Saudi unemployment falls on economic stimulus

A picture taken on March 16, 2021, shows workers in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in the Saudi capital Riyadh. (File/AFP)
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Updated 31 March 2021
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Saudi unemployment falls on economic stimulus

  • The Saudi General Authority of Statistics said total unemployment fell to 12.6 percent in the last quarter of 2020
  • Statistics chiefs also surveyed citizens to get a better sense of their work preferences

DUBAI: Saudi jobless numbers fell in the last quarter of 2020, new figures showed.

The Saudi General Authority of Statistics said total unemployment fell to 12.6 percent in the last quarter or 2020 compared to 14.9 percent in the previous quarter.

The unemployment rate among men fell to 4 percent from 4.4 over this period while for women the unemployment rate dropped to 20.2  percent from 24.6 percent.

While more women are entering the job market in the Kingdom, the figures reflect the still heavily male-dominated workplace.

Statistics chiefs also surveyed citizens to get a better sense of their work preferences.

It found that 93 percent of unemployed people would accept a private sector position but more than three quarters of women and more than half of unemployed men would only accept private sector work if it involved a commute of an hour or less.

The Authority attributed the overall drop in unemployment to ongoing economic stimulus measures in the Kingdom, Al-Arabiya TV reported.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red; Nomu gains

Updated 06 January 2026
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red; Nomu gains

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index continued its downward trend on Tuesday, as it shed 34.44 points or 0.33 percent to close at 10,290.76. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index stood at SR3.57 billion ($950 million), with 80 of the listed stocks advancing and 178 declining. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu advanced by 0.43 percent or 100.66 points to close at 23,327.60. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index, however, declined by 0.19 percent to 1,368.49. 

The best-performing stock on the main market was Almasane Alkobra Mining Co., as its share price increased by 7.83 percent to SR95. 

The share price of Electrical Industries Co. advanced by 6.17 percent to SR11.18. 

Saudi Arabian Mining Co., known as Maaden, also saw its stock price climb by 5.74 percent to SR64.50. 

Conversely, the share price of Shatirah House Restaurant Co. declined by 8.14 percent to SR8.13. 

On the announcements front, Saudi Telecom Co. said that it plans to issue a dollar-denominated international sukuk under its $5 billion International Trust Certificate Issuance program.

According to a Tadawul statement, the issuance program was set up on Jan. 6, following a board approval obtained on Sept. 30. 

Stc added that the issuance will be conducted through an offshore special purpose vehicle established outside Saudi Arabia, adding that the proceeds will be used for the company’s general corporate purposes. 

The statement further said that the sukuk may be issued in one or more tranches or series by way of an offer to eligible investors in the Kingdom and internationally. 

The telecom giant added that the amount and terms of the offer of the sukuk will be determined based on market conditions. 

The share price of stc edged down by 1.08 percent to SR42.06.