RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports to the UAE rose to SR7.10 billion ($1.89 billion) in January, a nearly 10 percent monthly increase, highlighting the Kingdom’s push to diversify beyond oil revenues.
Machinery and mechanical equipment led the non-oil shipments at SR3.46 billion, followed by transport parts at SR1.74 billion, according to the General Authority for Statistics.
In December, Saudi Arabia’s non-oil shipments to the UAE totaled SR6.46 billion, down from SR7.17 billion in November and SR5.86 billion in October.
The rise in non-oil exports underscores the Kingdom’s progress in economic diversification, as it moves to reduce its decades-long reliance on crude revenues.
Affirming the non-oil private sector’s growth, Saudi Arabia’s Purchasing Managers’ Index reached 58.4 in February, according to the Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia PMI survey compiled by S&P Global.
In January, the Kingdom’s PMI stood at 60.5, its highest level in 10 years.
In the UAE, the PMI was 55 in February, while Qatar and Kuwait recorded 51 and 51.6, respectively.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to economic diversification under Vision 2030, emphasizing that growing non-oil gross domestic product remains a priority over traditional oil revenues.
According to the GASTAT report, Saudi Arabia also exported plastic goods worth SR307 million in January, followed by base metals at SR288.2 million and chemical products at SR266.2 million.
China was another major destination for the Kingdom’s non-oil goods, receiving SR2.22 billion worth of products.
Saudi Arabia exported plastic goods worth SR990.9 million to China, followed by chemical products at SR703.2 million.
India ranked third among non-oil export destinations, importing Saudi products worth SR2.00 billion in January, a 7.52 percent increase from the previous month.
Other top destinations for the Kingdom’s non-hydrocarbon goods in January were Turkiye, with a value of SR1.10 billion; the US at SR1.02 billion; and Qatar at SR763.6 million.
Egypt received non-oil goods valued at SR751.7 million in January, while exports to Kuwait and Belgium totaled SR646.9 million and SR632.2 million, respectively.
Overall non-oil exports
Saudi Arabia’s total non-oil exports in January reached SR26.48 billion, reflecting a 10.7 percent year-on-year increase.
In November, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal Al-Ibrahim, stated that non-oil activities now account for 52 percent of GDP, with the sector growing at 20 percent annually since Vision 2030’s launch.
GASTAT noted that national non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, rose by 13.1 percent over the same period.
A December report by Mastercard Economics highlighted Saudi Arabia’s strong non-oil sector growth, forecasting a 3.7 percent GDP expansion in 2025 driven by further non-oil advancements.
Jeddah Islamic Sea Port was the primary exit point for non-oil goods in January, handling SR3.12 billion worth of shipments.
King Fahad Industrial Sea Port in Jubail and King Abdulaziz Sea Port in Dammam managed SR3.23 billion and SR2.50 billion in outbound goods, respectively.
Jubail Sea Port was the exit point for goods worth SR2.49 billion, followed by Ras Tanura Sea Port at SR1.65 billion and Ras Al Khair Sea Port at SR1.41 billion.
Via land, Al Batha Port processed SR1.89 billion in exports, while Al Hadithah Port handled SR706.5 million.
Among airports, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh saw outbound shipments worth SR2.67 billion, followed by King Abdulaziz International Airport at SR2.26 billion.
King Fahd International Airport in Dammam handled SR286.9 million in exports.
Overall merchandise exports
Saudi Arabia’s total merchandise exports in January stood at SR97.18 billion, marking a 2.4 percent year-on-year rise.
The ratio of non-oil exports, including re-exports, to imports, increased to 36.5 percent in January from 35.7 percent in 2024.
However, oil exports declined by 0.4 percent year on year in January, reducing oil’s share of total exports from 74.8 percent in 2024 to 72.7 percent in 2025.
Saudi Arabia’s merchandise exports to Asia totaled SR75.43 billion in January, a 6.01 percent increase from the previous month.
Exports to Europe reached SR10.17 billion, followed by Africa at SR7.28 billion and North America at SR3.95 billion.
China was the top recipient of Saudi exports, receiving SR14.74 billion in January, a 20.32 percent increase from the previous month.
Other key destinations included India at SR10.60 billion, Japan at SR9.90 billion, and South Korea at SR9.05 billion.
Saudi Arabia’s exports to the UAE totaled SR8.44 billion, while outbound shipments to Egypt stood at SR2.84 billion.
Imports in January
Saudi Arabia’s imports rose 8.3 percent year on year in January 2025, reaching SR72.62 billion.
China remained the Kingdom’s top import source, supplying SR19.16 billion worth of goods, led by mechanical appliances and electrical equipment at SR7.95 billion.
The Kingdom imported transport products worth SR2.78 billion from China, followed by base metals at SR1.96 billion and textiles at SR1.19 billion.
Imports from the US totaled SR6.04 billion, while inbound shipments from the UAE and India stood at SR3.96 billion and SR3.80 billion, respectively.
Saudi Arabia also imported goods worth SR3.00 billion from Germany and SR2.48 billion from Egypt.
Japan supplied SR3.44 billion in imports, followed by Italy at SR2.41 billion and France at SR1.85 billion.
Sea shipments accounted for SR44.72 billion of total imports, while land and air imports stood at SR8.62 billion and SR19.27 billion, respectively.
King Abdulaziz Sea Port in Dammam was the leading entry point, handling SR20.92 billion in imports, or 28.8 percent of total inbound shipments.
Jeddah Islamic Sea Port followed with SR16.75 billion, while Ras Tanura Sea Port and King Abdullah Sea Port processed SR1.70 billion and SR1.11 billion, respectively.
On land, Al Batha Port and Riyadh Dry Port handled SR3.82 billion and SR2.52 billion in incoming goods, respectively.
Among airports, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh received SR9.01 billion in imports, followed by King Abdulaziz International Airport at SR6.24 billion and King Fahd International Airport at SR4.00 billion.
