom’s fiscal performance remained in line with expectations, demonstrating resilience in non-oil revenue growth and continued commitment to economic diversification under Vision 2030. 

In the fourth quarter of 2024, total revenues stood at SR302.86 billion, reflecting a 15 percent drop compared to the same period in 2023 due to lower oil revenues. 

Oil income fell by 31 percent year on year, while revenues from non-oil activities saw a notable 21 percent increase during the same period, according to Ministry data.

Public debt and fiscal management 

Saudi Arabia’s public debt rose to SR1.22 trillion by the end of 2024, a 16 percent increase from the previous year. Domestic debt accounted for 61 percent of the total, while foreign debt made up the remaining 39 percent. 

Public debt has been strategically leveraged to finance large-scale projects and initiatives that are central to Vision 2030, such as infrastructure development, diversification of the economy, and investments in non-oil sectors.

The sustained demand for Saudi debt on the international market also underscores the country’s solid credit ratings and fiscal policies that continue to attract global investors.

This rise in public debt is being managed prudently by the government, which has been focused on ensuring that borrowing supports growth without overstretching fiscal limits.

Furthermore, the Saudi authorities have undertaken reforms to ensure that debt levels do not adversely affect the country’s fiscal health, and that it is being used to generate long-term returns through infrastructure and economic diversification.


Saudi Aramco lifts crude prices for Asian buyers

Saudi Aramco lifts crude prices for Asian buyers
Updated 06 August 2025
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Saudi Aramco lifts crude prices for Asian buyers

Saudi Aramco lifts crude prices for Asian buyers

RIYADH: Saudi Aramco has increased the official selling price of its flagship Arab Light crude for Asian buyers in September.

The state-owned energy giant raised the Arab Light price by $1 per barrel from August to a premium of $3.20 over the average of Oman and Dubai crude benchmarks, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday. Prices for Arab Extra Light rose by $1.20 per barrel, while Arab Heavy gained $0.70.

In North America, Aramco set the September OSP for Arab Light at $4.20 per barrel above the Argus Sour Crude Index. The company prices its crude across five density-based grades: Super Light (above 40), Arab Extra Light (36-40), Arab Light (32-36), Arab Medium (29-32), and Arab Heavy (below 29).

Aramco’s monthly pricing decisions influence around 9 million barrels per day of crude exports to Asia and act as a benchmark for other major producers, including Iran, Kuwait, and Iraq. The adjustments are based on feedback from refiners and an assessment of crude value changes, product prices, and yields.

The price revisions come as the OPEC+ alliance agreed earlier this week to increase collective oil production by 547,000 barrels per day in September, citing improved global economic prospects and stable market fundamentals.

This move concludes the phased reversal of 2.2 million bpd in voluntary cuts introduced by eight members in 2023 to stabilize prices amid economic uncertainty.

The group reaffirmed its commitment to full compliance with the Declaration of Cooperation, with the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee continuing oversight.

The September hike will raise Saudi Arabia’s output to 9.97 million bpd. Russia is set to produce 9.44 million bpd, Iraq 4.22 million, and the UAE 3.37 million. Output targets for Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman are projected at 2.54 million, 1.55 million, 959,000, and 801,000 bpd, respectively.


Syria signs $14bn in investment deals, including airport and subway projects

Syria signs $14bn in investment deals, including airport and subway projects
Updated 06 August 2025
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Syria signs $14bn in investment deals, including airport and subway projects

Syria signs $14bn in investment deals, including airport and subway projects

CAIRO: Syria signed 12 investment deals worth $14 billion on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, including infrastructure, transportation and real estate projects aimed at reviving the war-damaged economy.

The agreements included a $4 billion deal for building a new airport in Damascus signed with Qatar’s UCC holding, and a $2 billion deal to establish a subway in the Syrian capital with the UAE’s national investment corporation.

Other major developments include the $2 billion Damascus Towers project signed with Italy-based UBAKO.

In July, Syria signed $6.4 billion of investments with Saudi Arabia as it seeks to rebuild after a 14-year civil war.

