the International Monetary Fund a more optimistic outlook on the performance of the Saudi economy in the coming years, after raising its forecast for the Kingdom’s GDP growth in 2027 to 5.5%, compared to its previous estimate of 4.5% in last April’s report, and significantly higher than its January forecast, which projected growth of 3.6%.

Conversely, the Fund lowered its growth estimates for the Saudi economy for 2026 to 1.7%, down from its previous forecast of 3.1%, reflecting a revision to the near-term growth pace despite a positive medium-term outlook.
These projections were included in the International Monetary Fund’s “World Economic Outlook” report, which noted that global growth forecasts have generally stabilized, with the global economy expected to grow by 3.0% in 2026, rising to 3.4% in 2027.

The Fund explained that its new estimates for global growth have not changed significantly compared to those in the "World Economic Outlook" report released in April 2026, as major economies continue to grapple with challenges related to inflation, interest rates, and geopolitical tensions.