RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s services exports rose 7.9 percent quarter on quarter to SR71.3 billion ($18.96 billion) in the first three months of 2026, driven by strong travel receipts as the Kingdom continued to expand its non-oil economy, official data showed.
Figures released by the General Authority for Statistics showed travel services remained the largest export category, generating SR44.3 billion, or about 62 percent of total services exports. Personal travel services accounted for 96.6 percent of the category.
Transportation services followed as the second-largest category, reaching SR10.9 billion. Within this segment, air transport made up 39.9 percent of exports, with maritime and road transport contributing smaller shares.
The growth underscores the Kingdom’s continued progress in diversifying its economy under Vision 2030, particularly through tourism and related services.
“Communications, computer, and information services (exports) amounted to SR2.6 billion, with communications services accounting for approximately 50.5 percent of total exports in this category, followed by computer and information services at lower shares,” said GASTAT.
Government services exports stood at SR2.6 billion, while other business services totaled SR2.4 billion, led by professional and management consulting.
Construction services reached SR2 billion, while financial services contributed SR1.7 billion. The remaining exports were distributed across manufacturing services, insurance and pensions, and personal, cultural, and recreational services.
On the import side, services imports decreased by 6.9 percent to SR111.4 billion in the first quarter from SR119.6 billion in the previous three months.
Transportation services led imports at SR31.8 billion, with maritime transport comprising 40.9 percent.
Travel services imports reached SR21.3 billion, with personal travel accounting for approximately 93.8 percent of total imports in this category.
Other business services amounted to SR15.8 billion, with professional and management consulting accounting for approximately 50.4 percent of the total.
Construction services imports reached SR15.1 billion, while government services totaled SR6.9 billion.
“Insurance and pension services amounted to SR4.8 billion. The remaining services imports were distributed across other categories, including communications, computer, and information services, manufacturing services, personal, cultural and recreational services, and financial services,” added GASTAT.
The services trade deficit narrowed as exports increased and imports declined, aligning with broader economic trends.
Earlier this month, GASTAT revealed that Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product expanded by 3 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting broad-based growth across all major economic activities.
The report added that both oil and non-oil activities in the Kingdom expanded 2.9 percent year on year in the first quarter, while government activities grew 1.5 percent.
This services performance reflects the Kingdom’s successful efforts to boost non-oil revenues through tourism, logistics, and business services.
