Saudi POS spending holds above $3.5bn with education outlays surging

03/04/2026 08:05 AST

Saudi Arabia's point-of-sale transactions held above the $3 billion mark in the week ending March 28, reaching SR12.97 billion ($3.45 billion), with education spending rising sharply, official data showed.

According to data from the Saudi Central Bank, total POS transaction value declined 12.3 percent week on week, while the number of transactions slipped 1.8 percent to 219.8 million.

Education recorded the strongest increase during the week, surging 177 percent to SR33 million, alongside transaction volumes rising 42.9 percent to 63,000.

Restaurants and cafes also posted solid gains, with outlays increasing 23.9 percent, while food and beverage purchases - the largest category - rose 1.8 percent to SR2.15 billion, helping cushion the overall decline.

Several consumer segments saw sharp contractions. Outlays on apparel and clothing dropped 57.5 percent to SR991.5 million, marking the steepest fall among major categories.

Bakeries and pastries declined 47.9 percent to SR271.9 million, while furniture and home supplies fell 23.5 percent to SR349.8 million.

Expenditure on freight transport and courier services increased 6.8 percent, while telecommunications rose 3.9 percent during the week. Electronics purchases climbed 3.2 percent to SR156.72 million.

Car rental activity surged 13.8 percent, while airline transactions rose 3.8 percent to SR34.9 million.

The Kingdom's key urban centers mirrored the mixed sectoral performance.

Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS activity, saw an 11.5 percent dip to SR4.15 billion. The number of transactions in the capital settled at 66.11 million, down 0.2 percent week on week.

In Jeddah, transaction values decreased by 16.6 percent to SR1.81 billion, while Abha reported a 7.3 percent surge to SR163.36 million.

POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer trends and the ongoing growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia.

The data also highlights the expanding reach of POS infrastructure, extending beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives.

The growth of digital payment technologies aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objectives, promoting electronic transactions and contributing to the Kingdom's broader digital economy.

Arab News