Business · Economy · 1 day ago
Saudi business confidence stays optimistic at 56.6 in September
Saudi Arabia’s Business Confidence Index was 56.6 in September, down slightly from 56.7 in August.
The index is based on a survey of businesses in non-oil economic activities and measures their views of current conditions and future prospects.
A score above 50 signals optimism, so businesses remained broadly positive.
Confidence in industry rose to 56.3, with businesses more confident about overall performance and expected sales.
Services confidence fell to 55.4, while construction confidence slipped to 57.1; both remained above 50.
The separate Riyad Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 55.3, indicating the strongest improvement in non-oil private-sector conditions since February.
The data points to continued optimism despite regional uncertainty and supply-chain pressures, but the figures do not say what businesses will do next.
Saudi Arabia’s Business Confidence Index stood at 56.6 in September, remaining above the neutral 50-point mark.
The index fell 0.1 points from 56.7 in August, according to the General Authority for Statistics.
Industry confidence rose to 56.3, while services fell to 55.4 and construction eased to 57.1.
The Riyad Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 55.3 in September from 53.8 in August.
- Who
- Saudi businesses surveyed for the Business Confidence Index.
- What
- The index remained optimistic at 56.6 in September, down 0.1 points from August.
- When
- September; the report was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- GASTAT said confidence was supported by establishments’ confidence in economic stability and continued growth across sectors.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The index fell to 52.1.
The index rebounded to 54.5.
The index strengthened to 55.6.
The index reached 56.6 and remained above 56 through September.
The index rose to 56.7.
The index eased to 56.6.
- September BCI
- 56.6
- August BCI
- 56.7
- Neutral threshold
- 50 points
- Industry BCI in September
- 56.3, up from 55.8 in August
- Services BCI in September
- 55.4, down from 56.1 in August
- Construction BCI in September
- 57.1, down from 57.3 in August
What people are saying
The BCI reflects prevailing optimism in the business sector, supported by establishments’ confidence in the stability of economic activity and continued growth across various sectors.
The Business Confidence Index has recovered from 52.1 in March to 56.6 in September and remained above 56 since June, despite regional volatility and supply-chain pressures.
Sources
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