All economic activities recorded positive YoY growth in Q1 2026: GASTAT
Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 3% in the first quarter of 2026, compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). 
GASTAT earlier announced it adopted the moving chain methodology in calculating the real GDP and issued the Q4 2023 bulletin based on the new methodology, transitioning from the traditional fixed base-year methodology.
The moving chain methodology is a dynamic approach used to measure economic growth rates, specifically in estimating real growth rates for national accounts. This approach uses weights and prices from the year prior to the year of measurement to provide a measurement across contiguous time periods, accurately reflecting the current economic conditions of any country using this methodology.
According to the data, all economic activities recorded positive year-on-year (YoY) growth in Q1 2026. Oil activities rose 2.9%, while non-oil activities also increased 2.9%. Government activities expanded 1.5%.
GDP by Regulatory Sectors (Moving Chain Methodology) (SAR bln)
Sector
Q1 2025
Q1 2026
Change
Oil Activities
297.75
306.30
2.9%
Non-Oil Activities
670.36
689.54
2.9%
Government Activities
173.86
176.38
1.5%
Total Value Added
1143.17
1176.77
2.9%
Net Product Tax
63.35
65.93
4.1%
GDP
1206.5
1242.72
3.0%
By regulatory sectors, the oil sector expanded 2.8% YoY in Q1 2026, while the non-oil sector grew 2.6%. The private sector posted growth of 2.8%.
GDP byRegulatory Sectors(SAR bln)
Sector
Q1 2025
Q1 2026
Change (%)
Oil Sector
300.92
309.45
2.8%
Non-Oil Sector
840.99
862.58
2.6%
Government Sector
224.49
228.57
1.8%
Private Sector
616.51
634.03
2.8%
Gross Value-Added
1143.17
1176.77
2.9%
Net Taxes on Products
63.35
65.93
4.1%
GDP
1206.50
1242.72
3.0%
Meanwhile, GDP at current prices rose 6.3% YoY in Q1 2026 to SAR 1.27 trillion.
The non-oil sector expanded 4.1%, while the private sector grew 4.4%. Oil activities recorded a stronger increase of 12.1%.
GDP by Institutional Sector at Current Prices (SAR bln)*
Sector
Q1 2025
Q1 2026
Change (%)
Oil Sector
271.22
304.11
12.1%
Non-Oil Sector
864.31
899.89
4.1%
Government Sector
222.12
229.66
3.4%
Private Sector
642.20
670.23
4.4%
Gross Value-Added
1135.53
1204.00
6.0%
Net Taxes on Products
63.12
69.82
10.6%
GDP
1198.65
1273.82
6.3%
GDP Growth (Chain-Linking Methodology)
Period
QoQ with SeasonalAdjustments
YoY
Q1 2018
+0.2%
+2.7%
Q2 2018
+1.3%
+3.9%
Q3 2018
+0.4%
+3.1%
Q4 2018
+1.4%
+3.2%
Q1 2019
+0.2%
+2.8%
Q2 2019
(0.1%)
+1.7%
Q3 2019
(0.6%)
+1.4%
Q4 2019
+1.1%
+0.7%
Q1 2020
(2.2%)
(1.3%)
Q2 2020
(5.1%)
(7.3%)
Q3 2020
+2.5%
(3.7%)
Q4 2020
+1.9%
(2.9%)
Q1 2021
+1.6%
+1.7%
Q2 2021
+1.0%
+6.9%
Q3 2021
+4.1%
+8.5%
Q4 2021
+2.5%
+9.0%
Q1 2022
+4.2%
+11.2%
Q2 2022
+2.6%
+14.5%
Q3 2022
+2.3%
+13.0%
Q4 2022
+0.3%
+9.6%
Q1 2023
+0.04%
+5.5%
Q2 2023
(0.4%)
+2.7%
Q3 2023
(2.6%)
(2.6%)
Q4 2023
+0.3%
(3.0%)
Q1 2024
+2.6%
+0.4%
Q2 2024
+1.1%
+1.2%
Q3 2024
+0.4%
+3.9%
Q4 2024
+1.0%
+5.2%
Q1 2025
+1.1%
+3.6%
Q2 2025
+1.8%
+4.3%
Q3 2025
+1.2%
+5.2%
Q4 2025
+1.3%
+5.2%
Q1 2026
(1.2%)
+3.0%
All economic activities recorded positive YoY growth in Q1 2026: GASTAT
Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 3% in the first quarter of 2026, compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
GASTAT earlier announced it adopted the moving chain methodology in calculating the real GDP and issued the Q4 2023 bulletin based on the new methodology, transitioning from the traditional fixed base-year methodology.
