Saudi business confidence climbs to 56.7 points on industry, services gains

In August 2026, Saudi Arabia's Business Confidence Index reached 56.7 points, marking a modest increase of 0.2 points from July's 56.5 points. This upward trend reflects growing optimism among businesses about the nation's economic activity. The index showed a positive shift in both the industry and services sectors, while the construction sector experienced a minor decline.

The industry sector's Business Confidence Index rose to 55.8 points in August, up 1.04 points from July's 54.7 points. This upward movement was fueled by stronger confidence in overall performance and employment prospects. Meanwhile, the services sector's index climbed to 56.1 points in August, from 55.3 points in July, a 0.9-point increase. This growth was driven by heightened optimism about overall performance and fixed investment spending.

However, the construction sector's Business Confidence Index dropped to 57.3 points in August, down 0.4 points from July's 57.7 points. This decline was linked to diminished confidence in forthcoming input costs. On a monthly basis, the Overall Business Confidence Index saw a 0.3 percent increase in August, following a 0.05 percent decline in July.