POS transactions reach SAR 12.4B last week: SAMA
The point-of-sale (POS) transactions in Saudi Arabia reached nearly SAR 12.4 billion in the week ended May 17, compared to about SAR 13.1 billion a week earlier.
The number of POS transactions reached about 217.6 million last week, compared to nearly 221.1 million in the previous week, according to data issued by Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).
POS transactions represent consumer expenditure through debit and credit cards at major shopping centers, retail outlets, pharmacies, and others.
The data indicated that the value of sales via POS increases in the weeks that coincide with the disbursement of salaries to government employees (the 27th of each month), in addition to the weeks that coincide with school vacations and the weeks preceding Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha.
On the other hand, the value of sales decreases in the weeks preceding salary disbursement and those coinciding with the start of the back-to-school season.
The moving average value of POS transactions stood at about SAR 13.08 billion in 2025.
Adopting the four-week moving average, the value of POS transactions soared during 2024 compared to 2023 and 2022. The average value of sales ranged between SAR 11 billion and SAR 14 billion in 2024, compared to SAR 10 billion to SAR 13 billion in 2023 and SAR 9 billion to SAR 12 billion in 2022.
For the week ended on May 17, consumer spending was focused on the food and beverage (F&B) sector, representing 14.6% (SAR 1.80 billion) of last week's total POS transactions, followed by the restaurants and cafes sector at 14.2% (SAR 1.76 billion).
Riyadh led in terms of POS transaction value by region, with approximately SAR 4.50 billion, representing 36.4% of the total. Jeddah followed with SAR 1.75 billion (14.1%).
According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), e-payments in the retail (individuals) sector reached 79% of total payments carried out by individuals in the Kingdom during 2024. This achieved the target ratio in the Financial Sector Development Program, one of Vision 2030's programs, which aims to reach an e-payment ratio of 70% by 2025.
Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed remarkable progress and rapid growth in e-payment adoption, thanks to the myriad strategic efforts and initiatives launched by SAMA, in cooperation with the financial sector, to support the growth of the payments sector and stimulate the use of various e-payment methods in the Kingdom.
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