The latest data issued by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) revealed a qualitative leap in the Kingdom's economic performance, as consumer spending in Saudi Arabia recorded a remarkable increase of 11% during 2025, reaching a total of approximately 1,569.9 billion riyals, compared to 1,418.4 billion riyals recorded in 2024. These figures reflect the strength of purchasing power and growing confidence in the national economy.
Radical shifts in consumer behavior
The detailed data reveals a strategic shift in consumer behavior within the Kingdom, in line with the objectives of the Financial Sector Development Program, one of the pillars of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Sales through points of sale witnessed a growth of 6% to reach SAR 707.2 billion, executed through 11.5 billion transactions via a wide network of 2.3 million devices, confirming the expansion of the digital payments infrastructure in the retail and shopping centers sectors.
Unprecedented boom in e-commerce
Perhaps the most striking figure in the SAMA report is the record growth in e-commerce sales via Mada cards, which surged by a staggering 65% to reach SAR 325.2 billion, its highest level ever. This massive spending was achieved through 1.77 billion transactions, reflecting the maturity of the digital market in Saudi Arabia and the increasing consumer trend towards e-commerce platforms and smart applications as a reliable and efficient alternative to traditional shopping.
Decline in cash transactions
Conversely, and continuing the success of the strategy to transition towards a cashless society, cash withdrawals from ATMs decreased by 3% to settle at SAR 537.5 billion. Despite this decrease, the banking network remains highly efficient with 15,000 ATMs and 63.6 million issued bank cards, but the overall trend clearly indicates a preference for digital channels.
Economic implications and expected impact
This surge in consumer spending carries significant economic implications both locally and regionally. Locally, increased consumer spending is a key driver of growth in the non-oil sector, boosting the performance of private sector companies and creating new job opportunities. Furthermore, the boom in e-commerce opens up vast opportunities for entrepreneurs and fintech startups to invest in the Saudi market.
Regionally, this data confirms the Kingdom’s position as the largest consumer market in the region, enhancing its attractiveness to foreign direct investment, particularly in the retail, logistics and financial technology sectors, which contributes to accelerating sustainable economic development.
