Prime Highlight
- Saudi Arabia saw a sharp rise in consumer spending in the first week of 2026, with POS transactions totaling SR17 billion and strong growth across all sectors.
- The surge reflects growing consumer confidence and wider adoption of digital payments, supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 digital economy goals.
Key Facts
- The total number of POS transactions increased 15.7% to 255.36 million, while freight, education, and healthcare sectors saw the fastest growth.
- Riyadh led nationwide spending with SR5.61 billion, followed by Jeddah at SR2.24 billion and Dammam at SR831.93 million.
Background
Saudi Arabia opened 2026 with a sharp rise in consumer spending, as point-of-sale transactions climbed to SR17 billion in the week ending Jan. 3, according to the Saudi Central Bank.
SAMA said the total value of POS payments jumped 30.6% from the previous week, while the number of transactions rose 15.7% to 255.36 million. All business sectors posted positive growth, showing strong consumer confidence at the start of the year.
Freight transport, postal, and courier services grew the fastest, with spending more than doubling to SR74.22 million. Education came next, rising 66.4% to SR235.51 million. People spent 31.7% more on personal care, and spending on books and stationery grew 36%. Jewelry purchases climbed 48% to SR544.12 million.
Healthcare-related spending also expanded. Pharmacies increased their sales by 42.1%, reaching SR284.81 million, while medical services grew 20.8% to SR556.27 million.
The food and beverages sector remained the biggest contributor to POS spending, rising 41.4% to SR2.7 billion. Restaurants and cafes came next with SR1.9 billion, up 20.9%, and apparel and clothing ranked third with SR1.6 billion after a 30% increase. Together, these three categories made up about SR6.22 billion, or 36.53% of total POS spending.
Major cities followed the nationwide trend. Riyadh led the market, with spending up 21% to SR5.61 billion and transactions rising 12.2% to 79.6 million. Jeddah’s spending jumped 25.6% to SR2.24 billion, and Dammam’s rose 26.1% to SR831.93 million.
SAMA tracks POS data weekly to measure consumer behavior and the growth of digital payments. The latest figures point to wider use of electronic transactions across the Kingdom, in line with Vision 2030 goals to build a stronger digital economy.
