Saudi operating revenues rise 6.1% as building permits surge 20.3% in June

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Operating Revenues Index increased 6.1 percent year-on-year in June 2026, while the number of issued building permits jumped 20.3 percent, according to preliminary results from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The annual increase in operating revenues was supported by growth of 16.9 percent in manufacturing activities as well as in financial and insurance activities. Transportation and storage activities recorded an 18.4 percent annual increase, while real estate activities rose 15 percent and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply increased 14.9 percent. Other annual increases included 5.4 percent in information and communication activities, 4 percent in accommodation and food service activities, 2.3 percent in construction and 0.6 percent in wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles. Mining and quarrying was the only activity to record an annual decline in operating revenues, falling 10.9 percent. On a monthly basis, the overall Operating Revenues Index decreased 3.2 percent compared with May, affected by a 27.3 percent decline in mining and quarrying activities. **media[2753342]** Information and communication activities declined 0.2 percent month-on-month, accommodation and food service activities fell 1.3 percent, other service activities decreased 0.2 percent, and arts, entertainment and recreation activities declined 1.5 percent. Meanwhile, the Employees Compensation Index increased 9.1 percent year-on-year in June, supported by increases of 11.8 percent in manufacturing, 7.6 percent in wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles. There was also a 6.5 percent increase in construction, 7.8 percent in financial and insurance activities and 3.9 percent in mining and quarrying. On a monthly basis, the Employees Compensation Index increased 1.6 percent, supported by growth of 2.6 percent in manufacturing, 2.4 percent in financial and insurance activities, 2.1 percent in transportation and storage, 1.4 percent in construction and 0.7 percent in mining and quarrying. The number of issued building permits reached 5,045 in June, up 20.3 percent from 4,192 in the same month last year. Compared with May, however, building permits edged down 0.2 percent from 5,056 to 5,045.