AI Summary
An ATM machine
Consumer spending in Saudi Arabia hit an all-time high in March 2025, rising by 17% to SAR 148 billion, recording its highest increase since May 2021.
Consumer spending in March coincided with the holy month of Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr and the Umrah season.
Consumer spending represents total cash withdrawals, point-of-sale (POS) transactions, and e-commerce via Mada cards.
POS transactions saw a 10% year-on-year (YoY) rise to around SAR 65.7 billion in March.
Data showed that 892 million transactions were processed through more than two million POS terminals during the same period.
POS transactions represent the expenditures made by consumers using their ATM cards and credit cards at shopping malls, retail stores, pharmacies, and other retail outlets.
Cash withdrawals from ATMs rose by 8% YoY to about SAR 54.8 billion in March.
These withdrawals were processed through 15,000 ATMs in 133.8 million transactions, while the number of credit cards issued reached 52.7 million.
E-commerce sales through Mada cards jumped 73% YoY to SAR 27.5 billion in March.
According to monthly data issued by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), these sales were made through 147.6 million transactions.
Online sales include transactions processed through Mada cards for payments and purchases made via online shopping and applications. However, these do not include transactions conducted using Visa, Mastercard, or other credit cards.
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