DUBAI: FTI Consulting, in partnership with the World Governments Summit, launched on Tuesday a new joint report titled “Creative Futures: The Springboard for Sustained Economic Growth and Diversification.”
The report offers governments and public sector leaders a strategic roadmap for harnessing the creative economy as a driver of national prosperity, innovation and global influence, according to a press release.
It also highlights the size of the global creative economy (approximately $2.25 trillion in 2020), representing 3.1 percent of global GDP and accounting for nearly 6.2 percent of employees worldwide.
The report further reveals that every $1 invested in creative industries generates approximately $2.50 in overall economic output, reflecting extensive spillover benefits across tourism, manufacturing and urban services.
FTI’s senior managing director, Antoine Nasr, said: “This report shows that creativity is not just an asset for culture, it is a cornerstone of national economic strategy.”
FTI Consulting, WGS launch global report on the creative economy as a driver of growth
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FTI Consulting, WGS launch global report on the creative economy as a driver of growth
- The report offers governments and public sector leaders a strategic roadmap
Saudi POS spending jumps 28% in final week of Jan: SAMA
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale spending climbed sharply in the final week of January, rising nearly 28 percent from the previous week as consumer outlays increased across almost all sectors.
POS transactions reached SR16 billion ($4.27 billion) in the week ending Jan. 31, up 27.8 percent week on week, according to the Saudi Central Bank. Transaction volumes rose 16.5 percent to 248.8 million, reflecting stronger retail and service activity.
Spending on jewelry saw the biggest uptick at 55.5 percent to SR613.69 million, followed by laundry services which saw a 44.4 percent increase to SR62.83 million.
Expenditure on personal care rose 29.1 percent, while outlays on books and stationery increased 5.1 percent. Hotel spending climbed 7.4 percent to SR377.1 million.
Further gains were recorded across other categories. Spending in pharmacies and medical supplies rose 33.4 percent to SR259.19 million, while medical services increased 13.7 percent to SR515.44 million.
Food and beverage spending surged 38.6 percent to SR2.6 billion, accounting for the largest share of total POS value. Restaurants and cafes followed with a 20.4 percent increase to SR1.81 billion. Apparel and clothing spending rose 35.4 percent to SR1.33 billion, representing the third-largest share during the week.
The Kingdom’s key urban centers mirrored the national surge. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 22 percent rise to SR5.44 billion from SR4.46 billion the previous week. The number of transactions in the capital reached 78.6 million, up 13.8 percent week on week.
In Jeddah, transaction values increased 23.7 percent to SR2.16 billion, while Dammam reported a 22.2 percent rise to SR783.06 million.
POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer spending trends and the ongoing growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia.
The data also highlights the expanding reach of POS infrastructure, extending beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives.
The growth of digital payment technologies aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, promoting electronic transactions and contributing to the Kingdom’s broader digital economy.
