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Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia news and analysis, tenders, contracts awarded, commentary and economic data

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Saudi_Arabia_map_527x286px Saudi+Arabia+flag King+Abdullah+bin+Abdulaziz+al-Saud
Saudi Arabia
Leader
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud

Saudi Arabia country datafile
Country overview
Government contacts

Country data

Iran 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012f 2013f
Nominal GDP ($bn) 384.9 476.9 376.7 455.9 597.1 657 682.6
GDP per capita ($) 15,434 18,471 14,129 16,541 21,196* 22,823 23,199
Real GDP growth (annual change, %) 2 4.2 0.1 5.1 7.1 6 4.2
Government revenue (% of GDP) 50.4 66 41 48.1 53.3 54.1 51.7
Government total expenditure (% of GDP) 34.1 31.6 45.6 44.6 39.3 37.4 40.6
Total government debt (gross, % of GDP) 18.5 13.2 15.9 9.8 6.1 5.5 5.3
Current account balance (% of GDP) 24.3 27.8 5.6 14.6 26.5 26.1 22.7
Value of oil imports 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Value of oil exports 205.3 281 163.1 215.2 317.6 350.7 343.8
Inflation (%) 4.1 9.9 5.1 5.4 5 4.9 4.6
Click to see full economic data (2005 - 2017 forecast)
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database; Last updated: March 2013; *=Estimate

Doing business in...

Saudi Industrial Property Authority industrial cities Subscription

17 June 2013, 6:05 GMT

Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon) was established in 2001 to develop industrial cities across Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia trends

A contrasting 2012 for Middle East oil producers Subscription

18 June 2013, 8:49 GMT | By

Drops in crude output from Iran, Syria and Yemen offset by record year for other producers

Loans and deposits 2009-2012

Bank Albilad Subscription

10 June 2013, 13:54 GMT | By

The small Saudi lender is looking to challenge established players in the kingdom

Middle East contract awards May 2013

Middle East contracts awarded: May 2013 Subscription

9 June 2013, 10:29 GMT

Just over $8bn-worth of contracts awarded in May

Fertiliser contract awards 2009-2014

Saudi Arabia set to be largest fertiliser spender over next two years Subscription

30 May 2013, 7:24 GMT | By

Kingdom’s Waad al-Shamal Phosphate City leads projects market in region with gas challenges

Banking sector

Saudi Arabia's foreign workforce on the way out Subscription

23 May 2013, 9:54 GMT | By

Expatriates in Saudi Arabia will increasingly be squeezed out by Riyadh’s push to find more jobs for locals

Saudi diesel imports and Aramco refining capacity

Saudi Arabia's diesel dilemma Subscription

21 May 2013, 10:38 GMT | By

As the kingdom stockpiles for the summer it has to ask itself if continued massive subsidies is the right way forward

Mobily crop

Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily) Subscription

8 May 2013, 8:28 GMT | By

The Saudi mobile operator is looking to grow data and corporate revenues

Ten-year smoothed commodity price growth

Commodity super cycle on verge of downward trend Subscription

7 May 2013, 10:18 GMT | By

Analysts predicting 2013-14 could be the start of lower prices for commodities such as oil and gas

Middle East contracts awarded April 2013

Middle East contracts awarded: April 2013 Subscription

5 May 2013, 7:41 GMT

Just over $12bn-worth of contracts were awarded in April

South Pars phase 12

Top 100 projects drops in value in first quarter Subscription

1 May 2013, 9:18 GMT | By

Value of projects in execution fell $10bn as $30bn-worth of contract awards are new to the top 100 table

Filter Saudi Arabia analysis by sector

MEED comment

Joint venture could fall apart

Shell could exit Saudi Arabia joint venture

13 June 2013, 13:57 GMT

Speculation is rife that UK/Dutch Shell Group may pull out of Kidan gas field development

07_liquidity_94957898

Dealing with rising liquidity in the GCC

13 June 2013, 13:27 GMT

Flush with liquidity, regional banks must keep booking deals to increase profitability

Airport projects

Firms line up for airport projects

5 June 2013, 15:13 GMT | By

Contractors who fail to win the Jizan deal can use the experience gained to bid for upcoming work

Crisis

Riyadh tackles unemployment

23 May 2013, 15:08 GMT

Creating jobs for locals is vital for political stability, but labour market reforms must go further

Innovation through research

Time for the GCC to invest more in research Subscription

23 May 2013, 15:07 GMT

The GCC must increase investment in learning institutions to develop capabilities for innovation

Petrochemicals

Sabic continues to grow at home

16 May 2013, 14:00 GMT | By

If there was ample feedstock demand in the kingdom, Sabic would be less inclined to look overseas

