Saudi Arabia's social insurance scheme covered 13.99 million public and private sector employees at the end of Q2 2026, according to GOSI data. Saudis numbered 3.17 million, or 23%, and expatriates about 10.82 million, or 77%. The private sector accounted for 13.35 million, or 95%, and Riyadh for about 7.24 million. In the quarter, 245,600 people suspended their subscription, 103,400 of them Saudis.
Saudis make up 23% of insured workers, but they account for 103,400 out of 245,600 suspensions. Because of this, a workforce-programme manager should monitor employee exits each quarter just as carefully as new hires.
Explore more signals
This year cut, next year doubled
A Bloomberg survey of 15 economists at major international banks, conducted between 11 and 16 September, put average expected Saudi GDP growth for this year at about 0.6%, down from 1.6% in the previous survey, with individual estimates ranging from growth of close to 3% to a contraction of 2.5%. The same economists expect the Saudi economy to grow about 6.1% in 2027, and the survey period coincided with the attack that temporarily halted the East-West pipeline.
The difference between this year and next reflects a disruption rather than a trend. Investors considering Saudi exposure should view the 6.1% figure as a rebound estimate that requires separate stress testing.
Saudi took 62% of MENA
MENA startups raised $172.6 million across 45 deals in July, up 16% month on month. Saudi Arabia took $106.6 million across 16 deals, 62% of the regional total. The UAE raised $46.6 million, also across 16 deals, followed by Syria at $10.6 million, Egypt $7.25 million and Morocco $2 million. Saudi Arabia and the UAE together accounted for roughly 89% of all capital raised. Notable rounds: RIME's $2 million seed led by Seedra Ventures, a strategic investment into MOZN from Humain, and an "A-" rating assigned to Tamara by Simah.
Saudi's 62% resulted from larger investments on the same number of deals in a regional pool of only $172.6 million, the move is to compete for strategic capital, not to chase a VC market this small.
Households borrow a record
Loans to individuals hit a record SAR 1.472 trillion at the end of August, per SAMA data. That is up SAR 38.01 billion (2.65%) since end-2025 and 3.85% year on year, and the 14th straight monthly rise. Individuals now account for 42.49% of total bank credit of SAR 3.464 trillion.
For fourteen months in a row, households have kept borrowing even as the economy slows down, and banks continue to approve their loans.
