Saudi Arabia’s Money Supply Breaks $882 Billion Barrier for 1st Time in History

The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA)
The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia’s Money Supply Breaks $882 Billion Barrier for 1st Time in History

The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA)
The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s money supply surpassed the $882 billion mark for the first time in its history at the end of March 2026, as broad money (M3) rose to SAR3.307 trillion ($882 billion), according to data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).

The record increase in liquidity comes in line with the Kingdom’s accelerating economic growth under its Vision 2030 program. Annual growth in money supply reached 8.25 percent, compared with SAR3.055 trillion in March 2025, reflecting strong financial activity and robust capital spending.

Analysts attributed the continued upward trend since the start of the year to faster financing of major projects and growth in credit extended to the private sector, boosting money circulation within the domestic economy.

On a monthly basis, money supply increased by around SAR18 billion from February 2026, when it stood at SAR3.289 trillion, extending its upward trajectory since the beginning of the year.

Time and savings deposits recorded the strongest growth among liquidity components, rising from SAR1.075 trillion in March 2025 to SAR1.243 trillion, an annual increase of more than 15.6 percent.

The sharp rise was attributed to growing savings awareness among individuals and companies, as well as the attractiveness of deposit returns amid elevated interest rates, prompting customers to favor longer-term savings instruments to secure stable returns.

By contrast, currency in circulation outside banks grew by around 2 percent year-on-year, increasing from SAR251.5 billion to SAR256.4 billion, indicating the success of the Kingdom’s strategy to promote digital payments and reduce reliance on cash transactions.

Demand deposits rose from SAR1.461 trillion to SAR1.504 trillion, marking annual growth of nearly 3 percent and reflecting sufficient immediate liquidity to cover private-sector operating needs and daily consumer spending.

Other quasi-monetary deposits increased year-on-year from SAR266.8 billion to SAR302.9 billion over the same period.



Gold Slips as Focus Remains on Middle East, Rate Outlook

Gold bars, each weighing 1000 grams, displayed at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)
Gold bars, each weighing 1000 grams, displayed at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)
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Gold Slips as Focus Remains on Middle East, Rate Outlook

Gold bars, each weighing 1000 grams, displayed at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)
Gold bars, each weighing 1000 grams, displayed at a gold and silver refinery in Vienna (AFP)

Gold prices slipped on Monday as market participants assessed developments in the Middle East and their implications for inflation and interest rates.

Spot gold fell 0.3% to $4,362.60 per ounce by 0417 GMT after hitting a one-week high on Friday. US gold futures were down 0.6% at $4,400.20, Reuters reported.

Iran and the United States exchanged new threats, with President ‌Donald Trump ‌warning Iran would fail economically or face its ‌leadership ⁠being wiped out ⁠if it didn't make a deal, and the Iranian military saying it would retaliate harshly to any fresh attack.

"The focus remains on geopolitics, oil and the reaction in bond yields. For gold to gain meaningful upside traction, a clear move lower in oil and/or bond yields is likely required," said Tim Waterer, chief market ⁠analyst at KCM Trade.

"Gold may trade in a ‌roughly $4,200 to $4,580 range in the near ‌term."

Oil prices fell on hopes diplomacy in the Iran war will ‌get a chance this week amid a UN meet.

The prospect of a new global rate-tightening cycle has come into focus as some of the world's top central banks ‌raise rates and signal more may be needed to tame inflation fueled by the Iran war.

The Bank ⁠of Japan ⁠became the latest big central bank to tighten on Friday, following rate increases by the Federal Reserve earlier that week and the European Central Bank the week before.

Though gold is often seen as an inflation hedge, rising rates tend to curb its demand by making interest-bearing assets more attractive.

Analysts at Standard Chartered said in a note that gold remains volatile but continues to find firm downside support from official-sector demand. They said structural drivers remain in place to lift prices, albeit at a slower pace.

Among other metals, spot silver rose 0.2% to $66.37, platinum fell 0.1% to $1,798.31 and palladium added 0.6% at $1,309.65.


Qatar Launches Wealth Fund Division for Domestic Investments

Qatari flag flutters in Doha - AAWSAT/File
Qatari flag flutters in Doha - AAWSAT/File
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Qatar Launches Wealth Fund Division for Domestic Investments

Qatari flag flutters in Doha - AAWSAT/File
Qatari flag flutters in Doha - AAWSAT/File

Qatar's prime minister announced on Sunday the creation of a new division of the Qatar Investment Authority dedicated to developing domestic investments.

"We aim to expand the role of the private sector in driving Qatar's economic growth," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said as he announced the new division, Doha Investment, at a special edition of the Qatar Economic Forum in New York.

The annual gathering was cancelled in May, following weeks of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf states, including Qatar, according to Reuters.

"It will support our strongest companies, help emerging businesses grow, deepen capital markets and attract international capital and expertise to contribute to this effort," he added.

The new division will operate as the dedicated manager of QIA's local portfolio, initially overseeing 45 state-owned enterprises that represent roughly one-third of the wealth fund's total assets, according to Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, Qatar's minister of commerce and industry. He will serve as managing director and vice-chairman of Doha Investment.

Sheikh Faisal described the division not as a new creation but a consolidation, adding that the step has been under consideration for more than a decade.


PIF Launches Tawrid to Provide Supply-Chain Financing Products in Saudi Arabia

PIF Tower at the King Abdullah Financial District in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
PIF Tower at the King Abdullah Financial District in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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PIF Launches Tawrid to Provide Supply-Chain Financing Products in Saudi Arabia

PIF Tower at the King Abdullah Financial District in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
PIF Tower at the King Abdullah Financial District in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) on Sunday announced the launch of Tawrid Company for Financing Solutions, an innovative digital platform providing supply-chain financing products to companies in the Saudi Arabian market. Tawrid has obtained the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) permit to operate under the regulatory Sandbox environment.

The financial services industry is a strategic enabler of the six ecosystems that PIF announced recently as part of its 2026-2030 strategy.

Supply-chain financing products help companies to fund their broader activities. Tawrid’s digital offering will further strengthen the Saudi private sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, SPA reported.

Tawrid will play a significant role in connecting buyers, suppliers, and funders through its digital platform. It will offer products such as early settlement options against approved invoices, enabling businesses to expand their operations, enhance their working capital efficiency, and improve their liquidity management.

The launch of Tawrid is in line with PIF’s strategy to increase the Saudi private sector’s contribution to PIF’s projects and portfolio companies and to grow the private sector’s share of the local economy. Its platform will enable local banks registered on its network to engage with registered suppliers, strengthening supply chains and further supporting the diversification of financial services and the digitalization of trade in Saudi Arabia.

PIF’s investment in supply-chain financing is a natural evolution that builds on its efforts to advance the growth, resilience, and robustness of supply chains in the Saudi market. PIF has expanded opportunities for local suppliers and stimulated them to develop their capabilities in line with PIF’s strategic objectives to engage the private sector and enable it to contribute to a more diversified economy with deep, local, tech-enabled supply chains.

Head of Financial Institutions in MENA Investments at PIF Sultan Alsheikh said: “Tawrid will make Saudi supply chains stronger and more resilient by further enabling companies to access financing and improve their liquidity management. Its supply-chain financing products will enable businesses to operate with greater agility and efficiency, creating opportunities for the Saudi private sector in particular.”

Tawrid has started operations and has already signed binding agreements with local banks and companies, including Gulf International Bank (GIB), Saudi National Bank (SNB), Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF), ROSHN Group and Nesma & Partners.
PIF is one of the world’s most impactful investors, with a long-term investment strategy to further drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia and deliver sustainable financial returns.