 


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 10,946 

Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 10,946 
Updated 06 August 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 10,946 

Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 10,946 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index edged up on Wednesday, gaining 24.89 points, or 0.23 percent, to close at 10,946.74. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index stood at SR4.80 billion ($1.27 billion), with 169 listed stocks advancing and 78 declining. 

However, the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu declined by 143.18 points to close at 26,709.64 

The MSCI Tadawul Index also recorded a modest gain, rising 0.12 percent to reach 1,410.12. 

The top performer on the main market was Shatirah House Restaurant Co., whose share price rose 10 percent to SR16.83. 

The company reported a 19.3 percent year-on-year increase in revenue for the first half of 2025, reaching SR83.81 million, up from SR70.26 million in the same period last year.

However, operating profit dropped nearly 30 percent to SR1.41 million, while net profit declined by 24.6 percent to SR1.07 million. 

The share price of Abdullah Saad Mohammed Abo Moati for Bookstores Co. also rose 10 percent to SR41.80. 

Jadwa REIT Al Haramain Fund saw its stock price increase by 5.62 percent to SR5.83. 

On the other hand, Riyadh Cement Co. witnessed a drop in its share price by 2.79 percent to SR31.40. 

In corporate announcements, Dr. Soliman Abdel Kader Fakeeh Hospital Co., known as Fakeeh Care, reported a 24.1 percent year-on-year rise in revenue for the second quarter of 2025, reaching SR811.84 million, compared to SR654.04 million in the corresponding period last year. 

In a statement on Tadawul, the company also announced that its net profit jumped 59 percent year on year in the second quarter to SR68.2 million, driven by strong underlying business growth across segments, lower finance costs, and higher finance income. 

Fakeeh Care’s share price climbed 2.35 percent to SR40.98. 

Herfy Food Services Co. reported revenue of SR284.56 million in the second quarter of 2025, marking a 5.5 percent decline compared to SR301.12 million in the same period of 2024. 

Despite the drop in sales, the company recorded a net profit of SR899,934 in the second quarter, reversing a net loss of SR23.7 million a year earlier.

The improvement was attributed to lower general and administrative expenses, reduced finance and zakat costs, despite increased selling and marketing expenses. 

Herfy’s share price rose 3.55 percent to SR23.65. 

Edarat Communication and Information Technology Co., also known as Edarat, posted a 31.6 percent year-on-year increase in net profit for the first half of 2025, reaching SR15.24 million, up from SR11.58 million a year earlier. 

The growth was driven by a 35.4 percent rise in gross profit, which reached SR27.9 million in the first half of 2025. 

Improved cost efficiency also played a role, with administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue declining from 17.56 percent in the first half of 2024 to 13.8 percent in the same period this year. 

Edarat’s share price fell 3.42 percent to SR240. 

Arabian Centers Co., known as Cenomi Centers, recorded a 34.2 percent year-on-year increase in net profit for the second quarter of 2025, reaching SR474.7 million, compared to SR353.8 million in the same period last year.

The rise in earnings was attributed to a 7.7 percent reduction in cost of revenue due to operational cost optimization, as well as a boost in other operating income, which reached SR14.2 million following the sale of land in Al Kharj. 

Cenomi Centers’ share price advanced 5.38 percent to SR21.56. 


Egypt’s exports increase 4.6% in May to $4.25bn

Egypt’s exports increase 4.6% in May to $4.25bn
Updated 06 August 2025
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Egypt’s exports increase 4.6% in May to $4.25bn

Egypt’s exports increase 4.6% in May to $4.25bn
  • Petroleum product exports rose by 53.5%
  • Egypt’s trade deficit narrowed to $3.41 billion

RIYADH: Egypt’s exports rose by 4.6 percent year-on-year in May to reach $4.25 billion, supported by a significant uptick in petroleum products and ready-made garments.

The latest monthly bulletin released by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics showed that petroleum product exports rose by 53.5 percent, while overseas sales of ready-made garments climbed by 32.8 percent.

