Saudi Arabia pairs higher utility tariffs with targeted support

Saudi Arabia will introduce new electricity, water and wastewater tariffs on January 1, 2027, as part of its system for adjusting energy and water prices. The changes cover homes, businesses and government users, aiming to encourage more efficient consumption while shifting more of the cost of essential services into bills; the state will still cover more than half the infrastructure cost of water delivered to customers. To soften the effect, it will add 500 riyals a month for eligible civil and military employees, retirees, certain survivors and social-security households—not all citizens.