Housing

Saudi housing crisis deepens

16 May 2013, 13:44 GMT | By

The decision to hand over land to the private sector is likely to further delay Riyadh’s ambitious $70bn housing programme

King Abdullah: Increases Saudi spending on schemes

Localisation raises concerns

16 May 2013, 13:39 GMT | By

Pressure increases for contractors to employ more locals than in the past

More MEED commentary

Special reports

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia: Non-oil growth accelerates Subscription

30 January 2013, 12:42 GMT

The private sector in the kingdom now accounts for 58 per cent of gross domestic product

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Private sector key to 2013 plans Subscription

19 December 2012, 13:13 GMT

Saudi Arabia has typically taken a conservative approach to setting its budget forecasts over the past decade

MBA guide

Classrooms no longer just a place to learn

18 November 2012, 12:43 GMT

Never before has education been so important to the region’s long-term policy objectives

Security focus: Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz was recently appointed head of the Saudi Intelligence Agency

Saudi Arabia: Strengthening foreign policy agenda

10 October 2012, 14:18 GMT

Saudi Arabia finds itself at the vortex of change, a situation the country’s ultra-conservative rulers remain deeply uncomfortable with

Saudi

Saudi Arabia: A kingdom open for business

3 October 2012, 12:56 GMT

Welcome to MEED’s guide to doing business in Saudi Arabia. It is almost a decade since MEED first published a business guide to the region’s biggest economy and much has changed.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Plans for GCC union flounder Subscription

4 July 2012, 12:58 GMT

The largest economy in the Arabian peninsula, Saudi Arabia holds sway over the other five GCC members

More Saudi Arabia special reports

Market presentations

Project Finance

Webinar: Middle East project finance outlook Subscription

17 June 2013, 11:40 GMT

Market constraints to continue, with deals flowing to most stable markets in the region

Mena renewables 2013

Webinar: MENA Renewable Energy Subscription

12 May 2013, 12:38 GMT

In this presentation, MEED discusses the trends and prospects for renewable power in the region

After the Uprisings webinar

After the Uprisings: The outlook for business in the Middle East in 2013 and beyond Subscription

4 March 2013, 5:52 GMT

A webinar on the region’s business environment, providing current data and exclusive expert analysis drawn from MEED’s team of experts

Top 100 projects 2012

Top 100 projects: The Middle East market gains momentum Subscription

3 February 2013, 9:23 GMT

This webinar examines projects market trends in the region and forecasts which countries and sectors will grow in 2013

Wastewater

Webinar: Project opportunities in GCC wastewater Subscription

15 May 2012, 11:24 GMT

Join MEED for an exclusive online seminar looking at the Gulf wastewater sector

Barzan: The gas project raised $5.7bn

Rebuilding the Middle East: Prospects for the projects market 2012 Subscription

6 February 2012, 5:40 GMT

MEED’s webinar looks at expected growth in the Middle East and North Africa

Solar power panels

Arab states plan renewable energy capacity hike Subscription

24 November 2011, 13:00 GMT

Get exclusive insight into the drivers behind the ambitious 2020 renewable energy programmes in the Middle East

Arab uprising: Facebook gave power to protesters

The impact of the Arab uprisings on business growth Subscription

27 July 2011, 12:50 GMT

MEED’s webinar is a mid-year review that assesses the consequences of protests in the region on project plans

Implementing the region’s long-term rail plans Subscription

20 July 2011, 12:54 GMT

More than $250bn worth of rail projects are planned or under development in the Middle East; in this webinar, MEED presents an overview of the market and its growth

Construction

GCC Construction: The move from private to public infrastructure spending

7 June 2011, 6:50 GMT

MEED’s webinar on the major changes impacting the region’s construction sector

MEED's 2020 Vision: A presentation Subscription

27 January 2011, 9:23 GMT | By

An exclusive MEED presentation looking at the key trends that will shape the Middle East economy in the coming decade.

