Saudi Arabia’s Operating Revenue Index rose 11.4 percent year‑on‑year in May, led by robust gains in mining and quarrying and in manufacturing, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) reported, signaling resilient business activity across the Kingdom.
GASTAT data showed mining and quarrying recorded the largest annual increase at 38.7 percent, while manufacturing climbed 9.6 percent. Financial and insurance activities grew 12.9 percent year‑on‑year, wholesale and retail trade including motor‑vehicle repair rose 3.6 percent, and construction expanded 2.5 percent.
These results highlight continuing momentum as Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda. In June, GASTAT said the Kingdom’s real gross domestic product expanded by 3 percent year‑on‑year in the first quarter of 2026, with both oil and non‑oil sectors each contributing 2.9 percent growth, illustrating the recovery’s broad base.
GASTAT added: “On a monthly basis, the Operating Revenues Index increased by 2.9 percent, affected by a 0.6 percent increase in manufacturing activities, a 10.2 percent increase in mining and quarrying activities, a 1.3 percent increase in wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles activities, and increases of 1.1 percent and 1.9 percent in financial and insurance activities and information and communication activities, respectively.”
Other sectors also posted notable annual gains: transportation and storage rose 9.5 percent; arts, entertainment and recreation increased 9.1 percent; accommodation and food services grew 8.2 percent; real estate activities were up 5.8 percent; administrative and support services rose 5.5 percent; and information and communication increased 4.8 percent.
Employees Compensation Index
GASTAT reported the Employees Compensation Index (ECI) climbed 9.8 percent year‑on‑year in May, driven by gains across major industries. Manufacturing led the increases with an 11.4 percent rise, financial and insurance activities grew 12.8 percent, and wholesale and retail trade including motor‑vehicle repair rose 9.4 percent. Moreover, construction wages increased 7.6 percent and mining and quarrying compensation rose 5 percent.
Month‑on‑month, the ECI edged up 0.1 percent in May compared with April. The monthly rise was supported by wholesale and retail trade (0.5 percent), mining and quarrying (0.3 percent) and transportation and storage (0.1 percent). Information and communication and human health and social work activities increased by 0.7 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.
Building permits
Issued building permits declined 33.3 percent year‑on‑year in May, falling from 7,584 in May 2025 to 5,056. On a monthly basis, permits dropped 25.7 percent from April’s 6,803 to 5,056. While building activity softened during the month, the broader business sector continued to display strength.
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