Business · Economy · 13 hrs ago
Saudi SMEs’ new orders grow at fastest pace in seven months
Saudi Arabia’s small and medium-sized businesses received more new orders in September than in any month of the previous seven months.
The Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia SME Purchasing Managers’ Index slipped slightly to 53.8 from 53.9 in August, but stayed above 50, the level that separates growth from contraction.
The survey also found that business activity continued to grow and hiring rose at its fastest pace since March.
Firms increased their purchasing, while higher costs for raw materials and transport remained a pressure.
Regional conflict has disrupted shipping and weighed on business sentiment.
Saudi Arabia aims to raise small and medium-sized businesses’ contribution to its economy to 35 percent under Vision 2030, from around 20 percent.
Businesses remained optimistic about the year ahead, though their confidence eased from August.
Saudi Arabia’s small and medium-sized enterprises recorded their fastest growth in new orders in seven months in September.
The Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia SME Purchasing Managers’ Index edged down to 53.8 from 53.9 in August but remained above the 50-point expansion threshold.
New business growth was supported by a sustained rebound in sales enquiries and resilient domestic economic conditions.
Employment rose marginally, with job creation at its strongest pace since March.
Firms remained optimistic about the year-ahead outlook, though confidence eased from August.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia’s small and medium-sized enterprises.
- What
- New orders grew at their fastest pace in seven months, and the overall SME PMI was 53.8.
- When
- September 2026.
- Where
- Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- New business growth was supported by a rebound in sales enquiries and resilient domestic economic conditions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The SME PMI quarterly average was 51.4.
The overall SME PMI was 53.9, and business activity had reached an eight-month high.
The SME PMI was 53.8, while new business grew at its fastest pace in seven months.
Job creation reached its highest level since March.
The SME PMI quarterly average improved to 52.7.
- September SME PMI
- 53.8
- August SME PMI
- 53.9
- New orders
- Fastest growth in seven months
- Third-quarter PMI average
- 52.7
- Second-quarter PMI average
- 51.4
- SME contribution target
- 35 percent of GDP under Vision 2030
What people are saying
The September SME PMI results provide an encouraging signal on the underlying strength and resilience of Saudi Arabia’s SME sector.
This momentum creates an opportunity for Saudi SMEs to take a bigger role in the Kingdom’s supply chains.
The quarterly average improved to 52.7 in the third quarter from 51.4 in the second quarter.
Sources
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