Saudi Arabia Celebrates 96th National Day Amid Diversified
Economic Growth, Expanding Role in Gulf Integration March

Muscat, 21 Sep 2026 (ONA) — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
celebrates its 96th National Day on 23 September, having achieved diverse
accomplishments under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin
Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The Kingdom continues to strengthen
its presence at both the regional and international levels and within the Gulf
integration march through diversified economic growth and an expanding
investment base.

The firmly established fraternal relations binding the Sultanate
of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are founded upon the wise vision of the
leaderships of the two sisterly countries: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik
and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,
and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime
Minister.

Relations between the two countries have witnessed partnership
across various political, economic, commercial, investment, and cultural
fields. The volume of trade exchange between the two countries in 2025 amounted
to approximately RO 2,475.4 million, while during the first six months of 2026
it reached approximately RO 1,086.2 million.

Ibrahim bin Saad bin Bishan, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia to the Sultanate of Oman, explained that the Kingdom’s celebration this
year comes under the slogan ” Our Pride Lies in Our Nature,” which is
founded upon authentic values such as generosity, courage, authenticity,
determination, and munificence—values that are genuine and deeply rooted in the
Saudi people.

In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), the Saudi Ambassador
said that the Kingdom, as it celebrates its National Day, recalls the journey
of a nation founded by the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud—a
journey dedicated to building the human being and unifying the state, which has
had a prominent presence in its Arab, Islamic, and international surroundings.
He noted that, thanks to the leadership and wise vision of the Custodian of the
Two Holy Mosques and his Crown Prince, the Kingdom has witnessed major
transformations in economic development and the empowerment of the private
sector, investment, human development, tourism, entertainment, sustainable
energy and industry.

He affirmed that Omani-Saudi relations enjoy generous patronage
and attention from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Majesty the
Sultan. The Kingdom is advancing towards the ambitious targets of Vision 2030,
and the Sultanate of Oman is proceeding along its developmental path within
Vision “Oman 2040.” Between the two visions lies a vast space that
can be transformed into joint projects, investments, economic integration, and
cooperation in future sectors.

He stated that relations between the two countries have
witnessed in recent years an important transition from the strength of
historical ties to the expansion of practical partnership domains. The volume
of trade exchange between the two countries in 2025 amounted to approximately RO
2,475.4 million, while during the first six months of 2026 it reached
approximately RO 1,086.2 million. The total value of Omani exports to the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia amounted to approximately RO 547.6 million, while the
value of Omani imports from the Kingdom reached approximately RO 538.6 million.

He added that trade and movement between the two countries were
further enhanced with the inauguration of the Al Rub’ Al Khali “Empty Quarter”
border crossing on 11 December 2021, as the first direct land crossing between
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman. This constituted a qualitative
leap in trade exchange, as the volume of trade through the crossing in 2025
recorded approximately RO 1,322 million, compared with approximately RO 1,051
million in 2021—representing approximately 58 percent of the volume of trade
exchange between the two countries—in addition to facilitating transit between
them.

He affirmed that the Sultanate of Oman has become one of the
most important tourist destinations for Saudi families, given its distinguished
authenticity of people, social values, cultural heritage, and breathtaking
nature. This is a natural development of a relationship between two countries
possessing significant economic, geographical, and strategic assets.

He said that among the most prominent reflections of the
strength of these relations and the keenness of the leaderships of the two
countries to develop them is the fraternal private visit made by His Majesty
Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this month, during
which he met with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.
The discussions held affirmed the depth of the partnership between the two
countries and the keenness of both sides to expand areas of cooperation in a
manner that serves mutual interests and enhances the security and stability of
the region. This is being pursued through diligent follow-up and tireless work
by Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Sayyid
Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, through the Saudi-Omani
Coordination Council and its subsidiary committees, in belief in the importance
of the private sector’s role as a genuine partner at this stage and in the
future, and in the integration sought through the Saudi Vision 2030 and Oman
2040.

The Ambassador pointed out that the Sultanate of Oman’s
participation in Expo Riyadh 2030, which moved into its official framework with
the signing of the participation contract in September 2026, comes as a
confirmation of the Sultanate of Oman’s belief in the importance of being
present in international forums hosted by the Kingdom, and as a contribution to
building new bridges for knowledge, cultural, and economic exchange. He
expressed his aspiration for the Omani participation to feature a permanent
pavilion highlighting the Sultanate of Oman’s heritage, achievements, and
future aspirations, and the opportunities for strengthening partnerships
between institutions, companies, and talents between the two countries and with
other countries of the world.

He noted that the Gulf Cup tournament being held in Jeddah from
23 September to 6 October 2026 represents an arena for rapprochement and the
strengthening of the shared Gulf spirit, and a confirmation that the future of
relations is built through cooperation, communication, and the integration of
energies.

He affirmed that he views Saudi-Omani cooperation as a
partnership capable of growth in numerous sectors—from energy, industry, and
investment to tourism, logistics services, and transport, extending to the
digital economy and new technologies. The two countries have an important
opportunity to benefit from their strategic location, link their economic
capabilities, and encourage the private sector in both countries to be a
principal partner in the coming phase.

A report titled “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: The Heart of
the Gulf Economy and a Partner in Shaping the Future,” issued by the GCC Statistics
Centre in cooperation with the General Authority for Statistics of the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia, explained that the Saudi economy recorded real growth of 4.5
percent during 2025, while the gross domestic product at current prices reached
approximately USD 1,275 billion, and net foreign direct investment inflows amounted
to approximately USD 32.5 billion.

Indicators of the structure of the Saudi economy point to the
broadening contribution of non-oil activities, which reached 72.5 percent of
the gross domestic product, while the contribution of the non-oil private sector
reached 54 percent. The volume of the Kingdom’s merchandise trade exchange
reached approximately USD 565.3 billion in 2025, reflecting the expansion of
commercial activity and the growing importance of the Kingdom in regional and
international trade movement.

The report also highlights the economic and social interaction
between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the citizens of the GCC states, as
Saudi ports recorded the entry of 9.1 million Gulf citizens during 2024, while
the number of GCC citizens working in the private sector in the Kingdom reached
approximately 7,690 citizens.

In the capital market, the number of GCC state shareholders in
the Saudi stock market reached approximately 5,749 shareholders, with 353
companies listed for Gulf trading. This interconnection extends to the fields
of education and social services, as the number of male and female students
from GCC states in general education in the Kingdom reached 10,096 students.

Riyadh’s hosting of the Sixth
United Nations World Data Forum 2026, scheduled from 9 to 12 November,
alongside future major events such as Expo Riyadh 2030 and the FIFA World Cup
2034, represents a series of milestones that reinforce the Kingdom’s standing
in the global economy and bolster multiple sectors, including tourism,
aviation, hospitality, logistics, and technology. International tourism
revenues in the Kingdom reached USD 47.1 billion in 2025, marking a 70.9
percent increase compared with 2019.

The report showed that the value of investment in artificial
intelligence reached approximately USD 2.03 billion during 2025, while the
percentage of establishments using artificial intelligence technologies reached
33.1 percent.

The Kingdom continues its pivotal role in the energy system, in
parallel with expansion in renewable energy sources, as the operational
capacity of renewable energy projects reached 12.3 gigawatts during 2025.

At the Gulf level, the Kingdom’s share in the capital of the GCC
Interconnection Authority reached 31.6 percent during 2024. This approach coincides
with expansion in education, training, research and development, and digital
transformation, thereby enhancing skills development and supporting the
building of an economy more reliant on knowledge and innovation.

— Ends/AH