Saudi Arabia: yearly mundane forecast

Things feel heavier than usual for Saudi Arabia. With Venus in the first house, a peaceful, friendly mood in society, with life returning to the arts and entertainment. One worry stands out: costs, debt and strain on prisons and hospitals grow, with Saturn in the twelfth house.

The chart of the year

The astrological year begins when the Sun enters sidereal Aries (Mesha Sankranti), this year on 14 April 2026 (Tuesday), 7:08 am, local time. At that moment Aries was rising over Riyadh. It is a movable sign, so this chart speaks most clearly for about three months; the later quarters are read from their own sankranti charts.

• Venus in the first house means a peaceful, friendly mood in society, with life returning to the arts and entertainment.
• Saturn in the twelfth house means costs, debt and strain on prisons and hospitals grow; watch for hidden trouble on the borders.
• With Mars in the twelfth house, there is risk from hidden hostility, waste and fire; border areas need closer watch.
• Rahu in the eleventh house means income from foreign sources and technology rises, with chances of unexpected gains.
• The chart’s ruler is Mars: the ruler is in the twelfth house, so watch spending, money leaving the country and hidden problems.

Area by area

Quarter by quarter

• January to March ★★★☆☆ (Capricorn ingress (Makar Sankranti), Aries rising): The government and top leadership stand firm (the Sun in the tenth house); but vague fear and restlessness may run through the public (the Moon in the eighth house).
• April to June ★★☆☆☆ (Aries ingress (Mesha Sankranti), Aries rising): A peaceful, friendly mood in society, with life returning to the arts and entertainment (Venus in the first house); but costs, debt and strain on prisons and hospitals grow (Saturn in the twelfth house).
• July to September ★★☆☆☆ (Cancer ingress (Karkat Sankranti), Aquarius rising): Diplomacy takes a warm tone, and trade or foreign investment deals are likely (Venus in the seventh house); but confusion and rumour may grip the public (Rahu in the first house).
• October to December ★★★★☆ (Libra ingress (Tula Sankranti), Aries rising): Prosperity in farming, land and housing, with signs of good harvests and better schools (Jupiter in the fourth house); but the risk of land disputes, fires and accidents at home rises, and heat or drought may strain farming (Mars in the fourth house).

Eclipses this year

• 17 February 2026 (Tuesday): annular solar eclipse in Aquarius, Dhanishtha. Not visible from Riyadh, so by tradition its effect here is mild and no sutak applies.
• 3 March 2026 (Tuesday): total lunar eclipse in Leo, Purva Phalguni. Not visible from Riyadh, so by tradition its effect here is mild and no sutak applies.
• 12 August 2026 (Wednesday): total solar eclipse in Cancer, Ashlesha. Not visible from Riyadh, so by tradition its effect here is mild and no sutak applies.
• 28 August 2026 (Friday): partial lunar eclipse in Aquarius, Shatabhisha. Not visible from Riyadh, so by tradition its effect here is mild and no sutak applies.

Moves of the slow planets

• 11 March (Wednesday): Jupiter turns direct; stalled work on transport, media and neighbours gets moving again.
• 1 June (Monday): Jupiter moves into Cancer (the fourth house here); things improve in farming, land and housing.
• 26 July (Sunday): Saturn turns retrograde in Pisces; decisions on public spending, hospitals and hidden activity may slip and old issues return.
• 31 October (Saturday): Jupiter moves into Leo (the fifth house here); things improve in education, young people and the stock market.
• 11 November (Wednesday): Jupiter and Ketu meet in Leo (the fifth house here); a steadying hand on education, young people and the stock market.
• 5 December (Saturday): Rahu moves into Capricorn (the tenth house here); pressure builds in the government and administration.
• 11 December (Friday): Saturn turns direct; stalled work on public spending, hospitals and hidden activity gets moving again.
• 13 December (Sunday): Jupiter turns retrograde in Leo; decisions on education, young people and the stock market may slip and old issues return.

Chart details (for astrologers)

Mesha Sankranti: 14 April 2026 (Tuesday), 7:09 am local time in Riyadh. Ascendant Aries 28°28′.

Planet	Sign	Degree	House	State
Sun	Aries	0°00′	1	exalted
Moon	Aquarius	16°22′	11
Mars	Pisces	9°09′	12
Mercury	Pisces	4°25′	12	debilitated
Jupiter	Gemini	22°38′	3
Venus	Aries	23°34′	1
Saturn	Pisces	12°56′	12
Rahu	Aquarius	12°28′	11
Ketu	Leo	12°28′	5

How this is worked out: The year is read from the Mesha Sankranti chart, with the four cardinal sankrantis for the quarters, plus the year’s eclipses and the movements of Jupiter, Saturn and Rahu. Charts are cast for Riyadh in sidereal (Lahiri) positions with whole-sign houses. House meanings follow classical mundane astrology: the first house is the people, the tenth the government, the seventh foreign affairs, the fourth land and farming, the eighth disasters and debt. Astrology describes tendencies, not certainties.