Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale (POS) transactions reached SAR12.6 billion during the week of October 11 to 17, 2026, with 246.42 million individual transactions recorded across the Kingdom, according to the weekly POS report released by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). The figures, published via the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), offer a detailed snapshot of consumer activity in one of the Middle East’s most digitally advanced retail markets. While the weekly total declined 6.8 percent from SAR13.53 billion in the previous week, the breadth of spending across food, hospitality, transport, health, and professional services underscores the enduring strength of domestic demand in the Kingdom.
How does a single week of point-of-sale data tell the story of a transforming economy? In Saudi Arabia’s case, the answer lies in the granularity of the report. SAMA’s weekly POS bulletin has become one of the most closely watched indicators of household consumption, capturing spending at supermarkets, restaurants, fuel stations, clothing retailers, hotels, and professional service providers in real time. The data reflects not only the purchasing power of Saudi consumers but also the rapid adoption of digital payment infrastructure that has made card and contactless transactions the norm from Riyadh to small towns across the Kingdom.
Context and Background
What makes Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale ecosystem one of the most dynamic in the region? The Kingdom’s payments landscape has undergone a fundamental transformation over the past decade, driven by the Financial Sector Development Program, a key initiative under Vision 2030 that aims to increase the share of non-cash transactions to 70 percent of all payments. SAMA has played a central role in this shift, expanding the national payment network, licensing digital wallet providers, and promoting contactless payment acceptance among small and medium-sized merchants.
The result is a payments infrastructure that now processes hundreds of millions of transactions each week. The 246.42 million transactions recorded between October 11 and 17 represent a volume that would have been unthinkable a decade ago, when cash dominated everyday commerce. Today, POS terminals are ubiquitous in retail outlets, restaurants, fuel stations, and government service centers. The weekly SAMA report has consequently become a barometer not just of consumer confidence but of the formalization of economic activity, as more transactions move from cash to traceable digital channels.
The week’s 6.8 percent decline from the prior week’s SAR13.53 billion should be understood in this context. Weekly POS data naturally fluctuates with pay cycles, holidays, weather, and seasonal shopping patterns. The broader trend over recent months and years has been one of sustained expansion in both transaction values and volumes, reflecting population growth, rising employment, and the continued maturation of Saudi Arabia’s consumer economy.
Key Details
Where did Saudi consumers direct their spending during the week? Food and beverages remained the largest category, totaling SAR2.22 billion across 59.14 million transactions, confirming that everyday household consumption continues to anchor the retail sector. Restaurants and cafes followed closely at SAR1.65 billion across 59.56 million transactions, a figure that highlights the centrality of dining and social hospitality in Saudi daily life and the vibrancy of the Kingdom’s food and beverage sector.
Fuel stations recorded SAR998.2 million across 17.97 million transactions, while transport services accounted for SAR921.9 million across 6.93 million transactions. Clothing and accessories reached SAR910.9 million across 8.71 million transactions, and health-related spending totaled SAR823.3 million across 10.1 million transactions. Professional and business services contributed SAR733.4 million across 15.04 million transactions, reflecting the growing role of the services sector in the national economy.
Further down the table, construction and building materials recorded SAR389.4 million across 3.21 million transactions, furniture and household supplies SAR384.1 million across 2.64 million transactions, and jewelry SAR357.5 million across 334,000 transactions. Culture and entertainment spending reached SAR301.1 million across 4.12 million transactions, bakeries and confectionery SAR229.9 million across 6.3 million transactions, and hotels SAR223 million across 718,000 transactions. Telecommunications accounted for SAR193.5 million across 5.4 million transactions, electronics and electrical appliances SAR172.7 million across 2.06 million transactions, and education SAR83.5 million across 168,000 transactions. Utilities and public services recorded SAR61 million across 958,000 transactions, laundry services SAR50.8 million across 2.9 million transactions, and other sectors a combined SAR1.9 billion across 40.16 million transactions.
