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Transportation and storage
Sector

Overview

Transportation and storage

In the Transportation and storage sector, the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 3.3% in first quarter of 2026 compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The seasonally adjusted real GDP increased by 3.1%, while the nominal GDP increased by 5.6% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Exports from the Transportation and storage sector in 2023 decreased by 88.2% compared to the previous year, while imports from the sector grew by 106.3%. As a result, the trade balance was -838.4 thousand, 106.3% lower than the previous year.

Transportation and storage sector achieved positive growth in the foreign direct investment (FDI) stock at the end of 2024, which amounted to 111.3 billion, compared to the FDI stock of 2023, which was 111.3 billion.

The inflows of FDI in the Transportation and storage sector grew by 375.9% in 2024 compared to the previous year, whereas the outflows of FDI showed an increase of 1,009.9% compared to previous period. Thus, the net flows amounted to 63.4 million in 2024, while in 2023, it recorded -2.3 billion.

The overall distribution of the employed in the Transportation and storage sector reached 4.0% in fourth quarter of 2025, increased from last quarter by 0.05 percentage points (pp) and decreased from a year ago by 0.06 pp.

For its part, the average weekly working hours was 44.3 hours in the third quarter of 2023, registering an increase of 0.8% compared to the previous period and an increase of 0.5% compared to the same quarter of 2022.

The operating revenues of the sector reached 178.2 billion in 2024, an increase of 4.8% compared to the previous year. For its part, the operating expenses amounted to 76.5 billion, showing an increase of 5.4% compared to the previous period. As a result, the operating surplus of the Transportation and storage sector was 69.3 billion, 3.1% higher than the previous period.

Real Sector Indicators

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

In the first quarter of 2026, the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Transportation and storage amounted to 72.1 billion. Additionally, the nominal GDP recorded a value of 75.1 billion, while the seasonally adjusted real GDP stood at 69.2 billion.

The graph shows the quarterly evolution of the real, nominal and seasonally adjusted real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Transportation and storage sector.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

The Real GDP and Seasonally Adjusted Real GDP are calculated by Gastat using the Chain-Linked Methodology.

Quarterly Evolution of Real, Nominal and Seasonally Adjusted Real GDP in the Transportation and Storage Sector

Monetary

Points of Sale Transactions

In April 2026, the value of points of sale (POS) transactions amounted to 4.3 billion in the Transportation and storage sector, being 0.0% higher than the previous month and 10.1% higher than the same month from the previous year.

The graph shows the monthly evolution of the value of points of sale transactions in Transportation and storage sector.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

Monthly Evolution of the Value of Points of Sale Transactions in the Transportation and Storage Sector

SADAD System Payments

In April 2026, the SADAD system payments value in Transportation and storage sector reached 115.3 million, being 25.6% higher than the previous month and 39.1% lower than the same month from the previous year.

The graph shows the monthly evolution of the SADAD system payments value in Transportation and storage sector.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

Monthly Evolution of the SADAD System Payments Value in the Transportation and Storage Sector

Commercial Bank Credit

During April 2026, the Transportation and storage sector secured 74.6 billion in commercial bank credits, lower by 1.3% than the value of the previous month and higher by 10.4% compared to the same month of the previous year.

The graph shows the monthly evolution of commercial bank credits in Transportation and storage sector.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

Monthly Evolution of Commercial Bank Credits in the Transportation and storage Sector

External Sector & International Trade

Exports and Imports

Exports of the Transportation and storage sector reached 3.5 thousand in 2023. The primary destination for these exports was Kingdom of Bahrain ( 3.5 thousand).

The graph shows annual exports of Transportation and storage sector by country, measured in trade value.

Exports Value by Country Annually

Trade Balance

In December 2025, the Transportation and storage sector recorded exports amounting 100.0 and imports totaling 38.2 thousand, resulting in a trade balance deficit of 38.1 thousand.

The graph shows the monthly evolution of exports and imports in the Transportation and storage sector, with the line representing the trade balance.

Monthly Evolution of Exports and Imports in the Transportation and Storage Sector

Foreign Licenses

In the fourth quarter of 2023, there were 18 registered in the Transportation and storage sector, representing a 18.2% decrease compared to the previous period.

The graph shows the quarterly trend in the number of foreign licenses obtained by the Transportation and storage sector.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

Quarterly Evolution of the Number of Foreign Licenses in the Transportation and Storage Sector

FDI Stock

In 2024, the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stock reached 111.3 billion, marking an increased of 0.1% compared to the previous year.

The graph shows the annual evolution of the FDI stock in the Transportation and storage sector.

Annual Evolution of FDI Stock in the Transportation and Storage Sector

FDI Flow

In 2024, the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Inflow amounted to 5.1 billion, while the FDI Outflow stood at 5.0 billion. Consequently, the FDI Net Inflow was 63.4 million, reflecting an increased of 103% compared to the previous year.

The graph illustrates the annual progression of FDI Inflow and Outflow in the Transportation and storage sector. The line chart represents the FDI Net Inflow.

Note:

FDI inflows: Financial transactions that arise between the FDI institution, direct investors and related companies outside the Saudi economy, which occur during a certain period of time, and form inflows when their positive impact appears in excess of equity and/or debt instruments.

