Saudis' mobile bills are higher than electricity bills

Saudis pay much more for mobile phone calls than for water and electricity as power and water consumption in the world’s oil powerhouse is heavily subsidised, the Gulf country’s water and electricity minister said.

Abdullah Al Hussein said power and water bills fetch the Kingdom nearly SR29.5 billion ($7.8 billion) while revenue from mobile phone services is estimated at nearly SR70 billion ($18.6 billion) a year.

The minister was replying to questions by local reporters on whether there will be further cuts in water and power rates.

He said nearly 64 per cent of the Saudis pay just around SR1,200 ($325 billion) a year for water and electricity while the rest pay less than SR50 a month. “We cannot satisfy everyone… it seems that the citizens want to have electricity and water free,” he said.

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