Increase in Saudi point-of-sale expenditure by 18% reaches $4.21 billion
In the week ending September 6, 2025, Saudi Arabia's point-of-sale (POS) transactions experienced a significant increase, reaching SR15.79 billion ($4.21 billion) – a 17.8% rise compared to the previous week.
Riyadh led the way, with expenses in the capital reaching SR5.47 billion, marking a 11.7% increase. The city also recorded the highest number of POS transactions in Saudi Arabia during this period. Following closely was Jeddah, which saw a 24.1% increase to SR2.19 billion in POS transactions.
Makkah and Madinah also witnessed substantial growth, with Makkah reaching SR610.99 million in POS transactions and Madinah seeing a 27.1% increase to SR624.30 million. Dammam ranked third at SR771.70 million, up 14.7%, and Al-Khobar reported SR441.49 million in POS transactions. Abha also contributed to the total, with SR221.03 million in transactions.
The food and beverage sector had the largest spending increase, rising 29.4% to SR2.30 billion. Restaurant and cafe spending increased by 9.9% to SR1.70 billion, while spending at gas stations totaled SR1.08 billion. However, the hotel sector experienced a slight decline, with expenses dropping by 6.5% to SR254 million.
Spending on apparel, clothing, and accessories increased by 16.3% to SR1.18 billion, reflecting the growing trend towards digital shopping. The transportation sector also saw growth, with activity rising 16.9% to SR1.13 billion. Expenditure on professional and business services climbed 18.8% to SR1.10 billion.
Education-related transactions reached SR1.10 billion, indicating a continued focus on investment in the Kingdom's future. Despite global economic uncertainties, consumer confidence remains resilient in Saudi Arabia, providing crucial support to the Kingdom's broader economic transformation agenda.
The widespread adoption of digital payment platforms and rising disposable incomes, along with a growing youth population, continue to drive transformation in Saudi Arabia. The latest Purchasing Managers' Index further indicates that the non-oil private sector expansion in Saudi Arabia remains in growth territory.
This surge in POS transactions underscores the vibrant and dynamic economic landscape of Saudi Arabia, as it continues to forge ahead in its journey towards a digital and sustainable future.
