Saudi Consumer Spending Jumps 11.5% in a Week

Consumer spending in Saudi Arabia climbed to SAR 15.80 billion for the week ending 29 August 2026, an 11.5% increase compared with the previous week, driven largely by stronger sales of food and beverages nationwide.

Food and beverage spending alone reached SAR 2.59 billion during that week, a 22.8% week-on-week rise that acted as the main engine behind the overall jump. Restaurants and cafes recorded SAR 1.78 billion in transactions, up 6.7% from the previous week, while spending on apparel, clothing, and accessories reached SAR 1.41 billion, an 11.8% increase.

The weekly figures reflect a wider trend of steady growth in household spending. Total consumer spending through official payment channels reached SAR 425 billion in the first quarter of 2026, a 6.8% rise year-on-year, building on SAR 1.57 trillion spent through these channels across 2025.

Why it matters

Food and beverages remain the single largest component of household budgets in the Kingdom, accounting for around 27.9% of average monthly household monetary consumption. The country's food and beverage market is estimated at USD 84.0 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 88.9 billion in 2026, with annual growth of roughly 6.40% expected through 2032.

For residents and expats, the numbers point to a busy retail and dining scene across cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Strong spending on restaurants, cafes, and everyday essentials signals healthy consumer confidence and continued demand across the food, retail, and hospitality sectors.

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