Project awards

Saudi Binladin wins Abraj Kudai development in Mecca

17 June 2013, 7:36 GMT | By

Scheme involves building 12 towers in Mecca

Arabtec-Terna joint venture wins Saudi hospital deal Subscription

26 May 2013, 7:28 GMT | By

Project is scheduled for completion in early 2015

Siemens wins Saudi power deals Subscription

22 May 2013, 9:10 GMT | By

German firm will supply gas turbines and build substation for Saudi Electricity Company

Aramco confirms Larsen & Toubro as Midyan winner Subscription

22 May 2013, 6:22 GMT | By

Indian contractor to execute gas project in northwest of Saudi Arabia

Drake & Scull wins Saudi Arabian real estate contract Subscription

21 May 2013, 10:39 GMT | By

UAE contractor Drake & Scull to build two towers on Jeddah Corniche

Joint venture wins Riyadh airport Terminal 5 Subscription

14 May 2013, 8:09 GMT | By

TAV and Al-Arrab were selected for SR1.5bn contract in January

Emaar awards next phase of Jeddah project Subscription

8 May 2013, 9:28 GMT | By

Local contractor will build three towers at Jeddah Gate development

Lebanese-Turkish joint venture to design Medina metro Subscription

1 May 2013, 6:05 GMT | By

Consultancy services contract covers feasibility study and preliminary designs

Mott McDonald wins Divided Zone contract Subscription

30 April 2013, 7:58 GMT | By

UK engineering consultancy wins five-year deal

Al-Arrab wins Saudi security compounds deal Subscription

29 April 2013, 14:01 GMT | By

Fourth phase of security compounds programme split into packages

Projects trends

Gulf Projects Index

GCC bolsters Gulf Projects Index Subscription

13 June 2013, 11:27 GMT

Bahrain was the only GCC country to record a decline in the value of its projects market

Gulf Projects Index

Qatar and UAE lead market growth Subscription

5 June 2013, 11:30 GMT

Saudi Arabia was the only GCC state to record a drop in the value of its projects sector

Gulf Projects Index

Strong Saudi growth lifts market Subscription

30 May 2013, 13:25 GMT

The rise in the kingdom’s index is in stark contrast to the decline in four other GCC states

More Gulf Projects Index articles

Top 10 projects

Rank Project Name Sector Contract value ($m)
1 Haramain High-Speed Rail Network: Phase 2 Transport 7,733
2 King Abdulaziz International Airport: Phase 1: Revamp and New Transport 4,034
Terminal: Package 1    
3 Riyadh King Abdullah Financial District: Phase 2: Towers Construction 3,700
4 Rabigh Power Plant Extension: Phase 6 Power 3,400
4 Rehabilitation Centres for Prisoners Construction 3,400
6 King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz Project: Riyadh Security Forces Medical Healthcare 3,350
  Complex    
7 King Abdulaziz International Airport: Phase 1: Revamp and New Transport 3,194
  Terminal: Package 2    
8 Jeddah South Thermal Power Plant Power 3,120
9 Qurayyah IPP 1 & 2 Power 2,850
10 Rabigh 2 IPP Power 2,500
10 Yanbu Export Refinery: Gasoline Block Gas 2,500
10 Grand Mosque Expansion Construction 2,500
Click through to the full data table on Saudi Arabia's biggest projects in construction
Click through to MEED's Q1 2013 Top 100 Projects report
Source: MEED Projects; Data compiled: April 2013; All projects are in construction

Companies

See all Saudi Arabia company profiles

People

Shuwaish bin Saudi bin Duwaihi al-Duwaihi Subscription

20 May 2013, 12:06 GMT

Shuwaish bin Saudi bin Duwaihi al-Duwaihi is housing minister, Saudi Arabia

Bakr Binladin Subscription

7 May 2013, 10:11 GMT

Bakr Binladin is chairman, Saudi Binladin Group

Faisal al-Sugair Subscription

7 May 2013, 10:04 GMT

Faisal al-Sugair is vice-president, General Authority of Civil Aviation

Ahmed al-Rajhi Subscription

1 May 2013, 9:51 GMT

Ahmed al-Rajhi is vice-chairman, Al-Rajhi Holding Company

Sultan bin Jamal Shawli Subscription

1 May 2013, 9:48 GMT

Sultan bin Jamal Shawli is undersecretary, Petroleum & minerals ministry, Saudi Arabia

Saleh al-Rasheed Subscription

1 May 2013, 9:42 GMT

Saleh al-Rasheed is director-general, Modon

See all Saudi Arabia biographies

Latest Saudi Arabia news

Kemya receives funding offers for $3.4bn expansion Subscription

20 June 2013, 7:00 GMT | By

Banks respond to Sabic and ExxonMobil funding request

Filter Saudi Arabia news by sector

Tenders

Saudi Arabia: Artificial reefs Subscription

18 June 2013, 16:19 GMT | By

Construction and deployment of artificial reefs

Filter Saudi Arabia tenders by sector

Research reports

GCC Construction bundle

Pre-launch offer: GCC Project Market Report 2013

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MEED events

Saudi Mega Transport and Infrastructure Projects

Saudi Mega Transport & Infrastructure Projects

The focus will be on the core sectors that are driving the massive growth in construction activity

More MEED events