Saudi inflation holds steady at 2.3% in June 2025 as consumer and wholesale prices stabilise
On a monthly basis, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) also showed no significant movement, holding steady with a 0.2 per cent increase from May 2025.
The CPI tracks changes in the prices paid by consumers for a basket of 490 goods and services, compiled using data from the 2018 Household Income and Expenditure Survey.
Saudi inflation 2025
The Wholesale Price Index (WPI), which measures changes in prices at the producer level, remained relatively stable at 2.1 per cent year-on-year. However, it saw a slight monthly decline of 0.1 per cent in June.
Annual CPI (June 2025 vs June 2024): 2.3 per cent
Monthly CPI (June 2025 vs May 2025): 0.2 per cent
Annual WPI: 2.1 per cent
Monthly WPI change: -0.1 per cent
The stability in both consumer and wholesale prices suggests that the Kingdom is maintaining effective inflation control measures, even as other global economies continue to grapple with price volatility and cost-of-living concerns.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
7 hours ago
- The National
How the climate crisis is creating millions of refugees in the Middle East
• Remittance charges will be tackled by blockchain • UAE's monumental and risky Mars Mission to inspire future generations, says minister • Could the UAE drive India's economy? • News has a bright future and the UAE is at the heart of it • Architecture is over - here's cybertecture • The National announces Future of News journalism competition • Round up: Experts share their visions of the world to come
Zawya
10 hours ago
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia publishes new law allowing foreigners to own property
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has officially published the full details of its new law regulating real estate ownership by non-Saudis, following Cabinet approval earlier this month. The comprehensive law, released in the official gazette Umm Al-Qura on Friday, will take effect 180 days from publication and marks a major overhaul in the Kingdom's approach to foreign ownership of property. The new system grants non-Saudis — including individuals, companies, and non-profit entities — the right to own property or obtain other real rights over real estate within designated geographic zones to be determined by the Cabinet. These rights include usufruct (beneficial use), leaseholds, and other real estate interests, but will be subject to a range of controls and restrictions based on location, property type, and usage. The law preserves all real estate rights that were legally established for non-Saudis prior to the new regulation taking effect. However, it clearly states that ownership remains prohibited in certain locations and regions, notably in Makkah and Madinah, except under conditions for individual Muslim owners. A key provision in the law requires the Council of Ministers — upon a proposal by the Real Estate General Authority and with the approval of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs — to define the allowable zones for foreign ownership and set upper limits on ownership percentages and durations for usufruct rights. Foreign individuals legally residing in Saudi Arabia may own one residential property outside restricted areas for personal housing purposes. This does not apply to Makkah and Madinah. The regulation also includes provisions for corporate ownership. Non-listed companies with foreign shareholders, as well as investment funds and licensed special-purpose entities, will be permitted to acquire real estate throughout the Kingdom, including in Makkah and Madinah, provided the ownership supports operational needs or employee housing. Listed companies and investment vehicles may also acquire property in line with Saudi financial market regulations. Diplomatic missions and international organizations can also own premises for official use and residence of their representatives, subject to Foreign Ministry approval and reciprocity conditions. To ensure compliance, non-Saudi entities must register with the competent authority before acquiring property. Ownership or real rights become valid only after formal registration in the national real estate registry. The law introduces a real estate transfer fee of up to 5% for transactions involving non-Saudis, and outlines a penalty framework for violations. Sanctions include fines up to SR10 million and, in severe cases such as falsified information, the forced sale of the property with proceeds remitted to the state after deductions. A dedicated committee under the Real Estate General Authority will be formed to investigate violations and impose penalties. Decisions of this committee can be appealed to the administrative courts within 60 days. Additionally, the law repeals a prior rule that prohibited GCC citizens from owning property in Makkah and Madinah, effectively standardizing rules for all non-Saudi entities under a single framework. The executive regulations, which will detail implementation mechanisms and specify geographic boundaries and conditions, are expected to be issued within six months. The new law replaces the previous foreign property ownership legislation issued under Royal Decree No. M/15 in 2000. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
11 hours ago
- Zawya
Al-Sager: Our strong operational performance continued, with robust profits
