Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf records 15% annual growth in commercial activity

The 18th Al-Jouf International Olive Festival, held in January, highlights the importance of the industry to the region. File/SPA
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Updated 17 March 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf records 15% annual growth in commercial activity

  • Growth rate of new commercial registrations in the region reached 98%
  • SMEs recorded a 33% growth in 2024 compared to 2023

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf province recorded a 15 percent year-on-year growth in commercial activity in 2024 thanks to successful regional economic initiatives, new data showed.

Released by the Vision Realization Office in Al-Jouf, the study also indicated a significant increase in the growth rate of new commercial registrations in the region, reaching 98 percent, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

This falls in line with promoting development and growth while encouraging private economic activity across all regions of the Kingdom, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.




The Al-Jouf region is actively fostering innovative investments through unique and pioneering projects. File/SPA

It also aligns with the region’s role as the northern gateway to the Kingdom, connecting it to Jordan and facilitating trade through the Al-Haditha land port. This terminal is the third busiest in the nation, handling $247 million in imports and exports in 2019, according to Invest Saudi.

The study monitored the growth of funded projects across the region, with 478 initiatives, and support for existing undertakings with liquidity estimated at SR22.05 million ($5.88 million).

Small and medium-sized enterprises recorded a 33 percent growth in 2024 compared to 2023, while the share of women-funded projects reached approximately 52 percent, a clear indicator of the empowerment of Saudi females.

The analysis primarily attributed these gains to the efforts and commitment of the region’s governor, Prince Faisal bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz.




Al-Jouf saw a significant increase in the growth rate of new commercial registrations in the region. File/SPA

This comes as he worked on translating the generous directives into reality, serving the interests of citizens. He urged the branches of ministries and relevant agencies to harness all resources to overcome challenges and find appropriate solutions.

The governor also monitored the implementation of projects that serve the Al-Jouf region, its governorates, and centers, both investment- and development-oriented, as well as prevented any failures, achieving their set goals.

In March, Prince Faisal said that Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf province offers a fertile investment landscape due to abundant renewable energy and a robust food supply.




The Al-Jouf province offers a fertile investment landscape due to abundant renewable energy and a robust food supply. File/SPA

At the time, he highlighted that the region offers many investment opportunities and competitive advantages. He also emphasized that Al-Jouf has implemented various initiatives to overcome challenges for potential investors, with coordinated efforts across multiple government sectors.

The official also underlined at the time that the Al-Jouf region is actively fostering innovative investments through unique and pioneering projects. He emphasized that these endeavors will create future employment prospects for both male and female youth in the region and the nation at large.


Saudi POS stays above $4bn as Ramadan spending lifts outlays on home goods

Updated 20 February 2026
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Saudi POS stays above $4bn as Ramadan spending lifts outlays on home goods

RIYADH: Saudi point-of-sale transactions remained above $4 billion in the week ending Feb. 14, with spending on furniture and home supplies rising ahead of Ramadan, central bank data showed.

Overall POS activity totaled SR15.34 billion ($4.09 billion), representing a 4.8 percent week-on-week decrease, while the number of transactions dipped 1.6 percent to 252 million, according to the Saudi Central Bank. 

Spending on furniture and home supplies rose 5.9 percent to SR697.35 million, marking the strongest weekly increase among major retail categories. 

Expenditure on electronics increased 2.9 percent, while spending on construction and building materials rose 1.1 percent.

Sectors that saw declines includes freight transport and courier services, which posted a drop of 5 percent to SR64.86 million.

Pharmacy and medical supplies spending fell 8.2 percent to SR223.81 million, but outlays on medical services rose 5.7 percent to SR539.68 million. 

Food and beverage expenditure decreased 4.3 percent, but the total spend of SR2.57 billion meant it retained the largest share of POS activity.

Restaurants and cafes followed with SR1.73 billion, despite a 4.7 percent decline. Apparel and clothing outlays represented the third-largest share of POS spending during the monitored week, up 0.5 percent to SR1.38 billion.

The Kingdom’s major urban centers mirrored the mixed national changes. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 3.4 percent drop to SR5.32 billion. The number of transactions in the capital reached 80.7 million, down 0.8 percent week on week. 

In Jeddah, transaction values decreased 4.4 percent to SR2.12 billion, while Dammam reported a 3.3 percent decrease to SR746.29 million. 

POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer spending trends and the ongoing growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia.  

The data also highlights the expanding reach of POS infrastructure, extending beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives.  

The growth of digital payment technologies aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, promoting electronic transactions and contributing to the Kingdom’s broader digital economy.