Saudi Arabia Services Trade Hits SAR 180 Billion in Q2 2026 Amid Vision 2030 Expansion

Saudi Arabia produced overall worldwide services trade of SAR 180.3 billion($47.95 billion)throughout the 2nd quarter of 2026. The General Authority for Statistics(GASTAT)launched the current main trade report in Riyadh on Monday. The figures show robust foreign need for Saudi travel offerings along with high domestic need for worldwide transportation and engineering services.

Why it matters: Saudi Arabia is carrying out an enthusiastic financial modernization strategy under Vision 2030. The fast building and construction of mega-projects fuels strong domestic need for international engineering, transportation, and management services. The consistent growth of regional service markets supports the Kingdom’s objective of constructing a resistant non-oil economy.

Vision 2030 Expansion Shapes Trade Dynamics

The huge image: The Kingdom’s non-oil economy reached 55 percent of overall genuine gdp (GDP) in 2025. In addition, the economic sector’s contribution to overall GDP reached 51 percent. Massive financial investments in facilities, innovation, and logistics continue to change the domestic industrial landscape.

As significant tasks such as NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea location speed up execution, need for specific worldwide partners stays raised. Services imports increased especially throughout the 2nd quarter of 2026. GASTAT information exposes that overall service imports increased 8.4 percent compared to the very first quarter of 2026. Imports reached SAR 120.8 billion ($32.13 billion) in Q2 2026, up from SAR 111.4 billion ($29.63 billion) in Q1. Increased costs on abroad individual travel and global maritime shipping mostly drove this quarter-on-quarter development.

In between the lines: On the other hand, services exports contracted by 16.5 percent throughout the exact same duration. Exports reached SAR 59.5 billion ($15.82 billion) in Q2 2026, compared to SAR 71.3 billion ($18.96 billion) in Q1. Seasonal variations in visitor traffic primarily triggered this decrease. Travel exports reached incredibly high levels throughout the very first quarter due to the fact that of winter season leisure travel and peak Umrah season. In spite of the quarterly reduction, travel exports still produced the huge bulk of overall export incomes for the Kingdom.

Sector Drivers Across Travel, Transport, and Tech

Sector-level figures demonstrate how particular financial activities drive nationwide trade circulations. Transportation services topped all import classifications throughout the 2nd quarter. Huge supply chain requirements for continuous nationwide advancement jobs created substantial need for global freight services. Maritime shipping alone consisted of over 40 percent of overall transportation import worth.

All at once, outbound individual travel by Saudi citizens broadened significantly. Saudi tourists increased abroad costs by 17 percent compared to the previous quarter. Individual travel represented 92 percent of overall travel imports, reaching SAR 25.0 billion ($6.65 billion).

On the export side, individual travel visitors offered the biggest share of export incomes. Travel exports reached SAR 33.8 billion ($8.99 billion) in Q2 2026, with individual travel representing 93.9 percent of that quantity. Air transportation led all export transportation classifications, producing almost 39 percent of section income.

The digital economy likewise showed strong trade activity. Saudi exports of telecoms, computer system, and info services reached SAR 2.6 billion ($691.49 million). Telecom services offered 50.9 percent of this digital overall. This growth supports Saudi Arabia’s tactical target to raise the digital economy’s total contribution to nationwide GDP. Other service services exports reached SAR 2.3 billion ($611.70 million). Specialist and management consulting services produced 51.7 percent of this particular export classification.

Imports Track Growing Activity

By the numbers:

• Overall Services Exports: SAR 59.5 billion ($15.82 billion), down 16.5% from SAR 71.3 billion ($18.96 billion) in Q1 2026.
• Overall Services Imports: SAR 120.8 billion ($32.13 billion), up 8.4% from SAR 111.4 billion ($29.63 billion) in Q1 2026.
• Solutions Trade Deficit: SAR 61.3 billion ($16.31 billion) in Q2 2026.
• Travel Services Exports: SAR 33.8 billion ($8.99 billion), down 23.6% quarter-on-quarter, with individual travel making up 93.9% of the overall.
• Transportation Services Exports: SAR 10.5 billion ($2.79 billion), led by air transportation at 39%, followed by maritime and land shipping.
• Telecom, Computer & & Information Exports: SAR 2.6 billion ($691.49 million), with telecoms forming 50.9% of the subtotal.
• Other Business Services Exports: SAR 2.3 billion ($611.70 million), with expert and management consulting contributing 51.7%.
• Building And Construction Services Exports: SAR 1.8 billion ($478.72 million).
• Federal Government Services Exports: SAR 1.8 billion ($478.72 million).
• Financial Services Exports: SAR 1.5 billion ($398.94 million).
• Transportation Services Imports: SAR 34.1 billion ($9.07 billion), with maritime shipping making up 40.8%, followed by air and land shipping.
• Travel Services Imports: SAR 25.0 billion ($6.65 billion), up 17% quarter-on-quarter, with individual travel forming 92.0%.
• Other Business Services Imports: SAR 18.8 billion ($5.0 billion), with expert and management consulting accounting for 50.8%.
• Building Services Imports: SAR 14.5 billion ($3.86 billion).
• Federal Government Services Imports: SAR 7.3 billion ($1.94 billion).
• Insurance coverage & & Pension Services Imports: SAR 6.0 billion ($1.60 billion).
• Telecom, Computer & & Information Imports: SAR 4.0 billion ($1.06 billion).

Strategic Outlook for Non-Oil Trade Growth

What’s next: Financial experts anticipate Saudi services trade to preserve raised activity throughout the rest of 2026. The Kingdom continues to carry out substantial financial investments under the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program. The nationwide tourist structure intends to bring in 150 million foreign and domestic check outs each year by 2030. Considerable foreign direct financial investments continue to get in essential domestic sectors, consisting of tidy energy, production, and home entertainment.

Domestic need for specialized consulting, technical engineering, and logistics services will stay robust. At the exact same time, broadening nationwide air providers and opening brand-new worldwide flight courses will reinforce future travel exports. Little and medium business now account for 22.9 percent of nationwide GDP. These regional companies significantly export specialized digital, monetary, and management knowledge throughout local markets.

Eventually, these Q2 figures highlight a vibrant economy going through structured commercial modernization. Saudi Arabia continues to broaden sustainable non-oil earnings streams while deepening worldwide industrial relationships throughout all crucial service sectors.

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