logo
IMF raises Saudi Arabia's 2025 growth forecast to 3.6%

IMF raises Saudi Arabia's 2025 growth forecast to 3.6%

Saudi Gazette4 days ago
Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its 2025 growth forecast for Saudi Arabia upward to 3.6%, a 0.6 percentage point increase from its April estimate, driven by expected gains in oil revenues and continued momentum in non-oil sectors.
In its latest World Economic Outlook released Tuesday, the IMF also raised Saudi Arabia's projected growth for 2026 to 3.9%, reflecting sustained economic reforms and diversification efforts under Vision 2030.
The updated projections place Saudi Arabia among the world's fastest-growing major economies for the year, following only India (6.4%) and China (4.8%).
The Kingdom's growth outlook also surpasses the Middle East and North Africa regional average, which is forecasted at 3.4% for 2025.
The IMF noted that the Kingdom's economic outlook is benefitting from a rebound in oil activity, coupled with the ongoing expansion of non-oil industries such as tourism, logistics, and manufacturing.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Four Directions Real Estate Development Company keeps pace with Saudi Arabia's urban transformation
Four Directions Real Estate Development Company keeps pace with Saudi Arabia's urban transformation

Arab News

timean hour ago

  • Arab News

Four Directions Real Estate Development Company keeps pace with Saudi Arabia's urban transformation

Vision 2030 is inspiring all sectors in the Kingdom to outperform each other and exceed their own objectives and targets. Tourism is already surpassing 130,000,000 visitors a year, on track to reach 150 million even before 2030, driven by a surge of mega events such as Expo 2030 Riyadh and the FIFA World Cup, along with a dynamic calendar of international expos and cultural celebrations. Meanwhile, the real estate sector is poised to make history with the recent announcements and regulatory changes coming into effect. Four Directions Real Estate Development Company is fully immersed in the vision of the Kingdom and positioning itself to move from being a pioneer in the industry to a leader in it by building highly sustainable and multifaceted communities. These communities draw from the rich cultural heritage of the Kingdom while achieving great value for its residents and generating highest-in-market returns for investors. Mohammed Al-Zarah, co-founder and CEO of Four Directions, emphasized the company's commitment to supporting the Kingdom's national transformation, saying: 'The rapid prosperity witnessed by the Kingdom opens wide horizons for reshaping cities with an authentic and contemporary identity. Our commitment at Four Directions goes beyond building; we believe in creating iconic, vibrant projects that draw inspiration from our cultural heritage and apply the best global practices.' Four Directions was established in 2014 with an ambitious vision to make a significant mark in the real estate development sector, adopting a strategy based on sustainability, innovation, and attracting smart investments. In a short period, it has successfully developed over 250,000 square meters of prime real estate, backed by investments exceeding SR1 billion ($266.58 million), and plans to expand its project scope to 1 million square meters by 2030. The company's current portfolio includes prominent, high-quality projects in Riyadh, such as: The company is working on current and future projects that support the 'Green Riyadh' and 'Quality of Life' programs, aiming to be at the forefront of entities contributing to shaping the Kingdom's urban future

Saudi Tourism Ministry launches e-service to boost accommodation capacity in Makkah and Madinah for Hajj 1447
Saudi Tourism Ministry launches e-service to boost accommodation capacity in Makkah and Madinah for Hajj 1447

Saudi Gazette

time2 hours ago

  • Saudi Gazette

Saudi Tourism Ministry launches e-service to boost accommodation capacity in Makkah and Madinah for Hajj 1447

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Tourism has launched a new e-service enabling operators of licensed hospitality facilities in Makkah and Madinah to apply for increased bed capacity during the upcoming Hajj season of 1447 AH, in line with approved procedures and requirements. The ministry said the initiative is part of its ongoing efforts to develop digital services and streamline procedures, enhancing operational efficiency and readiness in the hospitality sector to deliver the highest standards of service to pilgrims. The new service is also part of the ministry's early preparations for Hajj 1447 and its broader strategy to support licensed accommodation providers, improve service quality, and offer seamless and effective electronic solutions. The ministry aims to leverage its digital capabilities to ensure pilgrims' comfort and enable them to perform their spiritual journey with ease and peace of mind. Operators can access the service through the Tourism Activities Licensing Portal on the ministry's website.

TALCO exports 35% of production, eyes more going forward: CEO
TALCO exports 35% of production, eyes more going forward: CEO

Argaam

time3 hours ago

  • Argaam

TALCO exports 35% of production, eyes more going forward: CEO

Suliman Al-Oufi, CEO of Al Taiseer Group Talco Industrial Co. (TALCO) said that exports currently dominate more than 35% of the group's production, which reinforces target growth on such side. In an interview with Argaam, the top executive added that the company plans to increase this percentage over the coming period, backed by solid operating fundamentals and adaptability with market updates, thus maintaining its positive performance. He stated that TALCO continues to implement its long-term strategy, which focuses on promoting sustainable growth in vital sectors, expanding exports, and meeting the growing demand in local markets, in light of the accelerated implementation of projects under Vision 2030. The profit growth during the second quarter of 2025 reflects the company's strong operational performance, driven by an increase in sales volumes and a 16.4% increase in sales value, in addition to a 15.7% growth in other revenues, which boosted profitability, particularly in the project sales and export segments, according to the CEO. Al-Oufi also indicated that there was no pressure on operating income during the quarter, highlighting that the ratio of administrative and marketing expenses to sales improved compared to last year. He stated that the increase in revenues in Q2 2025 was spurred by sales growth in key segments, with sales in the aluminum segment rising by 5.5% and in the accessories segment by 2.8%. 'Rising global aluminum prices also boosted revenues, given the company's success in expanding its sales strategies to meet the growing demand from major projects and local and international customers,' Al-Oufi said. He clarified that aluminum segment recorded SAR 170.75 million sales in Q2 2025, compared to SAR 145.02 million in Q2 2024. The accessories segment also recorded sales of SAR 8 million, compared to SAR 7.94 million in the same period a year ago. As for the paints segment, he indicated that increased selling prices, coupled with higher sales volume, contributed to recording SAR 13.1 million sales in Q2 2025, compared to SAR 11.8 million in the same period of the previous year, which reflects the company's resilience in responding to market changes while maintaining quality. He further said that the growth in other revenues helped mitigate the impact of any provisions taken during the period, reflecting the company's ability to effectively manage costs and achieve operational efficiency while maintaining good profitability.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store