Data from the Saudi Central Bank, SAMA, showed that its net foreign assets rose 7.19% year on year at the end of August 2026, an increase of $31.15 billion (116.8 billion riyals), reaching $464.14 billion (1.740 trillion riyals), compared with $432.99 billion (1.624 trillion riyals) in August 2025.
Monthly decline for a second month
On a monthly basis, net foreign assets declined in August for the second consecutive month, falling 0.3% from their level at the end of July 2026, which stood at $465.61 billion (1.746 trillion riyals).
Monetary base rises annually
The monetary base rose by about 3.7% year on year at the end of August to $118.27 billion (443.52 billion riyals), compared with $114.05 billion (427.68 billion riyals) in the same month of 2025.
On a monthly basis, the monetary base declined from its value at the end of July 2026, which stood at $118.81 billion (445.53 billion riyals). Saudi Arabia’s monetary base consists of deposits held at the central bank, cash at the International Monetary Fund, and currency in circulation outside banks.
At the end of July, local banks’ deposits with the central bank stood at $46.5 billion (174.38 billion riyals), while cash at the International Monetary Fund totaled $5.56 billion (20.84 billion riyals), and currency in circulation outside banks reached $66.75 billion (250.3 billion riyals).
Liabilities to government decline annually
Liabilities to the government fell 15.86% year on year at the end of August to $95.44 billion (357.9 billion riyals), compared with $113.43 billion (425.36 billion riyals) in August 2025.
On a monthly basis, liabilities to the government rose 8.3% from their value in July, which stood at $88.14 billion (330.52 billion riyals).
Central bank assets
The Saudi Central Bank’s assets had risen 1.6% year on year at the end of July 2026 to $517.56 billion (1.941 trillion riyals), compared with $509.43 billion (1.910 trillion riyals) in July 2025.
The central bank’s assets include the currency cover, comprising foreign currency and gold, as well as cash at the International Monetary Fund, deposits with banks abroad, investments in foreign securities and other miscellaneous assets.
