Development spending hits 601.5 million dinars in nine months, surpassing previous years

Government spending on development projects recorded a significant increase during the first nine months of fiscal 2025-2026, reaching 601.5 million dinars, surpassing the total expenditure of entire previous fiscal years and signaling a clear acceleration in the implementation of government projects.

Figures released by the General Secretariat for Planning show that development spending during the nine-month period exceeded total expenditures for the full 2024-–2025 fiscal year, which stood at approximately 468 million dinars, as well as spending in 2023–2024, which amounted to around 450 million dinars.

The sharp rise in capital expenditure reflects the impact of recent government decisions that placed development projects at the top of the priority list for all relevant agencies, reports Al-Qabas daily.

These measures have been accompanied by faster tendering and implementation procedures, addressing long-standing administrative, technical and financial obstacles that had delayed many projects for years.

The momentum was further underscored last week with the announcement that the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project, one of the country’s most prominent strategic developments, has entered the execution phase following the signing of an engineering, procurement and construction contract with China Communications Construction Company Limited.

The surge in development spending highlights a broader government shift toward capital expenditure as a key driver of economic growth. The strategy aims to strengthen the role of the private sector as a core partner in development, expand its contribution to the national economy and reduce dependence on oil revenues in the state budget.

This approach is expected to support fiscal sustainability, particularly with the anticipated implementation of new tax legislation that will boost non-oil revenues and enhance budget resilience.

The accelerated pace of spending also reflects a reorientation of fiscal priorities toward long-term projects with lasting economic and social impact, rather than a focus on current expenditures alone. Officials say this shift could improve public services, stimulate economic activity and create job opportunities for citizens.

Based on current performance and implementation schedules, development spending by the end of the 2025–2026 fiscal year is expected to reach unprecedented levels, surpassing all previous records since the launch of the development plan.

Data further indicate that 31 development projects included in the current fiscal year’s plan have exceeded 50 percent completion, reflecting tangible progress and the resolution of delays that had stalled several projects in previous years.