Vice Chairman and Group CEO Speaks on the Sidelines of the 1H2025 Analysts' Conference Call Our loan portfolio recorded Strong growth, both in Kuwait and through our international operations Our regional and global footprint continues to play a key role in mitigating risks and sustaining earnings stability Confident in our ability to navigate challenges, we draw strength from our resilience and strategic investments in technology The outlook for project activity in Kuwait remains promising, with positive momentum expected to continue Effective capital planning remains a top priority to ensure we are aligned with our long-term growth objectives Focusing on year-end dividend distribution gives us the flexibility to capitalize on growth opportunities as they arise Our commitment to sustainability remains steadfast as we make meaningful progress on our sustainable finance roadmap Ronghe: The Group maintains strong operating momentum, fueled by robust growth in business volumes Sustained strength in our loan portfolio reflects high asset quality and prudent diversification strategy Mr. Isam Al-Sager, Vice Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), stated that the Bank reported a net profit of KD 315.3 million for the first half of 2025, marking a 7.8% increase from KD 292.4 million in the corresponding period of 2024. Speaking on the sidelines of the analysts' conference call for the first-half 2025 results, Al-Sager highlighted that profit before tax surged by 17.0% year-on-year, reaching KD 401.5 million in the first six months of the year. He explained that the new tax regime weighed on profitability, with the effective tax rate rising to 16.0% in the first half of 2025, up from 9.2% in the first half of 2024. Al-Sager added that the Bank's pre-tax profit was further supported by the release of provisions for credit and impairment losses amounting to KD 10 million, compared to a charge of KD 43 million in the six-month period ended June 30, 2024. 'Our returns remained robust, with Return on Average Assets reaching (ROAA) 1.52% and Return on Average Equity (ROAE) standing at 15.1% for the period', Al-Sager said. He explained that the Bank is confident in its ability to adapt and maintain its leadership in the local market, highlighting its readiness to navigate economic headwinds and emerge even stronger, supported by its resilience, continued investment in technology and innovation, and steadfast commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its customers. Dividend Distribution Policy Regarding the dividend distribution policy, Al-Sager stated that NBK's approach remains unchanged, maintaining a sustainable framework that strikes a balance between delivering attractive shareholder returns and prudently managing capital ratios. He added that the Bank continues to prioritize effective capital planning to ensure capital levels align with its future growth ambitions, an approach it has consistently upheld and will continue to follow going forward. Al-Sager stressed that the Bank remains committed to its approved dividend policy, noting that in light of the strong growth in its loan portfolio both locally and internationally, the Bank has opted to retain interim profits until year-end, with a focus on year-end final dividend distribution. This approach provides greater flexibility to capitalize on growth opportunities as they emerge throughout the year, in alignment with the Bank's strategic priorities. He pointed out that NBK's regional and international presence plays a vital role in mitigating risks, sustaining stable returns, and enhancing operational efficiency. Furthermore, he added that the Bank remains focused on leveraging cross-selling opportunities across its diverse geographical footprint. At the same time, its wealth management arm will continue to capitalize on deep expertise to deliver a comprehensive suite of portfolio management, advisory services, and investment solutions. Meanwhile, the Bank's Islamic banking services will further strengthen their local footprint while diversifying sources of profitability. Projects Market Momentum Al-Sager emphasized that following a strong year of project market activity in 2024, particularly in the second half of the year, the pace of activity moderated slightly during the first half of 2025. He noted that this moderation largely reflects a normalization from the elevated levels seen last year. Nonetheless, the outlook remains encouraging, supported by a pipeline of ongoing projects valued at KD 10 billion, signaling the government's continued commitment to advancing its development and reform agenda. Al-Sager affirmed the Bank's ongoing commitment to sustainability and the advancement of its sustainable finance agenda, highlighting the recent publication of its first Green Bond Allocation and Impact Report, as well as its inaugural TCFD Report. These disclosures underscore NBK's efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in its ESG and sustainable finance strategy. They also reflect the Bank's significant progress in integrating climate considerations across its operations, with a strong emphasis on portfolio diversification and climate risk management. Meanwhile, Mr. Sujit Ronghe, Group Chief Financial Officer at NBK, stated that the Group continues to demonstrate strong operational momentum, driven by robust growth in business volumes, most notably across the loan and investment portfolios. He added that the Group continues to benefit from the strength of its loan portfolio, which demonstrates high asset quality and a well-considered diversification of growth sources. Ronghe explained that key business segments made strong contributions to net profit in the first half of 2025, highlighting their effectiveness as core pillars of the Group's diversification strategy and their role in reinforcing profit resilience. He stressed that NBK Group continues to leverage its unique competitive advantages among Kuwaiti banks, particularly its broad geographic footprint and its ability to operate across both conventional and Islamic banking. Amid growing concerns over the impact of the ongoing tariff war and its implications for the global business landscape, Ronghe explained that NBK remains well-positioned to navigate this volatile environment, a testament to the strength and resilience of its diversified business model. Regarding the catalysts for loan growth during the first half of 2025, Ronghe stated that corporate credit was the primary driver, emphasizing that demand was not concentrated in any single geographic area. Instead, it was well distributed across NBK's network, including the GCC region, international markets, and Boubyan Bank.
