Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said on Saturday that Riyadh will take strict measures to deal with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, adding that "all options for dealing with the crisis are open".
"We must reduce budget expenditures sharply", Jadaan said in an interview with Al Arabiya TV, adding that the impact of the new coronavirus on Saudi Arabia's state finances will appear from the second quarter of the year.
"Saudi finances need more discipline and the road ahead is long," he said.
Jadaan said Saudi Arabia had used some revenue from investments to plug the deficit.
He noted the country had introduced stimulus measures aimed at preserving jobs in the private sector and safeguarding the provision of basic services.
