Economy

Imports
$169 billion (2022). Cars ($13.2B), Broadcasting Equipment ($5.43B), Gold ($5.22B), Refined Petroleum ($4.87B), and Packaged Medicaments ($3.08B), importing mostly from China ($36.5B), United Arab Emirates ($27.8B), United States ($11B), India ($10.1B), and Germany ($7.1B).

In 2022, Saudi Arabia was the world’s biggest importer of Tanks and Armored vehicles ($674M) and Travel Kits ($72.7M).

Financial inclusion factors (over 15 years of  age)
• 74.3% have an account with a financial institution
• 25.4% have a credit card
• 39% make online purchases

Ease of doing business
Easy to conduct business (71.6 out of 100) 4th out of 20 Middle Eastern and Northern African countries 62nd worldwide out of 190 countries (2024, World Bank).

Global Innovation Index
Ranked 5th out of 18 Northern African and Western
Asian countries, 48th out of 132 worldwide.

The Global Innovation Index captures the innovation
ecosystem performance of 132 economies and tracks the most recent global innovation trends.

Exports
$362 billion (2022). Crude Petroleum ($236B), Refined Petroleum ($45.3B), Ethylene Polymers ($13.1B), Propylene Polymers ($6.4B), and Acyclic alcohol derivatives (halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated) ($6.19B), exporting mostly to China ($68B), India ($46.2B), Japan ($36.5B), South Korea ($36B), and United States ($23.9B).

In 2022, Saudi Arabia was the world’s biggest exporter of Crude Petroleum ($236B), Propylene Polymers ($6.4B), Acyclic alcohol derivatives (halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated) ($6.19B), and Alkylbenzenes and Alkylnaphthalenes ($563M).

Main local online stores
Souq.com, Haraj.com.sa and Amazon, Apple, Opensooq.com, AliExpress, Jarir.com, Extrastores.com, Alibaba and eBay.

Economic freedom
Moderately free’ (rated 61.9 out of 100) ranked 6th amongst 14 Middle Eastern and North African countries, ranked 69th out of 184 countries worldwide. (2024, Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal).

Media

Media main languages Arabic, English

Information channels
Saudi Arabia’s tightly-controlled media offer unwavering support for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and King Salman, routinely ignoring negative reporting about the kingdom.
Key media owners are said to have handed over significant assets to the state during MBS’s so-called anti-corruption initiative in 2017, leaving the ownership status of major outlets unclear.
Although outlets are adopting a more “modern” approach, and more women are involved in the media on and off screen, media freedom organisations continue to note a decline in freedoms.
Moves are under way to turn the kingdom into a global media hub, with the relocation of key outlets from abroad and a diversification into digital platforms.
Religious figures are among the most followed social media personalities, despite having been sidelined by MBS in his attempt to curb the influence of hardline Salafi clerics and those affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Social media manipulation is rife as campaigns to defend the kingdom and rebuff criticism routinely involve influencers, inauthentic behaviour and disinformation.

The press

Akhbaar24 – a news-focused website associated with the popular financial platform Argaam
Elaph – Saudi-owned pan-Arab news site, based in London
Sabq – pro-government Saudi news website
Al-Watan – Abha-based daily
Al-Riyadh – Riyadh-based daily
Okaz – Jeddah-based daily
Al-Jazirah – Riyadh-based daily
Al-Sharq al-Awsat – Saudi pan-Arab daily, based in London, site in English
Al-Iqtisadiyah – financial daily focusing on regional economic news
Arab News – Jeddah-based English-language daily
Saudi Gazette – Jeddah-based English-language daily

Television

Al Arabiya TV – Saudi media group MBC’s flagship 24-hour news channel
Al-Hadath TV – Al-Arabiya’s sister channel, which carries in-depth follow-ups on Al Arabiya’s reports
Asharq News – news channel
Saudi TV – state-run; includes news network Al-Ikhbariya

Radio

Saudi Radio – state-run
MBC FM – private
Mix FM – private

News agency

Saudi Press Agency (SPA) – state-run, English-language pages