The International Monetary Fund published a statement following its second high-level strategic dialogue with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Finance, in which the two sides agreed a package of support for IMF capacity development across the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and at the global level. The discussions focused on using the partnership to support economic reforms and meet rising demand for technical assistance and training from IMF member countries, including amid regional uncertainty linked to the war in the Middle East. The Saudi Arabia-IMF capacity development partnership began in 2024 and totals USD 279 million over ten years, making Saudi Arabia the IMF’s third-largest capacity development partner. Support is organized around three pillars covering the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and global priorities, including through the IMF’s Regional Office in Riyadh, METAC, the Somalia Country Fund, African regional capacity development centers and thematic funds. The IMF said the Riyadh office has already supported 31 activities across the MENA region and beyond in fiscal year 2026, reaching more than 800 participants, and complements the IMF’s Middle East Center for Economics and Finance in Kuwait and METAC in Lebanon.

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