Saudi Arabia's Budget Deficit Exceeds $65 Billion
The Saudi Ministry of Finance revealed that the Kingdom's budget deficit rose during the first nine months of 2026 to about $65.15 billion, equivalent to 244.3 billion Saudi riyals.
The budget performance report issued by the Ministry of Finance for the third quarter of 2026 showed total revenues of 259 billion riyals, against expenditures of 343 billion riyals, recording a fiscal balance deficit of 84 billion riyals.
The report showed that total expenditures exceeded revenues by a margin of 84 billion riyals during the reporting period, reflecting continued government spending on development projects and programs within the objectives of Vision 2030, according to the ministry.
Thus, the Kingdom records a budget deficit for the third quarter of the current year amounting to 84.3 billion riyals (about $22.5 billion), having previously recorded a deficit of 34.3 billion riyals (about $9.1 billion) in the second quarter, and 125.7 billion riyals (about $33.5 billion) in the first quarter.
Source: Open Sources
