RIYADH: Digital platforms are transforming the way people in Saudi Arabia donate to charity during Ramadan.
Several charities report a significant shift toward app-based donations as more donors turn to their phones to support humanitarian causes.
Dhaifullah bin Ahmed Al-Nuami, CEO of the Al-Wedad Charity Association, said the spread of donation apps and digital platforms has significantly influenced charitable work during the holy month, when giving traditionally peaks.
“Digital applications and platforms have significantly contributed to increasing donations during the holy month of Ramadan,” Al-Nuami told Arab News.
“This comes at a time when people are generally more motivated to give to charity and support various charitable causes during this blessed month.”
Al-Nuami added that donations received through digital channels now account for more than 50 percent of total contributions, a share he expects to increase in future.
Saudi Arabia has recorded rapid growth in digital charity platforms in recent years, particularly through national initiatives such as the Ehsan Platform, which has collected about $4 billion (SR15 billion) since its launch in 2021, and the housing charity platform Jood Eskan, which enables individuals to donate instantly to help provide housing for the most vulnerable families in society.
The shift has also changed the experience of giving for donors and beneficiaries.
“Digital donations have made it much easier for donors to access the association, learn about its programs and projects, and choose the causes they wish to support,” he said.
For beneficiaries, the use of digital systems has accelerated the implementation of programs and initiatives while allowing charities to measure the impact of their work and gather feedback from those receiving assistance.
“Most donors now prefer digital channels for giving during this month,” Al-Nuami said, noting that the ease of mobile donations has led to an increase in smaller but more frequent contributions throughout the month.
The technological shift has also helped speed up the delivery of aid.
“Digital giving has significantly reduced the time, effort and resources needed,” he said, adding that it has improved the efficiency and quality of services provided to beneficiaries.
Trust and transparency remain key factors encouraging people to donate through digital platforms.
Al-Nuami said charities rely on verified digital systems — including ERP (enterprise resource planning) and donation management — to provide accurate information about cases and projects.
These systems allow donors to see where their contributions are going while charities publish periodic reports detailing the impact of donations.
All projects are also approved by the National Center for Non-Profit Sector Development, which oversees governance in the Kingdom’s non-profit sector.
The growth of digital giving has broadened the donor base too.
“We have seen a significant expansion in the number of donors, particularly among young people, as digital tools align with their lifestyles and technological interests,” Al-Nuami said.
For many donors, the shift to digital charity has made giving more accessible and immediate.
Reem Al-Sehly, a Saudi donor who regularly contributes through online platforms, said the emergence of donation platforms has made charitable giving easier and more transparent.
“The appearance of donation platforms has made doing good much easier while ensuring that the charity work is reliable,” she told Arab News.
“These platforms are trusted, and we can see the cases listed and follow them until they are closed.”
She said the simplicity of digital platforms encourages more frequent donations.
“With just one click I can donate to several causes, and the responsible organizations distribute the donations fairly to those in need,” she said.
Al-Sehly said the platforms often highlight humanitarian cases that motivate people to contribute.
“On platforms like Ehsan you see cases of people struggling with debts or campaigns to build water wells as ongoing charity for someone who passed away,” she said.
“These stories move people and encourage them to donate.”
She said that the ease and variety of giving options, from financial donations to food and clothing, make the experience more appealing.
“What I like most is the simplicity and the variety of donations,” Al-Sehly said. “It makes me feel confident that the help will reach those who truly need it.”
