Saudi POS Spending Stays Above $3bn as Hotel Bookings Surge
RIYADH ; Spending on hotel bookings in Saudi Arabia climbed 14 percent in the week ending Jan. 17, keeping total weekly consumer outlays above the $3 billion mark, even as overall point-of-sale (POS) activity recorded a modest slowdown.
Latest figures from the Saudi Central Bank show that total POS transaction value slipped 1.4 percent week on week to SR14 billion ($3.73 billion), while the number of transactions edged down marginally by 0.1 percent to 236.53 million.
Sector-by-sector data revealed a mixed picture of consumer behavior. Spending at bakeries and pastry shops rose 2.1 percent to SR281.46 million, while gas stations posted a 0.8 percent increase and professional and business services recorded a 0.4 percent uptick. In contrast, education spending saw the steepest fall, plunging 33.7 percent to SR162.98 million. Freight transport and courier services followed with a 12.5 percent decline to SR41.64 million.
Retail segments also faced pressure. Expenditure on apparel and clothing dropped 5.2 percent to SR1.3 billion, books and stationery fell 4.4 percent, and jewelry spending declined 3.9 percent to SR406.03 million. Car rental outlays slipped 3.3 percent, while airline-related spending fell sharply by 12.4 percent to SR42.08 million.
Food and beverages remained the largest contributor to POS spending despite a 1.2 percent decline, totaling SR2.04 billion. Restaurants and cafes strengthened their position as the second-largest category, rising 4.7 percent to SR1.85 billion.
Regionally, Riyadh continued to account for the largest share of total POS activity, though transaction values dipped 2.2 percent to SR4.74 billion from SR4.85 billion a week earlier. The number of transactions in the capital fell 0.9 percent to 74.11 million. Jeddah recorded a modest 0.3 percent rise in transaction value to SR2.03 billion, while Dammam saw a sharper 4.8 percent decline to SR673.16 million.
The weekly POS data, tracked by SAMA, is widely viewed as a key barometer of consumer spending trends and the expansion of digital payments across the Kingdom. The figures also point to the growing reach of POS infrastructure beyond major retail centers into smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion efforts.
The continued expansion of electronic payments aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which prioritizes digital transactions as part of the Kingdom’s long-term economic diversification and digital economy agenda.