City-Level Insights: Riyadh Leads, Regional Centers Strong
Which Saudi cities are driving the Kingdom’s consumer economy? Riyadh topped the city-level rankings with SAR4.41 billion across 81.6 million transactions, a total that reflects the capital’s status as the largest population center, corporate hub, and government seat. Jeddah followed with SAR1.67 billion across 27.47 million transactions, underlining the Red Sea port city’s role as the commercial gateway of the western region and a major tourism destination.
Dammam recorded SAR639.9 million across 9.86 million transactions, while Makkah and Madinah registered SAR503.3 million across 9.52 million transactions and SAR495.5 million across 9.32 million transactions respectively. The strong showing by the two holy cities reflects both the steady flow of pilgrims and the expanding local economies that serve them. Together, these five cities account for a substantial share of national POS activity, but the SAMA data also captures spending across smaller cities and governorates, illustrating the geographic breadth of the Kingdom’s digital payments network.
How significant is the near-parity between Makkah and Madinah in weekly POS spending? It points to the balanced development of services and retail infrastructure in both cities, supported by ongoing investment in hospitality, transport, and urban amenities under Vision 2030. The presence of high transaction volumes in the holy cities also demonstrates how pilgrimage-related economic activity integrates with the broader national consumer market.
International and Regional Impact
Why should international observers pay attention to Saudi Arabia’s weekly POS figures? For global investors, retailers, and financial institutions, the data provides a real-time gauge of consumer demand in the largest Arab economy and a key market for imported goods, franchise brands, and digital services. Multinational companies evaluating entry or expansion in the Gulf look to indicators such as SAMA’s POS report to assess market depth, category performance, and the pace of digital adoption.
Regionally, Saudi Arabia’s payments infrastructure sets a benchmark for the Gulf Cooperation Council and the wider Middle East. The Kingdom’s progress in contactless payments, digital wallets, and merchant acceptance has been cited by regional financial authorities as a model for financial inclusion and economic digitization. As Saudi Arabia deepens its integration with global markets through trade agreements, tourism openness, and investment partnerships, the transparency of its economic data reinforces its reputation as a predictable and well-regulated business environment.
Economic and Strategic Significance
What does the composition of spending reveal about Saudi Arabia’s economic priorities? The dominance of food, dining, fuel, and transport in the weekly totals reflects the everyday spending of a growing population with rising disposable incomes. At the same time, the presence of categories such as professional and business services, construction materials, education, and culture and entertainment signals a diversifying economy in which services and knowledge sectors are gaining weight alongside traditional retail.
The culture and entertainment category, which recorded SAR301.1 million across 4.12 million transactions, is particularly noteworthy. It reflects the impact of the Quality of Life Program and the rapid expansion of entertainment offerings, including concerts, festivals, cinemas, and sporting events, that have reshaped leisure spending in the Kingdom. Similarly, the SAR223 million spent at hotels points to a hospitality sector that is expanding in tandem with the National Tourism Strategy and the goal of welcoming 150 million visits annually by 2030.
For policymakers and businesses alike, the weekly POS report is a tool for planning and resource allocation. It helps retailers calibrate inventory, supports banks in designing consumer products, and gives government agencies timely insight into consumption patterns across regions and categories. The continued publication of this data by SAMA exemplifies the transparency that underpins Saudi Arabia’s investment climate.
Vision 2030 Alignment
How does a week of point-of-sale spending connect to Saudi Arabia’s long-term transformation? Every digital transaction recorded in the SAMA report is a data point in the Kingdom’s broader journey toward a diversified, cash-light, and technology-enabled economy. The Financial Sector Development Program, the National Retail Strategy, the Quality of Life Program, and the National Tourism Strategy all converge on the same objective: building a dynamic domestic market that supports jobs, attracts investment, and improves the everyday experience of citizens and residents.
