‎Saudi POS Transactions Rise to $4.3bn in One Week as Retail, Education Spending Surge
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‎Saudi Arabia recorded point-of-sale (POS) transactions worth $4.3 billion in the week ending March 7, reflecting strong consumer spending across key sectors despite regional geopolitical tensions.
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‎Data released by the Saudi Central Bank showed that total POS transaction value rose by 11 percent week-on-week to SR16.1 billion ($4.3 billion). The number of transactions also increased by 7.4 percent to 226.2 million.
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‎Sectoral data indicated that spending on education recorded the highest growth during the period, rising by 39.4 percent to SR130.7 million. Jewelry purchases also witnessed strong growth, increasing by 35.8 percent to SR693.11 million.
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‎Consumer expenditure on clothing and apparel climbed by 31.7 percent to SR2.5 billion, while spending on pastries grew by 18 percent. Outlays on food and beverages rose by 7.5 percent to SR2.5 billion, and spending at restaurants and cafes increased by 14.7 percent to SR1.4 billion.
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‎Healthcare-related transactions also recorded moderate growth. Spending in pharmacies on medical supplies rose by 2.6 percent to SR261.06 million, while medical services saw a 9 percent increase to SR579.33 million.
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‎However, hotel spending declined by 11 percent during the week to SR334.83 million.
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‎The logistics sector experienced the steepest decline, with spending on freight transport, postal and courier services dropping by 30.9 percent. Analysts linked the downturn to disruptions following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which has affected shipping routes and regional trade flows.
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‎Prior to the escalation of hostilities, the freight category had recorded a 50 percent surge in the week ending February 28, the last trading period before the closure of the strategic maritime route.
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‎Saudi Arabia’s major urban centres also mirrored the overall increase in spending. Riyadh accounted for the largest share of POS transactions, recording a 10 percent rise to SR5.35 billion from SR4.86 billion the previous week. The capital recorded 69.6 million transactions, representing a 5.9 percent increase week-on-week.
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‎In Jeddah, transaction values grew by 17.6 percent to SR2.34 billion, while Dammam reported a 7.9 percent increase to SR743.65 million.
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‎According to SAMA, weekly POS data serves as a key indicator of consumer spending trends and the rapid expansion of digital payment systems across the Kingdom. The figures also highlight the growing penetration of POS infrastructure beyond major retail hubs into smaller cities and service sectors.
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‎The steady rise in electronic transactions aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to deepen digital payments adoption and strengthen the Kingdom’s transition toward a diversified, technology-driven economy.