FX.co ★ Saudi Arabia’s Private Sector Momentum Builds as Riyad Bank Composite PMI Rises in May

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector showed strengthening momentum in May 2026, as the Riyad Bank Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 52.8, up from 51.5 in April 2026. The latest reading, updated on 3 June 2026, points to a firmer expansion in overall business activity across the Kingdom.

The move higher from April’s level suggests an acceleration in output and demand conditions after a more modest pace of improvement earlier in the second quarter. Remaining above the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction, the May PMI underscores continued resilience in Saudi Arabia’s private sector, an important pillar of the country’s diversification efforts.

With May’s gain marking a clear month-on-month improvement, the data from Riyad Bank indicates that business conditions in Saudi Arabia are not only holding up but are gradually strengthening as the mid-point of 2026 approaches.