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Saudi POS Spending Stays Above $4 Billion as Home Retail Gains Ahead of Ramadan

Prime Highlights

  • Saudi Arabia’s POS transactions remained above $4 billion in the week ending Feb. 14, reflecting steady consumer activity despite a slight weekly decline.
  • Spending on furniture, electronics, and building materials rose ahead of Ramadan, signaling increased household preparations and seasonal demand.

Key Facts

  • According to the Saudi Central Bank, total POS spending reached SR15.34 billion ($4.09 billion), down 4.8% week on week, with 252 million transactions recorded.
  • Food and beverages remained the largest category at SR2.57 billion, while Riyadh led city spending with SR5.32 billion during the week.

Background

Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale (POS) transactions remained above $4 billion in the week ending Feb. 14, highlighting steady consumer activity as households increased spending on home-related goods ahead of Ramadan, according to data from the Saudi Central Bank.

Total POS spending reached SR15.34 billion ($4.09 billion), down 4.8% from the previous week, while the number of transactions fell 1.6% to 252 million. Even though overall retail sales fell weekly, several retail segments posted growth. Furniture and home supplies led the way, rising 5.9 percent to SR697.35 million, the highest increase among major categories.

Electronics spending rose 2.9%, and construction and building materials increased 1.1%, showing strong demand for home improvement and renovations. Analysts link the rise in these categories to seasonal preparations before Ramadan, when households typically upgrade living spaces.

Food and beverages remained the largest POS category, totaling SR2.57 billion, even though spending slipped 4.3% week on week. Restaurants and cafes followed at SR1.73 billion, down 4.7%. Apparel ranked third, posting a modest 0.5% increase to SR1.38 billion.

Healthcare spending showed mixed results. People spent 5.7% more on medical services, reaching SR539.68 million, but pharmacy and medical supplies fell 8.2% to SR223.81 million. Freight transport and courier services dropped the most, down 5% to SR64.86 million.

Major cities mirrored the national pattern. Riyadh led POS activity with SR5.32 billion in spending, though it fell 3.4%. The capital recorded 80.7 million transactions, down 0.8%. In Jeddah, spending dropped 4.4% to SR2.12 billion, while Dammam saw a 3.3% decrease to SR746.29 million.

SAMA tracks weekly POS data to show consumer behavior and the rise of electronic payments across the Kingdom. The continued expansion of POS infrastructure into smaller cities and service sectors helps financial inclusion and supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 digital goals.