The The World Bank has maintained its positive outlook for the Saudi economy in the coming years, according to the World Bank’s “Global Economic Prospects” report. According to the report, the World Bank expects the Saudi economy will grow by 3.1% in 2026, a decrease of 1.2 percentage points compared to last January’s estimate of 4.3%.

Conversely, the World Bank raised its forecast for Saudi economic growth in 2027 to 4.9%, compared to its previous forecast of 4.4%, and projected continued growth to reach 3.7% in 2028.

Despite the downward revision of growth estimates for the current year, the projections continue to reflect the resilience of the Saudi economy and its ability to continue expanding, supported by strong domestic demand and the economic reform and diversification programs associated with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which strengthens the economy’s ability to cope with external changes and challenges. Globally, the World Bank lowered its forecast for global economic growth in 2026 to 2.5%, noting that the ongoing war in the Middle East is one of the main factors weighing on global economic activity.

The Bank also warned of a more pessimistic scenario in which global growth could fall to just 1.3%, should energy supply disruptions worsen and coincide with severe pressures in financial markets, leading to higher volatility, declining investor confidence, and a broader slowdown in economic activity.