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Saudi Arabia Engages BRICS While Delaying Formal Membership
Saudi Arabia took part in a major BRICS meeting in New Delhi.
It was invited to join BRICS in 2023 but has not officially joined.
BRICS includes several large emerging economies.
Saudi Arabia wants stronger business and diplomatic ties with countries such as China and India.
It is also trying to grow industries that do not depend on oil.
BRICS could help Saudi Arabia explore different ways to trade and settle payments.
However, Saudi Arabia depends on the United States for weapons and security systems.
It is also discussing technology and civil nuclear agreements with the United States.
Staying close to BRICS without formally joining lets Saudi Arabia keep both sets of relationships open.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan represented Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Saudi Arabia was invited to join BRICS in 2023 but has not formally accepted or confirmed full membership.
The summit gave Saudi Arabia access to major economic partners, including China and India, as it seeks to expand non-oil exports.
Riyadh sees potential in alternative trade and settlement arrangements, including greater use of local currencies.
Maintaining an unresolved membership allows Saudi Arabia to deepen ties with BRICS while preserving strategic relationships with the United States.
- Who
- Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan represented Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman; Saudi Arabia engaged with BRICS members and invited countries.
- What
- Saudi Arabia participated in the 2026 BRICS Summit without formally accepting its 2023 invitation to become a full member.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- When
- Prince Faisal arrived late Saturday and attended the summit’s concluding session on Sunday afternoon; the summit was held in 2026.
- Why
- Saudi Arabia seeks stronger economic and diplomatic ties with emerging markets while preserving its security, technology and civil nuclear relationships with the United States.
Benefits of Formal Membership
Benefits of Flexible Engagement
Economic access
Benefits of Formal Membership
Formal membership could deepen Saudi Arabia’s economic links with BRICS countries and support alternative trade and settlement arrangements.
Benefits of Flexible Engagement
Participation without membership already gives Saudi Arabia access to major economic partners while avoiding a binding commitment.
Strategic relationships
Benefits of Formal Membership
Joining could strengthen Saudi Arabia’s role in a forum representing major emerging economies and expand its diplomatic influence.
Benefits of Flexible Engagement
Delaying membership helps Saudi Arabia preserve its relationship with the United States, including cooperation on defense, technology and civil nuclear agreements.
Key facts
- BRICS invitation
- Saudi Arabia was invited to join BRICS at the 2023 summit in Johannesburg.
- Current status
- Saudi Arabia participated as an invited country and has not formally confirmed full membership.
- Summit
- The 18th BRICS Summit was hosted by New Delhi in 2026.
- Economic partners
- China and India are among the biggest buyers of Saudi crude.
- Non-oil exports
- Non-oil exports represented 44% of Saudi Arabia’s total exports in 2025, compared with 39% in 2024 and 30% in 2021.
- India-Saudi trade
- Bilateral trade reached $41.88 billion in 2024-25.
- Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia
- Approximately 2.4-2.7 million Indian nationals live in Saudi Arabia, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Sources
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