Strong Retail Growth as Saudi POS Spending Stays Above $3.5bn
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s point‑of‑sale transactions reached SR13.33 billion ($3.55 billion) in the week ending April 11, official data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) showed. The food and beverages sector remained the largest contributor despite an 11.4 percent weekly drop, with spending totalling SR2.16 billion.
The total number of POS transactions stood at 242.78 million, a marginal weekly decline of 1.5 percent. The overall value fell 9.1 percent, mainly due to a 25.8 percent drop in education spending.
Restaurants and cafes recorded SR1.78 billion in POS activity, followed by gas stations at SR999.42 million and apparel at SR995.84 million. Other notable sectors included transportation (SR975.53 million), healthcare (SR891.87 million), and professional services (SR744.80 million).
Riyadh led all cities with SR4.66 billion in POS spending, followed by Jeddah (SR1.84 billion) and Dammam (SR689.84 million). Madinah, Makkah, Al‑Khobar, Buraidah, and Abha also registered significant activity.
The steady momentum reflects resilient consumer confidence and the ongoing shift toward digital payments, supported by the Vision 2030 reform initiative, even as global economic headwinds persist.
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