Saudi Arabia - Economist Intelligence Unit - The Economist
DOMESTIC POLITICS: The rule of the king, Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz al-Saud, is expected to remain secure in 2009-10. The king's standing is bolstered by his good relations with influential clerics and by rising public spending, and the opposition remains fragmented and suppressed. Government policy will focus largely on economic development and on shoring up economic growth in the face of a global economic slowdown. Meanwhile, political reforms will be much further down the policy agenda: indeed, the partial municipal elections that were scheduled to take place this year have been delayed until at least 2011. There may be some further, cautious easing of social restrictions, notably on women and the media. A thoroughgoing overhaul of the judicial system, planned since 2007, should pick up speed following a host of new judicial appointments in February 2008 but remains a long-term endeavour.
Country Forecast Overview (3 Year)
| Key Indicators |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
| Real GDP Growth (%) |
1.30 |
-3.30 |
.60 |
| Consumer Price Inflation (av;%) |
9.87 |
2.80 |
3.10 |
| Budget Balance (% of GDP) |
33.40 |
-5.10 |
-3.70 |
| Current-Account Balance (% of GDP) |
27.10 |
-2.10 |
.40 |
| Exchange Rate US$:Euro (av) |
3.75 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
| Exchange Rate US$:Euro(year-end) |
3.75 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
Saudi Arabia GDP PPP & GDP Growth Rates
2004 - 2008
| Year |
GDP in Billions of USD PPP |
% GDP Growth |
| 2004 |
438.97 |
2.88 |
| 2005 |
490.97 |
2.85 |
| 2006 |
522.87 |
0.74 |
| 2007 |
555.13 |
1.00 |
| 2008 |
591.02 |
1.30 |
Source: EIU Country Data
Saudi Arabia: risk assessment
| Risk |
June 2009 |
| Sovereign risk |
BBB |
| Currency risk |
BBB |
| Banking sector risk |
BBB |
| Political risk |
B |
| Economic structure risk |
BBB |
|
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