Ayman Al-Sayari

What did Ayman Al-Sayari say about the Saudi Riyal?

He said Saudi Arabia's economy stays resilient despite the conflict in the region, thanks to strong policies, large foreign currency reserves, and the riyal's fixed link to the US dollar. He highlighted that this fixed rate has helped keep inflation low, noting it was around 1.8% as of mid-August 2026, and averaged below 3% a year over the past five years.

What does he actually mean?

Think of the riyal's peg like an anchor tying it to the dollar so it doesn't drift. Al-Sayari is saying that anchor, combined with a big savings cushion of reserves, keeps everyday prices in Saudi Arabia from jumping around, even when oil prices spike and the neighborhood is tense.

Why does this matter for regular people?

If you hold riyals or earn in riyals, the governor is essentially saying the exchange rate is not going anywhere. Your purchasing power stays predictable, which matters when global energy prices are climbing fast.