POS Spending in Saudi Arabia Rises to SAR 15.8 Billion

Consumer spending through point-of-sale (POS) terminals across Saudi Arabia climbed to SAR 15.8 billion during the week of 23–29 August 2026, up from SAR 14.17 billion recorded in the previous week (16–22 August 2026),

The number of POS operations also grew, reaching about 255.4 million transactions during the week, compared with roughly 237.3 million transactions in the preceding period. The gains point to sustained momentum in electronic payments and card usage among residents and shoppers nationwide.

Where the money went

Food and beverages led activity by transaction count, with about 59.1 million operations worth SAR 2.59 billion. Fuel stations recorded around 18.9 million transactions valued at SAR 1.07 billion, while clothing and accessories reached roughly 11.6 million transactions worth SAR 1.41 billion.

Other notable categories included health, with about 10 million transactions worth SAR 894.2 million; transport, at roughly 7.4 million transactions worth SAR 1.13 billion; and culture and entertainment, at some 4.8 million transactions valued at SAR 432.8 million.

By city, Riyadh led POS sales with about SAR 5.50 billion, or 34.8% of the national total, followed by Jeddah with roughly SAR 2.11 billion, representing 13.4% of the total.

The weekly POS report tracks electronic payment activity across business sectors and cities in Saudi Arabia. For everyday shoppers, the rising figures reflect the growing shift toward cashless payments, which continues to shape retail, dining, and daily spending habits across the Kingdom.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving