Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz al-Assaf
AFP/Riyadh
Saudi Arabia will continue massive public spending despite a 50% drop in the price of oil, which provides the bulk of its revenue, the finance minister said on Wednesday.
Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz al-Assaf commented after completing the 2015 budget, which will be presented to cabinet "in the near future", the official Saudi Press Agency said.
Financial analysts expect the budget to be approved as early as Monday.
The kingdom is the largest economy in the Arab world, and Opec's biggest crude producer.
Assaf said the budget comes during "challenging" global economic conditions but surpluses and reserves built over many years have given it "depth and a line of defence that come in handy in times of need".
He said this policy will continue, enabling the government "to implement massive social projects" in health, education, social services and development as well as state security.
This spending, combined with private sector activity, is expected to bring positive economic growth, he said, without giving a figure.
Crude prices have fallen to multi-year lows since June in the face of a global supply glut and slower growth in demand.
Prices have plunged even further since last month, when the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries decided against cutting production.
The cartel pumps about 30% of global crude.
On Wednesday, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for January delivery sank a further $1.16 in afternoon Asian trade, to $54.77.
Brent crude for February shed 71 cents to $59.30.
Riyadh-based Jadwa Investment said in a December 7 report that the government should be in a comfortable position to adjust to lower oil prices and avoid drastic spending cuts.
It highlighted "the strong sovereign balance sheet, with foreign reserves of more than 95% of GDP and a public debt of less than 2% of GDP".
Jadwa projected a fiscal deficit of 2.7% in 2015.
It said it expected global growth to recover next year, helping to pull up crude prices to around $84 a barrel.
"We think the government will maintain elevated spending", Jadwa said, forecasting real GDP growth of 3.4% in 2015.
British-based analysts at Capital Economics said a budget deficit "should be easily financed by issuing debt or drawing down savings. Overall, then, growth is unlikely to collapse as a result of lower oil prices."
Saudi Arabia had a nominal GDP of $748bn (598mn euros) last year, and reported a budget surplus of around $55bn.
The ruler of neighbouring Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, warned in October that falling oil prices were damaging his nation's economy.
