Update: Tadawul Shares End September in Red; Saudi's Unemployment Rate Declines in Q2

08:43 AM EDT, 09/30/2026 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates to include additional information) The Tadawul All Share Index ended September 0.14% in the red as investors focused on the myriad of newly released economic data in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. According to the General Authority for Statistics, the country's unemployment rate came in at 3% in the second quarter, lower than the 3.1% in the prior three-month period and down by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago. "The overall labor force participation rate (for Saudis and non-Saudis) reached 67.2%, remaining stable compared to the previous quarter, while increasing by 1.0 percentage points year-on-year compared to the corresponding quarter of 2025. The unemployment rate among Saudis reached 6.5% in Q2 of 2026, increasing by 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous quarter, while decreasing by 0.3 percentage points year-on-year compared to Q2 of 2025. Meanwhile, the employment-to-population ratio among Saudis decreased by 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous quarter, reaching 45.5%, and decreased by 0.4 percentage points year-on-year compared to the same quarter of 2025," the report said. Foreign direct investment in the kingdom, meanwhile, fell 19.5% annually in the second quarter to 19.1 billion Saudi riyals. Inflows also declined 15.8% quarter over quarter. Additionally, Saudi's general consumer confidence index was relatively stable at 110 points in June, down from 113 points in May. "FDI inflows reached approximately SAR 22.3 billion in Q2 of 2026, recording a 16.9% decrease compared to Q2 of 2025, which stood at SAR 26.8 billion. Furthermore, FDI inflows decreased by 18.0% compared to the previous quarter, when they stood at SAR 27.1 billion," the report added. Market watchers are also on the lookout for OPEC+'s meeting on Sunday. The group will reportedly keep its crude output targets stable in November, Reuters reported, citing sources. Back at home and on the corporate front, Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction Co. (SASE:4325) agreed to sell a Makkah-based land plot to Makkiyoon Urban Developers Co. for 183.7 million riyals. Shares of the real estate developer closed 1.66% lower.