However growth slowed compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, when GDP grew 5.5% year-on-year. Seasonally adjusted real GDP decreased by 1.3% in the first quarter of this year, compared with the previous quarter as a result of a decline in oil activities by 4.8%, the report said.
The IMF says the Saudi economy grew 8.7% last year, but
projects that Saudi GDP growth will more than halve to 3.1%,
this year.
Saudi Arabia last month said it would cut oil output by
500,000 barrels per day from May, part of further cuts by OPEC+
oil producers of around 1.16 million bpd.
(Writing by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Frances Kerry and Mike
Harrison)