FDI outflows: These are financial transactions that arise between the Foreign Direct Investment Corporation, direct investors, and related companies outside the Saudi economy, and which occur during a certain period of time. They are outflows when their impact appears in a decrease in the side of obligations, such as paid dividends or repayment of loans and credit receivables, or when the foreign shareholder exits.

FDI net inflow: It represents the difference between inflows and outflows of foreign direct investment inflows.

Annual Evolution of FDI Inflow and Outflow in the Transportation and Storage Sector

Labor Market

Distribution of the Employed

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the percentage distribution of employed people in Transportation and storage sector reached 4.0%, with 4.3% for men and 2.3% for women.

The graph shows the quarterly evolution of the percentage distribution of employed people by gender in Transportation and storage sector.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

Percentage Distribution of Employed by Gender in the Transportation and Storage Sector

Working Hours

During the third quarter of 2023, the average hours worked by Saudi men were 40.2, compared to 47.2 hours for non-Saudi men. Likewise, Saudi women averaged 39.4 hours, while non-Saudi women worked an average of 41.2 hours.

The graph shows the average weekly working hours by gender and nationality in Transportation and storage sector.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

Average Weekly Working Hours by Nationality and Gender in the Transportation and Storage Sector

Social Insurance (GOSI)

During the fourth quarter of 2025, a total of 837,351 participants on the job Subject to the rules and regulations of social insurance were registered in the Transportation and storage sector, with 92.1% being men (770,852 participants) and 7.9% women (66,499 participants).

The graph shows the quarterly evolution of the number of participants on the job Subject to the rules and regulations of social insurance by gender in the Transportation and storage sector.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

Number of Participants in the Transportation and Storage Sector By Gender

On-the-job Subscribers in the Private Sector

In 2022 on-the-job subscribers in the private sector was 82,941 for Saudi men and 324,838 for non-Saudi men. On-the-job subscribers was 32,719 for saudi women and 1,975 for non-Saudi women.

The graph shows on-the-job subscribers in the private sector by gender and nationality in Transportation and storage sector.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

On-the-job Subscribers in the Private Sector by Nationality and Gender in the Transportation and Storage Sector

Structural Business

Economic Establishments

In 2018, there were 16,698 establishments registered in the Transportation and storage sector, of which 57.7% had less than 5 employees, 31.4% had between 5 and 19 employees and 10.9% had more than 20 employees.

The graph shows the annual distribution of establishments categorized by size based on the number of employees in the Transportation and storage sector.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

Number of Economic Establishments by Size Class in the Transportation and Storage Sector

Revenues and Expenses

In 2024, the operating revenues reached 178.2 billion, while operating expenses amounted to 76.5 billion, resulting in an operating surplus of 69.3 billion for the year.

The graph shows the annual evolution of operating expenses and operating revenues, with the line representing the operating surplus each year.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

Annual Evolution of Operating Expenses and Revenues in the Transportation and Storage Sector

Net Assets

In 2017 net assets reached an amount of 18.6 billion, being lower in 7.5% compared to the previous year.

The graph shows the annual evolution of net assets in Transportation and storage sector.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

Annual Evolution of Net Assets in the Transportation and Storage Sector

Operating Revenues & Expenses in SMEs

In 2024, the operating revenues reached 4.1 billion in micro establishments, while operating expenses amounted to 1.6 billion, generating a surplus of 1.6 billion.

The graph shows the annual evolution of operating expenses and operating revenues, with the line representing the operating surplus each year in Transportation and storage sector for micro establishments.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

Evolution of Operating Expenses and Revenues in Micro establishments in the Transportation and Storage Sector

Employee Compensation in SMEs

In 2024, micro enterprises of the Transportation and storage sector spent 866.6 million in employee compensation, while small enterprises spent 4.9 billion and medium-sized enterprises spent 4.5 billion. This amounts to a total of 10.3 billion for the Transportation and storage sector.

The graph shows employee compensation by enterprise size over the years in Transportation and storage sector.

Note: Sectors have been reclassified as per ISIC 4 standard.

Employee Compensation by Enterprise Size in the Transportation and Storage Sector

Business Demography

In 2024, the number of active enterprises in Transportation and storage sector was 38,701.

The chart shows the number of Active Enterprises in Transportation and storage sector by year.

Number of Active Enterprises by Year

Short-Term Business Indicators

In March 2026, the Operating Revenues Index in Transportation and storage sector stood at 126.5.

The chart shows the monthly evolution of the Operating Revenues Index in Transportation and storage sector.

Trend in the Operating Renenues Index

Digital Economy

Digital Economy Indicators

According to the Digital Economy Survey carried out by the General Authority for Statistics in 2022, in the Transportation and storage sector the use of using systems or devices connected to the Internet (58.8%) and having account on social media platforms (54.7%) are highlighted as the most relevant indicators of adoption and use of the digital economy.

The graph shows the percentage of establishments in the Transportation and storage sector according to indicators of use and adoption of the digital economy.

Percentage of establishments according to indicators of use and adoption of the digital economy

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