Business Operating Revenue in Saudi Arabia Up 3% in August; Building Permits Drop

03:49 AM EDT, 10/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Saudi Arabia's operating revenues index rose 3.0% annually in August, following a 4.9% rise in July, preliminary data from the General Authority for Statistics showed Tuesday. The increase was driven by a 7.7% increase in manufacturing activities, a 2.2% rise in wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicle activities, and a 3.2% growth in construction activities. Operating revenues in financial and insurance activities rose 10.8%, while that in information and communication activities increased 5.8%, according to the agency's latest short-term business indicators. On a monthly basis, the operating revenues index dropped 1.1% from July, driven by decreases in manufacturing and financial and insurance activities, among others. Meanwhile, issued building permits in the kingdom dropped 19.7% year over year to 5,621 permits in August. Month over month, issued building permits also decreased 3.6%. In terms of worker pay, Saudi Arabia's employees compensation index rose 6.3% on a yearly basis, buoyed by salary increases in manufacturing, construction and mining, among others. On a monthly basis, employee compensation ticked up 0.1% in August, also driven by increases in manufacturing, construction and mining.