Total arrivals of citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to Saudi Arabia grew 5.83% to 8.8 million in 2024 compared with 2023. The overall number of departures of GCC inhabitants likewise recorded the same level, according to the 2024 Gulf Common Market Indicators Report provided by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
The research showed that the number of GCC students registered in Saudi public higher education institutions reached 988, while total enrolment in public general education amounted to 5,036, showing the extent of GCC citizens’ participation across various levels of education in the Kingdom.
The report also showed that 247 companies, or the total number of joint-stock companies listed on the Saudi stock market with a combined capital of about SR850 billion, have shares that GCC citizens are permitted to trade in the Kingdom. This highlights the Saudi stock market’s complete openness to GCC citizens.
The research stressed the necessity of promoting the free movement of products, services, capital, and labour across GCC member states, in keeping with the GCC’s objectives of expanding cooperation and integration across economic, social, and legislative domains.
The 2024 Gulf Common Market Indicators were compiled using administrative data from various national entities in the Kingdom, including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, as well as the Saudi Tadawul Group and the Saudi Central Bank.
Data collection and analysis were conducted using rigorous methodologies and high-quality standards to ensure the reliability of the indicators and to support joint economic policymaking among GCC states.