Manufacturing and trade drive 5% rise in Saudi operating revenue

21/01/2026 05:17 AST

Saudi Arabia's Operating Revenue Index rose 5 percent year on year in November, supported by growth in manufacturing, trade and construction, official data showed.

In its latest report, the General Authority for Statistics noted that the rise was "supported by an increase in manufacturing activities by 6.5 percent," while wholesale and retail trade, including the repair of motor vehicles, increased by 9.5 percent.

Construction activity expanded 7.4 percent, while financial activities grew 14.4 percent and insurance activities rose 8.6 percent.

The data underline the Kingdom's broader economic diversification drive under Vision 2030, with non-oil activities such as manufacturing, construction, finance and trade continuing to expand and contribute a larger share to overall economic activity.

On a monthly basis, the index fell 1.2 percent from October, according to the preliminary figures released by GASTAT, pointing to uneven momentum across sectors at the end of the year.

The fall was attributed to weaker performance in some sectors, including a 3.8 percent decrease in mining and quarrying activities and a 25.8 percent drop in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply activities.

In the labor market, the Employees Compensation Index recorded strong annual growth, rising 13.6 percent compared to November 2024. The increase was supported by an 18.8 percent rise in manufacturing activities and a 10.5 percent increase in wholesale and retail trade activities.

On a monthly basis, employee compensation edged up 0.1 percent, reflecting modest gains across several sectors.

Indicators linked to construction activity also strengthened. The number of issued building permits increased 28.4 percent year on year in November 2025, reaching 8,034, compared to 6,258 in the same month a year earlier.

The surge in building permits indicates robust investment in physical infrastructure, a key pillar of Saudi Vision 2030, while rising wages support its aim of improving citizen prosperity.

The report stated this was "a result of the increase in the number of issued building permits during November." Furthermore, permits showed strong momentum from the previous month, increasing by 7.7 percent compared to October 2025.

Arab News