Construction Cost Index rises 2.6% in May

22/06/2026 Argaam Special
This is considered the highest growth on record since GASTAT began collecting the index data in January 2024

This is considered the highest growth on record since GASTAT began collecting the index data in January 2024


Saudi Arabia's Construction Cost Index rose by as much as 2.6% in May 2026 compared to the same month in 2025.

 

This is considered the highest growth on record since the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) began collecting the index data in January 2024.

 

The index hit 103.9 points (base year 2023), up from 101.3 points in May 2025, according to data from GASTAT.

 

The increase was mainly driven by a rise in construction costs for the residential sector by 2.5% and the non-residential sector by 3.0%.

 

The index measures changes in construction costs over time based on a basket of building materials and construction services and is widely used by planners and researchers.

 

Construction Cost Index

Period

Index (Points)

YoY Change

January 2025

101.0

1.0%

February

101.1

0.9%

March

101.2

1.0%

April

101.2

1.0%

May

101.3

1.2%

June

101.2

1.1%

July

101.7

0.7%

August

101.8

0.7%

September

101.8

0.7%

October

101.7

1.0%

November

101.8

1.0%

December

101.9

1.2%

January 2026

102.4

1.4%

February

102.5

1.4%

March

103.2

2.0%

April

103.7

2.4%

May

103.9

2.6%

 
 

The year-on-year (YoY) increase in the index was mainly driven by higher equipment and machinery rental costs (+5.1%), energy costs (+3%), and labor costs (+2.6).

 

Meanwhile, core materials, which carry the largest weight in the index at 48.5%, recorded an increase of 1.6%.

 

Construction Cost Index by Components   

Main Sectors

Weight

May 2025

May 2026

Change

Basic Materials

48.5 %

98.9

100.5

1.6%

Labor

29.9 %

102.2

104.9

2.6%

Equipment & Machinery Rental

19.0 %

102.4

107.6

5.1%

Energy

2.5 %

131.0

134.9

3.0%

Index

100.0 %

101.3

103.9

2.6%

 

Data by sector showed a YoY increase in both residential and non-residential construction costs in May 2026. The residential sector (77.5% weight) rose 2.5%, mainly driven by higher equipment and machinery rental costs (+4.7%), energy costs (+3%), labor costs (+2.5%) and basic materials (+1.6%).

 

The non-residential sector increased 3.0% YoY, supported by the rise in equipment & machinery rental costs (+6.7%), along with higher energy and labor costs (+3% each) and basic materials  (+1.6%).

 

Construction Cost Index by Sector

Main Categories

Weight

May 2025

May 2026

Change

Residential Sector

77.5 %

101.3

103.9

2.5%

Basic Materials

37.5 %

99.0

100.6

1.6%

Labor Costs

23.0 %

102.3

104.9

2.5%

Equipment & Machinery Rental

14.9 %

102.4

107.2

4.7%

Energy

2.0 %

131.0

134.9

3.0%

Non-Residential Sector

22.5 %

101.0

104.0

3.0%

Basic Materials

11.0 %

98.6

100.1

1.6%

Labor Costs

6.9 %

102.1

105.2

3.0%

Equipment & Machinery Rental

4.1 %

102.2

109.1

6.7%

Energy

0.6 %

131.0

134.9

3.0%

Index

100.0 %

101.3

103.9

2.6%

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