Business · Trade · 15 hrs ago
Saudi Telecom Firms’ Revenue Rose While Combined Profits Fell
The three listed Saudi telecom companies earned 83.42 billion riyals in nine months to the end of September 2026, 3.67% more than a year earlier.
Their combined net profit fell 2.07% to 14.17 billion riyals over the same period.
STC brought in about 72% of the three companies’ revenue, while Mobily and Zain Saudi Arabia accounted for the rest.
STC’s reported profit fell 5.71%, but its operating profit grew 4.1%, and its net profit rose 2.6% after excluding one-off items from both periods.
Mobily and Zain reported higher profits, helped by revenue growth and other factors including lower financing costs at Zain.
The results show that stronger sales did not lift combined profits, as financing costs, operating expenses and one-off items affected earnings.
The companies’ results reflect demand for telecom services amid Saudi Arabia’s rapid digital shift, but no further action or next step is stated.
Saudi Arabia’s three listed telecom firms reported combined revenue of 83.42 billion riyals for the first nine months of 2026, up 3.67% from a year earlier.
Their combined net profit fell 2.07% to about 14.17 billion riyals.
STC accounted for about 72% of the three companies’ revenue, with 60.1 billion riyals.
Mobily and Zain Saudi Arabia both reported higher profits, while STC’s profit declined.
An analyst said financing costs, operating expenses and non-recurring items helped explain why revenue growth did not translate into higher combined profits.
- Who
- Saudi telecom firms STC, Mobily and Zain Saudi Arabia.
- What
- Their combined revenue rose, while their combined net profit fell.
- When
- The first nine months of 2026, compared with the same period in 2025.
- Where
- Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The article attributed the profit decline to factors including financing costs, operating expenses and non-recurring items.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The companies’ combined revenue was about 80.47 billion riyals and their combined net profit was about 14.47 billion riyals.
Combined revenue reached 83.42 billion riyals, while combined net profit was about 14.17 billion riyals.
Asharq Al-Awsat published the report.
- Combined revenue
- 83.42 billion riyals
- Revenue growth
- 3.67% year on year
- Combined net profit
- About 14.17 billion riyals
- Combined profit decline
- 2.07%
- STC share of combined revenue
- About 72%
- Mobily revenue growth
- 5.07%
What people are saying
The financial results of Saudi telecommunications companies during the first nine months of 2026 reflect continued strong demand for the sector’s services and the expansion of its activities, amid the rapid digital transformation taking place in the Kingdom.