Saudi Arabia’s increased spending could reduce saving but drive economic diversification: Moody’s

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s decision to increase its planned spending by 18 percent will reduce windfall savings from oil, but the move could help the Kingdom accelerate its economic diversification, said global rating agency Moody’s.

On Sept. 30, the Saudi government announced that it plans to revise its spending upward to around SR175 billion ($46.5 billion) in 2022-24, compared to the targets previously published at the end of 2021.

The increase amounted to around 4-4.5 percent of the Kingdom’s gross domestic product.