Saudi services exports fall 16.5% in Q2 2026 as imports rise
Saudi Arabia’s services exports dropped 16.5% in Q2 2026, while imports rose 8.4%, according to the General Authority for Statistics.
Key Takeaways
AIInternational trade statistics for services in the second quarter of 2026 showed that Saudi Arabia’s services exports fell by 16.5% compared to the first quarter, totaling 59.5 billion riyals (SAR) versus 71.3 billion riyals.
The General Authority for Statistics reported that Saudi Arabia’s services imports increased by 8.4% during the second quarter of 2026 compared to the previous quarter, reaching 120.8 billion riyals, up from 111.4 billion riyals.
The authority indicated that the decline in services exports was mainly due to a 23.6% drop in travel services exports compared to the first quarter.
Breakdown of exports and imports by service type
Travel services led Saudi Arabia’s services exports in the second quarter, valued at 33.8 billion riyals, followed by transport services at 10.5 billion riyals. Other business services exports reached 2.6 billion riyals, while construction and government services each accounted for 1.8 billion riyals. Exports of insurance and pension services amounted to about 1.5 billion riyals.
Financial services exports stood at 1.4 billion riyals, as did manufacturing services, while personal, cultural, and recreational services reached 1.1 billion riyals. Exports of maintenance and repair services were valued at 0.9 billion riyals. Exports of telecommunications, information, and computer services totaled around 2.3 billion riyals, and intellectual property usage exports were 0.2 billion riyals.
On the import side, transport services topped the list at 34.1 billion riyals, followed by travel services at 25 billion riyals. Imports of other business services reached 18.8 billion riyals, construction services 14.5 billion riyals, and government services 7.3 billion riyals.
Imports of insurance and pension services amounted to about 6 billion riyals, while telecommunications, information, and computer services imports totaled 4 billion riyals. Manufacturing services imports stood at 3.2 billion riyals, and financial services at 2.6 billion riyals. Personal, cultural, and recreational services imports reached 2.2 billion riyals. Maintenance and repair services imports were 1.7 billion riyals, and intellectual property usage expenses totaled 1.6 billion riyals.