Saudi Arabia's trade surplus with the Gulf is expected to increase by 288% in 2025

Saudi Arabia has achieved a significant leap in its foreign trade indicators, with the latest data from the General Authority for Statistics revealing exceptional growth in the Kingdom's non-oil trade surplus with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The surplus reached approximately 7.4 billion riyals in October 2025, marking a record increase of 288% compared to the same period in 2024, reflecting the success of economic policies aimed at diversifying income sources.

Details of trade performance and exports

Official data showed that Saudi Arabia's total non-oil merchandise exports, including re-exports, to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries rose to SAR 14.5 billion in October, representing a 78% year-on-year increase. These exports were comprised primarily of re-exports, which accounted for the largest share at SAR 10.5 billion, and domestic exports, valued at approximately SAR 4 billion. Meanwhile, merchandise imports from the GCC countries reached approximately SAR 7.1 billion, reflecting a 14% increase.

The significance of the numbers in the context of Vision 2030

This significant growth in the trade surplus is a direct reflection of the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which prioritizes the development of non-oil exports to reduce reliance on oil as the primary source of income. The notable increase in re-export figures also underscores the Kingdom's growing role as a global logistics hub connecting three continents, a key pillar of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP).

Gulf economic integration and partnership with the UAE

At the level of intra-regional relations, these figures reflect the strength of economic integration among the GCC countries and the ease of goods flowing across their borders. The United Arab Emirates accounted for the largest share of Saudi Arabia's foreign trade within the GCC system, with the Kingdom recording a non-oil trade surplus of approximately SAR 5.37 billion with the UAE. This surplus underscores the depth of the strategic partnership between the region's two largest economies and strengthens the prospects for future growth of the GCC Common Market, thereby enhancing the region's competitiveness as a unified economic bloc in the global market.