The moving chain methodology is a dynamic approach used to measure economic growth rates, specifically in estimating real growth rates for national accounts. This approach uses weights and prices from the year prior to the year of measurement to provide a measurement across contiguous time periods, accurately reflecting the current economic conditions of any country using this methodology.
According to the data, all economic activities recorded positive year-on-year (YoY) growth in Q1 2026. Oil activities rose 2.9%, while non-oil activities also increased 2.9%. Government activities expanded 1.5%.
GDP by Regulatory Sectors (Moving Chain Methodology) (SAR bln)
Sector
Q1 2025
Q1 2026
Change
Oil Activities
297.75
306.30
2.9%
Non-Oil Activities
670.36
689.54
2.9%
Government Activities
173.86
176.38
1.5%
Total Value Added
1143.17
1176.77
2.9%
Net Product Tax
63.35
65.93
4.1%
GDP
1206.5
1242.72
3.0%
By regulatory sectors, the oil sector expanded 2.8% YoY in Q1 2026, while the non-oil sector grew 2.6%. The private sector posted growth of 2.8%.
GDP byRegulatory Sectors(SAR bln)
Sector
Q1 2025
Q1 2026
Change (%)
Oil Sector
300.92
309.45
2.8%
Non-Oil Sector
840.99
862.58
2.6%
Government Sector
224.49
228.57
1.8%
Private Sector
616.51
634.03
2.8%
Gross Value-Added
1143.17
1176.77
2.9%
Net Taxes on Products
63.35
65.93
4.1%
GDP
1206.50
1242.72
3.0%
Meanwhile, GDP at current prices rose 6.3% YoY in Q1 2026 to SAR 1.27 trillion.
The non-oil sector expanded 4.1%, while the private sector grew 4.4%. Oil activities recorded a stronger increase of 12.1%.
GDP by Institutional Sector at Current Prices (SAR bln)*
Sector
Q1 2025
Q1 2026
Change (%)
Oil Sector
271.22
304.11
12.1%
Non-Oil Sector
864.31
899.89
4.1%
Government Sector
222.12
229.66
3.4%
Private Sector
642.20
670.23
4.4%
Gross Value-Added
1135.53
1204.00
6.0%
Net Taxes on Products
63.12
69.82
10.6%
GDP
1198.65
1273.82
6.3%
GDP Growth (Chain-Linking Methodology)
Period
QoQ with SeasonalAdjustments
YoY
Q1 2018
+0.2%
+2.7%
Q2 2018
+1.3%
+3.9%
Q3 2018
+0.4%
+3.1%
Q4 2018
+1.4%
+3.2%
Q1 2019
+0.2%
+2.8%
Q2 2019
(0.1%)
+1.7%
Q3 2019
(0.6%)
+1.4%
Q4 2019
+1.1%
+0.7%
Q1 2020
(2.2%)
(1.3%)
Q2 2020
(5.1%)
(7.3%)
Q3 2020
+2.5%
(3.7%)
Q4 2020
+1.9%
(2.9%)
Q1 2021
+1.6%
+1.7%
Q2 2021
+1.0%
+6.9%
Q3 2021
+4.1%
+8.5%
Q4 2021
+2.5%
+9.0%
Q1 2022
+4.2%
+11.2%
Q2 2022
+2.6%
+14.5%
Q3 2022
+2.3%
+13.0%
Q4 2022
+0.3%
+9.6%
Q1 2023
+0.04%
+5.5%
Q2 2023
(0.4%)
+2.7%
Q3 2023
(2.6%)
(2.6%)
Q4 2023
+0.3%
(3.0%)
Q1 2024
+2.6%
+0.4%
Q2 2024
+1.1%
+1.2%
Q3 2024
+0.4%
+3.9%
Q4 2024
+1.0%
+5.2%
Q1 2025
+1.1%
+3.6%
Q2 2025
+1.8%
+4.3%
Q3 2025
+1.2%
+5.2%
Q4 2025
+1.3%
+5.2%
Q1 2026
(1.2%)
+3.0%
