RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Operating Revenues Index increased by 6.1 percent year-on-year in June 2026, while the number of building permits issued across the Kingdom rose by 20.3 percent, according to preliminary data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

The annual increase in operating revenues was supported by a 16.9 percent rise in both manufacturing activities and financial and insurance activities. Transportation and storage activities recorded an 18.4 percent increase, while real estate activities grew by 15 percent. Electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply also increased by 14.9 percent.

Other sectors also recorded annual growth, including information and communication activities, which rose by 5.4 percent, accommodation and food services by 4 percent, construction by 2.3 percent, and wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles by 0.6 percent.

Mining and quarrying was the only major activity to record an annual decline, with operating revenues falling by 10.9 percent.

On a monthly basis, the overall Operating Revenues Index decreased by 3.2 percent compared with May, mainly due to a 27.3 percent decline in mining and quarrying activities.

GASTAT’s figure showing the number of issued building permits and annual change rates.

Information and communication activities fell by 0.2 percent, accommodation and food services declined by 1.3 percent, other service activities decreased by 0.2 percent, while arts, entertainment and recreation activities fell by 1.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the Employees Compensation Index increased by 9.1 percent year-on-year in June. The increase was supported by growth of 11.8 percent in manufacturing, 7.6 percent in wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, 6.5 percent 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 by 1.6 percent in June. Manufacturing recorded a 2.6 percent increase, followed by financial and insurance activities at 2.4 percent, transportation and storage at 2.1 percent, construction at 1.4 percent, and mining and quarrying at 0.7 percent.

The number of building permits issued in June reached 5,045, representing a 20.3 percent increase compared with the 4,192 permits issued during the same month in 2025.

Compared with May, however, the number of building permits edged down by 0.2 percent, from 5,056 to 5,045 permits.

Source:Saudi Gazette