Saudi Arabia's non-oil business activity declines for first time since 2020 due to regional conflicts.

Saudi Arabia's non-oil sector saw business activity decline in March for the first time in over five years, dropping below the 50 neutral mark on the Purchasing Managers' Index. This was mainly due to weaker export orders and domestic confidence amid regional tensions and geopolitical uncertainty. Despite this, economists see it as a temporary adjustment, with underlying fundamentals like employment and government spending under Vision 2030 still supporting medium-term growth. https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2026/04/05/saudi-arabias-non-oil-business-conditions-weaken-for-first-time-since-august-2020/