{
  "id": 2775794,
  "title": "Saudi Arabia’s construction costs rise 2.3% in July 2026",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/saudi-arabias-construction-costs-rise-2-3-in-july-2026",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-23T11:26:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Saudi Gazette",
    "slug": "saudi-gazette",
    "url": "https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/663962/saudi-arabia/saudi-arabias-construction-costs-rise-23-in-july-2026"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "RIYADH — The Construction Cost Index (CCI) in Saudi Arabia climbed 2.3 percent year-over-year in July 2026, primarily due to increased expenses in both residential and non-residential sectors, as reported by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).\n\nIn the non-residential sector, construction costs rose 2.6 percent compared to July 2025. This increase was mainly attributed to a 2.6 percent surge in the residential sector. The rise in residential costs was mainly driven by a 4.2 percent jump in equipment and machinery rental expenses, largely due to a 5.7 percent hike in renting equipment with operators. Energy costs saw a 3 percent increase, while basic materials rose by 1.8 percent, and labor costs went up by 1.4 percent. The higher basic material costs were fueled by a 3.9 percent rise in timber and joinery prices, alongside a 2.8 percent boost in other building materials.\n\nWithin the non-residential sector, equipment and machinery rental costs experienced a 5.8 percent year-on-year increase, mainly driven by a 7.3 percent rise in renting equipment with operators. Energy expenses went up by 3 percent, labor costs increased by 1.8 percent, and basic material costs climbed by 1.8 percent. The increase in basic materials was linked to a 4 percent surge in other building material prices and a 2.5 percent rise in timber and joinery prices.\n\nOn a month-to-month basis, the CCI remained steady in July compared to June, indicating stable costs in both residential and non-residential segments.",
  "summary": "RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Construction Cost Index (CCI) increased 2.3 percent year-on-year in July 2026, mainly due to higher construction costs in both the residential and non-residential sectors, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). Construction costs in the non-residential sector rose 2.6 percent compared with July 2025, while costs in the residential sector increased 2.2…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
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        "published": "2026-08-23T07:26:58.000Z"
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/more-than-4-5-million-students-return-to-schools-across-saudi-arabia",
        "published": "2026-08-23T08:08:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}