POS transactions hit SAR 14B last week: SAMA

POS device

The point-of-sale (POS) transactions in Saudi Arabia reached nearly SAR 14 billion in the week ended Jan. 17, 2026, compared to about SAR 14.2 billion a week earlier.

The number of POS transactions reached about 236.5 million last week, down from nearly 236.7 million the previous week, according to data from the 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 four-week moving average value of POS transactions stood at about SAR 14.6 billion. Adopting the four-week moving average, the value of POS transactions soared during 2025 compared to 2024, 2023 and 2022. The average value of sales ranged between SAR 11.4 billion and SAR 15.3 billion in 2025, compared to SAR 11.5 billion and 13.8 billion in 2024, SAR 10.4 billion to SAR 12.7 billion in 2023 and SAR 9.4 billion to SAR 11.6 billion in 2022.

Consumer spending on food and beverages (F&B) accounted for 14.6% of total spending, or SAR 2.04 billion, while restaurants and cafes reached 13.2% (SAR 1.85 billion).

Riyadh led Saudi cities in consumer finance value, with approximately SAR 4.74 billion, accounting for 33.9% of the total. Jeddah followed with SAR 2.03 billion (14.5%).

According to the latest data from SAMA, e-payments in the retail (individuals) sector accounted for 79% of total payments made by individuals in the Kingdom in 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.