FX.co ★ Saudi Arabia’s Private Sector Loan Growth Cools to 9.6% in January 2026

Saudi Arabia’s private sector loan growth eased in January 2026, with the year-over-year indicator slowing to 9.60%, down from 10.20% recorded in December 2025. The figures reflect a moderation in credit expansion to businesses and households at the start of the year.

Both the current and previous readings are calculated on a year-over-year basis, comparing each month’s performance to the same month a year earlier. The latest data, updated on 26 February 2026, suggest that while lending to the private sector continues to expand at a solid pace, the momentum seen at the end of 2025 has begun to cool modestly.

Investors and analysts will be watching upcoming months’ data to assess whether this slowdown in loan growth signals a broader shift in private sector financing conditions or a temporary normalization after a period of stronger expansion.