The SAR12.6 billion recorded between October 11 and 17 is more than a weekly statistic. It is evidence of a consumer economy that is broad, resilient, and increasingly digital, and of institutions such as the Saudi Central Bank that are committed to measuring and supporting its growth. As Saudi Arabia advances toward the goals of Vision 2030, weekly indicators like the POS report will continue to document the Kingdom’s progress, offering the world a clear and credible view of an economy in motion.
20 Questions
Q1. What was the total value of POS transactions in Saudi Arabia during the week of October 11 to 17, 2026?
A1. Point-of-sale transactions totaled SAR12.6 billion during that week, according to the Saudi Central Bank’s weekly POS report published via the Saudi Press Agency.
Q2. How many POS transactions were recorded during the week?
A2. The Kingdom recorded 246.42 million individual point-of-sale transactions during the week of October 11 to 17, 2026.
Q3. How did the weekly total compare with the previous week?
A3. The total of SAR12.6 billion was down 6.8 percent from SAR13.53 billion recorded in the previous week, a normal fluctuation in weekly consumer data.
Q4. Which spending category recorded the highest value?
A4. Food and beverages led all categories with SAR2.22 billion across 59.14 million transactions, reflecting the strength of everyday household consumption.
Q5. How much was spent at restaurants and cafes?
A5. Restaurants and cafes recorded SAR1.65 billion across 59.56 million transactions, underscoring the vibrancy of the Kingdom’s dining and hospitality sector.
Q6. What was the value of spending at fuel stations?
A6. Fuel stations accounted for SAR998.2 million across 17.97 million transactions during the week.
Q7. How much did consumers spend on transport services?
A7. Transport services recorded SAR921.9 million across 6.93 million transactions, supporting mobility across the Kingdom’s cities and regions.
Q8. What was the value of clothing and accessories spending?
A8. Clothing and accessories totaled SAR910.9 million across 8.71 million transactions during the reporting week.
Q9. How much was spent on health-related purchases and services?
A9. Health spending reached SAR823.3 million across 10.1 million transactions, reflecting continued investment in the well-being of citizens and residents.
Q10. What did professional and business services record?
A10. Professional and business services recorded SAR733.4 million across 15.04 million transactions, highlighting the expanding role of the services sector.
Q11. Which city topped the POS spending rankings?
A11. Riyadh led with SAR4.41 billion across 81.6 million transactions, reflecting its status as the capital and largest commercial center.
Q12. How much did Jeddah record in POS transactions?
A12. Jeddah recorded SAR1.67 billion across 27.47 million transactions, confirming its role as the commercial gateway of the western region.
Q13. What were the totals for Dammam, Makkah, and Madinah?
A13. Dammam recorded SAR639.9 million across 9.86 million transactions, Makkah SAR503.3 million across 9.52 million transactions, and Madinah SAR495.5 million across 9.32 million transactions.
Q14. How much was spent in the culture and entertainment category?
A14. Culture and entertainment recorded SAR301.1 million across 4.12 million transactions, reflecting the expansion of leisure and entertainment offerings under Vision 2030.
Q15. What was the value of hotel spending during the week?
A15. Hotels accounted for SAR223 million across 718,000 transactions, consistent with the growth of domestic and international tourism in the Kingdom.
Q16. How much did jewelry purchases total?
A16. Jewelry recorded SAR357.5 million across 334,000 transactions, a category characterized by higher average transaction values.
Q17. What was the value of education-related POS spending?
A17. Education recorded SAR83.5 million across 168,000 transactions, reflecting payments for tuition, training, and related services.
Q18. Which sectors recorded the smallest totals?
A18. Utilities and public services recorded SAR61 million across 958,000 transactions, while laundry services totaled SAR50.8 million across 2.9 million transactions.
Q19. Where does the weekly POS data come from?
A19. The data is compiled and published by the Saudi Central Bank through its weekly POS report, which is disseminated via the Saudi Press Agency.
Q20. Why is the POS report important for Saudi Arabia’s economic outlook?
A20. It provides timely, transparent insight into consumer demand and digital payment adoption, supporting businesses, investors, and policymakers as the Kingdom advances its Vision 2030 economic transformation.
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