RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total point-of-sale transactions remained above the $3 billion mark in the week ending Nov. 22, , reaching SR12.5 billion ($3.3 billion). 

According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, the overall POS amount represented a 4.4 percent week-on-week dip with the number of transactions also seeing a decrease at 5.4 percent to 220.15 million compared to 232.67 million the week before. 

Five categories saw a slight uptick, with spending on hotels posting the largest increase at 19.8 percent to SR381.98 million, followed by auto and equipment rental, which rose 10.8 percent to SR578.2 million. 

Expenditure on personal care saw a slight increase at 4.8 percent, followed by a 4.5 percent increase in spending on books and stationery. Jewelry outlays saw a 3.2 percent increase to reach SR335.8 million. 

Data revealed decreases across the rest of the categories, led by education, which saw the largest dip at 17.6 percent to reach SR104.48 million. Spending in pharmacies on medical supplies followed, with an 11.2 percent decrease to reach SR197.2 million.  

Expenditure on food and beverages saw an 8.6 percent decrease to SR1.8 billion, claiming the largest share of the POS. Spending on restaurants and cafes followed despite a dip of 3.8 percent to SR1.6 billion. 

Apparel and clothing decreased by 4 percent to SR1.13 billion, claiming the third largest share of the POS during the monitored week. 

The Kingdom’s key urban centers mirrored the national decline. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 4.9 percent dip to SR4.46 billion, down from SR4.68 billion the previous week. The number of transactions in the capital reached 72 million, down 6.3 percent week on week. 

In Jeddah, transaction values decreased 1.8 percent to SR1.72 billion, while Dammam reported a 4.1 percent dip to SR621.22 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.