RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s economy expanded at the fastest pace in three years in 2025, with the oil sector emerging as a stronger engine of growth under the new Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (Opec+) supply policy.
Gross domestic product (GDP) rose 4.5% in the 12 months through December, according to preliminary data published by the statistics office last Sunday.
The expansion was the strongest since 2022, as was the 5.6% growth rate seen for the oil economy.
Non-oil activities slowed for a third straight year, though the sector was still the biggest contributor to overall economic expansion in 2025.
Real GDP for the whole economy grew 4.9% year on year in the final quarter of the year.
State oil giant Saudi Aramco has been pumping more crude since around mid-2025 as part of supply increases agreed to by Opec+, led by the kingdom and Russia.
The Gulf nation churned out about 10 million barrels a day in the final quarter of last year, the most since early 2023, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
While Saudi officials say oil activities are less important than in the past given their focus on growing other areas, the oil sector still makes up about half of the economy. — Bloomberg
