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JEDDAH: ������Ƶ’s ports handled 22.52 million tonnes of cargo in September, up 8.6 percent from the same month last year, reflecting the Kingdom’s expanding maritime trade. 

The growth included 1.22 million tonnes of general cargo, 5.7 million tonnes of dry bulk, and 15.6 million tonnes of liquid bulk, according to a release by the Saudi Ports Authority, known as Mawani. 

Saudi ports’ strong performance supports trade, maritime industries, tourism, and supply chains, while contributing to the Kingdom’s food security and its goal of becoming a major logistics hub connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa under Vision 2030. 

“Maritime traffic also rose by 1.11 percent to reach 1,001 vessels, compared to 990 vessels during the same period last year,” the statement noted, adding that passenger numbers increased by 58.56 percent to reach 71,376 passengers, compared to 45,015 passengers in September last year. 

It further said that the number of vehicles decreased by 20.09 percent to reach 75,616, compared to 94,630 a year ago. 

“The ports received 285,657 cattle heads, marking a decrease of 17.07 percent compared to 344,440 heads of livestock during the same period last year,” Mawani said. 

It added that handled containers fell 2.75 percent to 654,865 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units from 673,368 TEUs in September 2024. 

Exported containers amounted to 237,349 TEUs, a decrease of 7.14 percent compared to 255,606 in September 2024, while imported containers declined by 3.02 percent to reach 250,725 TEUs compared to 258,521 the same period last year. 

Transshipment containers, meanwhile, recorded an increase of 4.74 percent to reach 166,791 TEUs, compared to 159,241 during the ninth month of 2024. 

In August, Saudi ports handled 750,634 TEUs, a 9.52 percent increase from the 685,414 seen in the same period of 2024, driven by a 14.7 percent rise in transshipment activity to 189,407 TEUs. 

RIYADH: The World Bank has raised ������Ƶ’s 2025 economic growth forecast to 3.2 percent, citing stronger oil output and robust non-oil activity, marking a notable upgrade from the 2.8 percent projected in April. 

The Washington-based lender said in its latest Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Economic Update that the Kingdom’s economy expanded 3.9 percent in the first half of 2025, buoyed by increased oil production and sustained growth in services.

The pace is set to quicken further, with growth expected to reach 4.3 percent in 2026 and 4.4 percent in 2027. 

The World Bank’s latest outlook aligns with projections from other institutions. The International Monetary Fund in July forecast ������Ƶ’s economy to grow 3.6 percent this year and 3.9 percent in 2026, while the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in September raised its 2026 estimate for the Kingdom to 3.9 percent, from 2.5 percent previously. 

“In ������Ƶ, real GDP grew by 3.9 percent during the first half of 2025 and is forecast to grow by 3.2 percent for all of 2025. This is a major increase from the 2 percent growth rate of 2024 — driven by oil production expansion and strong non-oil sector growth, particularly for services,” said the World Bank in the latest report. 

Regional outlook 

Economic growth in the Middle East region is projected to expand by 2.8 percent this year, 0.2 percentage points higher than the forecast made in April. 

Across the Gulf Cooperation Council region, overall growth is expected to reach 3.5 percent in 2025, 0.3 percentage points higher than the previous estimate. The bloc’s economy is projected to expand by 4.4 percent in 2026 and 4.7 percent in 2027. 

The World Bank noted that GCC countries will benefit from the gradual phasing out of voluntary oil production cuts and continued growth in non-oil industries. 

“Oil-importing countries are also expected to see economic improvements, thanks to private spending and investments as well as a rebound in agriculture and tourism,” the report added. 

In September, ������Ƶ’s Ministry of Tourism announced that the Saudi Summer program welcomed more than 32 million domestic and international tourists, up 26 percent from the 2024 season. Tourist spending reached SR53.2 billion ($14.2 billion), marking a 15 percent year-on-year increase. 
 
The report also projected the UAE’s GDP to grow by 4.8 percent this year, accelerating to 5 percent in 2026 and 5.1 percent in 2027.

Qatar’s economy is forecast to expand by 2.8 percent in 2025, while Bahrain and Kuwait are expected to grow 3.5 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively. Oman’s GDP is set to rise 3.1 percent in 2025 and 3.6 percent in 2026. 

������Ƶ is also expected to maintain a healthy inflation rate of 2.3 percent in 2025 and 2.2 percent in 2026. Inflation in the wider Middle East and North Africa region is projected to remain contained at 2.3 percent in both years. 

Labor market and reforms 

The World Bank emphasized that countries in the MENAAP region could enhance living standards by tapping into the full potential of their workforce, particularly through greater female labor force participation. 

������Ƶ has made notable strides in this area, steadily diversifying its workforce. In October 2024, Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said the Kingdom aims to achieve 40 percent female workforce participation by the end of the decade, having already surpassed its Vision 2030 target of 30 percent. 

The report noted that ������Ƶ has recorded one of the world’s fastest gains in women’s workforce participation, rising nearly 14 percentage points between 2017 and 2023. 

“The surge was evident across all age groups, and gains were especially pronounced among groups of women who historically had low participation and represented a small share of the labor force,” the World Bank noted.