Saudi Arabia’s short-term business operating revenue index climbed 2.7 percent year-on-year in December 2025 to reach 108.6 points, according to the latest bulletin from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) — a result that highlights the Kingdom’s broadening non-oil economic base and the sustained momentum of Vision 2030’s diversification drive heading into 2026.
Entertainment and Finance Lead the Way
Among the individual economic sectors tracked in the December report, arts, entertainment, and recreation recorded the highest annual growth rate of any activity at 17.6 percent — a figure that reflects the rapid expansion of Saudi Arabia’s leisure economy under Vision 2030’s social and cultural transformation agenda. Financial and insurance activities followed with growth of 14.8 percent, while information and communication services expanded by 11.6 percent, confirming that service-oriented industries are driving a growing share of Saudi economic output.
The wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repair sector — one of the most closely watched indicators of domestic consumer confidence — grew 9.9 percent year-on-year, pointing to robust household spending supported by rising private sector wages and steady employment gains. Construction activity expanded 8.1 percent, reflecting the continued flow of investment into infrastructure and real estate development underpinning the Kingdom’s major giga-projects. Transportation and storage grew 8.0 percent, and accommodation and food services expanded 4.8 percent, both sectors benefiting directly from the tourism drive central to Vision 2030.
Non-Oil Sectors Absorb the Mining Decline
The headline growth of 2.7 percent was achieved despite a significant contraction in mining and quarrying activity, which fell 9.9 percent year-on-year. At a weight of 21.8 percent of the overall index, mining’s decline represented a meaningful headwind — and the fact that the overall index still rose speaks to the breadth and depth of the non-oil expansion taking place across the economy. Manufacturing held positive ground with growth of 0.3 percent, maintaining its contribution to the overall picture.
A Full Year of Broadening Momentum
Looking across the full calendar year of 2025, the GASTAT data presents a picture of broadly positive but varied momentum. Growth peaked in the third quarter, reaching 5.9 percent in September and 5.7 percent in August, before moderating toward year-end as favorable base-effect comparisons began to normalise. The consistent outperformance of arts and entertainment, financial services, and construction throughout the year confirms that Vision 2030’s targeted investments in non-oil economic pillars are delivering measurable results — and that Saudi Arabia’s private sector is progressively capable of sustaining growth independently of hydrocarbon revenues.
