Saudi POS Spending Jumps 33% to SAR 16.31 Billion

Consumer spending through point-of-sale (POS) terminals across Saudi Arabia climbed sharply during the week of 26 July to 1 August, with total transactions rising 33% to reach SAR 16.31 billion. A total of 267.11 million transactions were recorded nationwide over the seven-day period.

The food and beverages sector recorded the highest spending at SAR 2.692 billion, followed by other sectors at SAR 2.629 billion and restaurants and cafés at SAR 2.044 billion. Together, these categories reflect where much of the Kingdom's day-to-day consumer activity is concentrated.

One of the standout movers was education spending, which jumped 69.9% week on week to SAR 177.8 million. The sharp rise points to increased outlays on schooling and related services as families prepared for the new academic year.

Riyadh Leads the Way

Among cities, Riyadh topped the rankings with 82.883 million transactions worth SAR 5.230 billion. Makkah recorded 10.325 million transactions worth SAR 648.774 million, while Madinah logged a close 10.304 million transactions valued at SAR 649.022 million.

The figures underline the continued shift toward digital and card-based payments across the Kingdom, a trend that has reshaped how residents and expats shop, dine, and pay for services. For the community, the steady growth in electronic transactions reflects wider convenience and the ongoing expansion of cashless options in retail, hospitality, and education. Saudi Living will continue to track spending trends and what they mean for everyday life in the Kingdom.

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