Food-tech entrepreneur Sara Amini visited Riyadh on June 3 to observe how Gulf businesses are spending during the ongoing war with Iran [1].
The visit highlights the role of Saudi Arabia as a regional financial sanctuary. While conflict disrupts neighboring states, the Kingdom's ability to maintain business activity suggests a decoupling of its economic ambitions from the immediate volatility of the Iran-Saudi conflict.
Amini traveled to the capital to identify sectors still receiving investment and spending [1]. She said that companies continue to discuss expansion plans despite the regional instability [1]. This resilience persists even as the broader economic outlook faces headwinds.
The International Monetary Fund indicates that Saudi Arabia's economic growth could slow to 2% in 2026 [2]. This projection comes as the region deals with the physical toll of the war. Recent Iranian strikes damaged Kuwait's airport, resulting in one death and more than 60 injuries [3].
Despite these security threats and the forecasted growth dip, Riyadh continues to draw businesses from across the Gulf. The appetite for expansion in the Saudi market suggests that investors view the Kingdom's internal economic reforms as a more significant driver than the external risks of the wartime environment [1].
“Saudi Arabia's economic growth could slow to 2% in 2026”
The continued flow of Gulf capital into Riyadh during an active conflict suggests that Saudi Arabia has successfully positioned itself as a 'safe harbor' for regional investment. By maintaining a level of economic stability that attracts expansion even when neighboring infrastructure—such as Kuwait's airport—is targeted, the Kingdom is reinforcing its goal of becoming the dominant economic engine of the Middle East, regardless of geopolitical volatility.
