Saudi Companies Witness Remarkable Growth in Q3 2018

Saudi Companies Witness Remarkable Growth in Q3 2018
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Saudi Companies Witness Remarkable Growth in Q3 2018

Saudi Companies Witness Remarkable Growth in Q3 2018

The Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Investment revealed a steady increase in the number of companies and establishments during the third quarter of 2018, compared to the same period in 2017 and 2016.

This coincided with MCI endeavor and efforts, in cooperation with the concerned government authorities, to ease the starting up of businesses and facilitate the relevant procedures.

The number of current establishments during the third quarter of 2018 grew by more than 35%. The number of firms reached 945,600 compared to 824,700 during the same period in 2017, while in 2016 the number was 701,300 for the same period.

The number of listed companies increased by 23% during the third quarter of 2018, to reach 148,000 compared to 133,600 for the same period in 2017, while the number was 121,000 during 2016.

The number of limited liability companies increased by 25% during the third quarter of 2018 to reach 108,400 companies, compared to 96,700 companies during the same period of 2017, while in 2016 the number was around 87,000.

The rate of Closed Shareholding Companies increased by 15% during the third quarter of 2018 to reach 1,400 companies, compared to 1,330 companies during the same period of 2017, while in 2016 the number was 1,222.

The ratio of issuing the Commercial Registrations for ten economic sectors increased between 8.2 to 16.9% during the third quarter of 2018, compared to the same quarter of 2017.

These sectors included wholesale and retail trading, commercial services, construction and building, contracting, industry, transportation, storage and refrigeration, social and personal services, agriculture, fishing and forestry, electricity generation and water, mining, petrol, business and financial services, and other miscellaneous services.

The General Authority for Statistics recently issued results of the Index of Industrial Production during the second quarter of 2018.

The results indicated an increase of 4.17% in the industrial production index during the second quarter of 2018, compared to the first quarter of the same year. The index registered 137.87 points during the second quarter of 2018.

As for the industrial production index activities, the mining and quarrying indicator rose by 1.89%, while the manufacturing production increased by 5.07%. The production of the electricity and gas supply registered an increase with 83.46% when compared to the first quarter of 2018.

The results also showed an increase of 5.84% in all industrial activities compared to the second quarter of 2017. The growth in mining and quarrying production reached 1.95%, while the manufacturing production growth registered 16.44%. However, the production of electricity and gas supply decreased by 0.30%.



Moody's Upgrades Saudi Arabia's Credit Rating

Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
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Moody's Upgrades Saudi Arabia's Credit Rating

Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters

The credit rating agency “Moody’s Ratings” upgraded Saudi Arabia’s credit rating to “Aa3” in local and foreign currency, with a “stable” outlook.
The agency indicated in its report that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification and the robust growth of its non-oil sector. Over time, the advancements are expected to reduce Saudi Arabia’s exposure to oil market developments and long-term carbon transition on its economy and public finances.
The agency commended the Kingdom's financial planning within the fiscal space, emphasizing its commitment to prioritizing expenditure and enhancing the spending efficiency. Additionally, the government’s ongoing efforts to utilize available fiscal resources to diversify the economic base through transformative spending were highlighted as instrumental in supporting the sustainable development of the Kingdom's non-oil economy and maintaining a strong fiscal position.
In its report, the agency noted that the planning and commitment underpin its projection of a relatively stable fiscal deficit, which could range between 2%-3% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Moody's expected that the non-oil private-sector GDP of Saudi Arabia will expand by 4-5% in the coming years, positioning it among the highest in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, an indication of continued progress in the diversification efforts reducing the Kingdom’s exposure to oil market developments.
In recent years, the Kingdom achieved multiple credit rating upgrades from global rating agencies. These advancements reflect the Kingdom's ongoing efforts toward economic transformation, supported by structural reforms and the adoption of fiscal policies that promote financial sustainability, enhance financial planning efficiency, and reinforce the Kingdom's strong and resilient fiscal position.