Saudi budget: Expenses increased by 20% to 386.7 billion in the first quarter
The Ministry of Finance, today, Tuesday, announced an increase in the total expenditures of the Saudi budget for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2026 by 20% to 386.7 billion riyals, compared to the same period last year, when its expenditures amounted to 322.3 billion riyals, supported by an increase in the items of subsidies and grants and spending on non-financial assets." target="_blank">Budget, where the subsidies item recorded an increase of 170% to reach 17.5 billion riyals, compared to 6.5 billion riyals in the first quarter of 2025. The subsidies include "Transfers paid by government units to projects either on the basis of their production activities or on the basis of the quantities or values of goods or services that they sell, produce or import.
Grants also jumped by 249% to 956 million riyals in the first quarter of 2026 compared to 274 million riyals in the same quarter of the previous year.
Capital and operational spending
The item of non-financial assets (capital spending) recorded an increase of 56%, reaching 43.4 billion riyals, compared to 27.8 billion riyals in the same quarter of 2025, and includes all Economic assets except for financial assets, which provide benefits either through their use in the production of goods and services or in the form of property income.
The use of goods and services also witnessed a growth of 52% on an annual basis to 98.1 billion riyals.
Stability of financing expenses and other expenses
On the other hand, financing expenses recorded a slight decline by 1% to 12.3 billion riyals, and other expenses decreased by 6% to 32.3 billion riyals, While workers’ compensation (salaries, bonuses, and social insurance contributions) increased by 3% to 151.1 billion riyals, and social benefits (transfers to families on the occasion of illness, unemployment, or retirement) increased by 2% to 31.1 billion riyals.
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