Saudi Arabia plans a spending spree in the second half of 2018 that will see the budget deficit nearly quadruple from 1H 2018. Nevertheless, the expected $39.5bn deficit announced in revised Ministry of Finance figures is still considerably less than 2017’s $63.6bn.
Government figures show that the kingdom accrued a deficit of $11.1bn in the first half of the year (MEES, 24 August), but these latest figures imply that it expects to pile on a further $28.4bn in the second half. Given that the ministry expects revenues to edge up less than 1% versus the first half of 2018, it is clear that the deficit is set to grow thanks to ballooning spending. (CONTINUED - 930 WORDS)