Egypt saw export growth in pasta and various food preparations, up by 21.7 percent, along with raw forms of plastics, which increased by 5.7 percent.

Egypt’s latest trade figures come amid currency pressures, inflation, and shifting global demand, with policymakers focusing on boosting exports and curbing non-essential imports to stabilize reserves and improve the balance of payments.

The North African nation’s trade performance reflects broader trends in global commerce as regional economies, including Egypt, work to diversify export markets and enhance manufacturing competitiveness.

Egypt’s trade deficit narrowed to $3.41 billion in May, down from $4.15 billion in the same month of 2024, according to CAPMAS.

In parallel, imports fell by 6.7 percent to $7.66 billion, compared to $8.21 billion in the previous year, driven by lower purchases across several categories.

Sector highlights

While fertilizer exports declined by 48 percent, and fresh fruit exports dropped by 4 percent, other categories also saw downturns. These included fresh onions, which fell by 3.2 percent, and non-crude petroleum oils, which recorded a 48.3 percent drop.

On the import side, Egypt reduced its purchases of petroleum products by 34 percent, raw materials of iron or steel by 20.3 percent, primary plastics by 15.9 percent, and iron or steel chemical materials by 18.9 percent.

Despite the overall decline in imports, the report highlighted notable increases in some sectors. Natural gas imports surged by 93 percent, while pharmaceutical preparations rose by 19.1 percent. Imports of wood and related products climbed by 17.7 percent, and passenger cars increased by 14.5 percent.

The trade developments come as Egypt continues to implement policies aimed at boosting industrial output and optimizing its trade balance through import substitution and export expansion.


Turkiye and Syria establish joint business council to deepen economic ties 

Turkiye and Syria establish joint business council to deepen economic ties 
Updated 06 August 2025
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Turkiye and Syria establish joint business council to deepen economic ties 

Turkiye and Syria establish joint business council to deepen economic ties 

RIYADH: Turkiye and Syria have agreed to establish a joint business council to foster economic collaboration and facilitate trade and investment between the two countries. 

The new platform will operate under the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkiye and aims to strengthen cooperation between public and private sectors, focusing on rebuilding economic ties and supporting Syria’s reconstruction efforts, the Syrian Arab News Agency, also known as SANA, reported. 

The establishment of the council comes on the heels of growing economic cooperation between Turkiye and Syria. Recently, both countries signed a memorandum enabling direct international road transport, eliminating the need for cargo transshipment at the border. 

This move is expected to streamline trade routes and integrate Syria into regional logistics corridors via the Middle Corridor toward Gulf states. Additionally, as of Aug. 2, Turkiye began supplying Syria with 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 1,000 megawatts of electricity, with Azerbaijan and Qatar as partners. 

“In a joint statement issued in Ankara, the two sides affirmed that the Foreign Economic Relations Board will contribute to strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors of the two countries,” SANA reported, adding: “They will also work to strengthen Syrian customs gates and their infrastructure, improve procedures at customs gates, and enhance cooperation between the two countries’ customs authorities.” 

The announcement follows the signing of two key agreements: the Protocol on the Establishment of the Turkiye-Syria Joint Economic and Trade Committee and a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Administrative Development and Governance. 

These accords are designed to deepen bilateral economic relations by addressing trade volume, investment opportunities, and collaborative infrastructure projects. 

SANA reported that discussions during the Turkish-Syrian roundtable in Ankara focused on “ways and mechanisms to develop a roadmap for strategic economic and trade cooperation, which will positively reflect on the economic reality in both countries.”  

The agency added that more than 10 agreements were signed between institutions in the two countries. 

The Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar and the Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir also signed an agreement to support joint projects, and exchange expertise in the fields of industrial development and modern technology. 

According to Turkiye’s state-run Anadolu Agency, during the inter-delegation meetings “cooperation opportunities in a range of areas, from bilateral trade volume and investments to the reconstruction of Syria and logistics infrastructure projects were discussed.” 

Both sides are seeking to build on “historical ties, shared history and culture, and mutual interests between Turkiye and Syria,” the agency reported.