Al-Sayari: Energy security crucial amid Middle East conflict
Ayman Al-Sayari, Governor of the Saudi Central Bank, warned that the conflict in the Middle East introduces a new shock testing global economic resilience. Speaking at the IMFC Plenary Session in Washington DC on April 17, 2026, he emphasized energy security as central to stability.
Middle East conflict tests global resilience
Ayman Al-Sayari, Governor of the Saudi Central Bank, noted the global economy's resilience despite high uncertainty and successive shocks.
However, the Middle East conflict introduces a new shock that will once again test this resilience.
He warned that infrastructure damage and supply disruptions could last longer than initially assumed, pushing prices higher, weighing on growth, and posing risks to financial stability.
This underscores energy security's central role in macroeconomic and financial stability.
Reliable supply and resilient infrastructure, including oil and gas, must be a long-term policy priority.
Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline has provided a critical lifeline for global energy supply during this difficult period.
IMF's stabilizing role and new principles
Al-Sayari emphasized the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) role as a regional stabilizer, urging it to assess vulnerable economies and facilitate tailored financing to reduce trade, financial, and geopolitical spill-over risks.
He stressed the Fund's continued relevance depends on its core mandate and readiness to deploy its full toolkit, providing credible analysis and policy advice.
The Governor also lauded the consensus achieved on the Diriyah Guiding Principles as a major collective achievement, reflecting both pragmatism and ambition, offering a common starting point for members to move forward collectively.