Saudi Arabia’s POS Spending Hits SR14.9 Billion as Digital Payments Expand

Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale (POS) transactions totaled SR14.94 billion ($3.98 billion) in the week ending Sept. 6, according to new figures from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). The data reflects sustained consumer activity and highlights the Kingdom’s growing embrace of electronic payments under its Vision 2030 reforms.

Food and beverages remained the single largest spending category, recording SR2.26 billion in transactions, despite a 1.8 percent decline compared to the previous week. Restaurants and cafes followed with SR1.67 billion, down 1.7 percent, while gas station purchases totaled SR1.08 billion.

Professional and business services, as well as transportation, each accounted for SR1.05 billion, and apparel and accessories added SR1.03 billion to the weekly tally. Healthcare transactions reached SR930.57 million, while spending on furniture and home appliances stood at SR505.68 million. Notably, jewelry purchases jumped 6.9 percent to SR310.35 million, bucking the overall downward trend.

While total POS spending dropped 5.4 percent from the prior week, largely due to a sharp 39.2 percent fall in education-related transactions, the volume of transactions rose. The number of POS operations climbed 2.3 percent to 242.49 million, underscoring the steady shift toward digital payments.

Riyadh maintained its position as the top contributor, with SR5.17 billion in transactions, although this marked a 5.6 percent weekly decline. The capital recorded 78.86 million transactions, up 3 percent. Jeddah followed with SR2.11 billion across 28.27 million transactions, while Dammam reached SR737.22 million. Spending in Makkah totaled SR583.81 million, Madinah SR576.84 million, and Al-Khobar SR418.24 million. Other cities included Buraidah at SR366.23 million and Abha at SR197.86 million.

The latest figures highlight growing consumer reliance on non-cash payments, a central objective of Saudi Arabia’s Financial Sector Development Program. In April, SAMA reported that the number of non-cash retail transactions surged to 12.6 billion in 2024, up from 10.8 billion in 2023, reinforcing progress toward a cashless economy.

Despite global economic uncertainties, analysts say resilient consumer spending in the Kingdom reflects confidence in the domestic market. The increasing adoption of digital payment systems continues to play a vital role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader economic transformation and diversification goals.