Card payments rose 11% on last year, and the amount only 4%
Prices do not explain the gap. More likely, people now pay by card for small purchases they used to pay in cash.
Value of point-of-sale payments in Saudi Arabia · week 13–19 September 2026 · 2–8 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH
SAR 12,922.0 million
+4.2% against the same week last year (SAR 12,403.6 million).
| This week | Same week last year | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of transactions (million) | 241.1 | 217.8 | +10.7% |
| Average transaction value (SAR) = value ÷ number | 53.6 | 56.9 | −5.9% |
What this means for your decision: Spending across Saudi Arabia in the last 4 weeks was 3.7% higher than last year; sales growing more slowly than that most likely have a local cause, which a comparison with your city and activity shows.
The week and its counterpart last year have no Ramadan or Eid; the year-on-year comparison is not affected by the shift of Hijri seasons.
Reading of the week
The newsletter editor’s reading of the week 13–19 September 2026 · 2–8 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH. Figures come directly from SAMA or from our calculation on them, and every figure is matched automatically against our data.
Figures of the week
Week 13–19 September 2026 · 2–8 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH, against the previous week and the same week in 2025 (14–20 September 2025 · 22–28 Rabi' al-Awwal 1447 AH).
| Indicator | This week | Previous week | Same week 2025 | Change from 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spending (SAR billion) | 12.9 | 13.8 | 12.4 | +4.2% |
| Transactions (million) | 241.1 | 254.9 | 217.8 | +10.7% |
| Average transaction (SAR) | 53.6 | 54.1 | 57 | −5.9% |
- SAR 12.9 billion was spent by card, 6.3% less than the previous week. Meaning: the usual mid-month lull continued, away from payday.
- Against last year: +4.2%. Meaning: after inflation of 1.8%, real card spending is only about 2.4% higher.
- 241.1 million transactions, 23 million more than the same week last year. Meaning: cards are used in more purchases, not necessarily that people buy more.
Customers or prices?
Neither, this time: the number of transactions grew much faster than their value, so the average transaction fell from SAR 57 to SAR 53.6. If prices were driving growth, the average would have risen. More likely it is the continuing shift of small payments from cash to card; the electronic share of individuals’ payments rose from 79% in 2024 to 85% in 2025. The practical result: part of the year-on-year “growth” in point-of-sale figures is a change in how people pay, not in how much they spend.
Value versus number
We split the annual growth into two parts. The number of transactions rose 10.7% and the value only 4.2%, so the average transaction fell 5.9% (from SAR 57 to SAR 53.6). Had the bill stayed the same, spending would have grown 10.7%; the smaller bill absorbed about 6.5 points of that growth. In other words, growth came from more transactions, not larger ones. The likely reason is one of three, or a mix: small purchases moved from cash to card, smaller bills more often, or both.
The available evidence is not conclusive. On one hand, the electronic share of individuals’ retail payments rose from 79% in 2024 to 85% in 2025 (SAMA), which supports a shift to card. On the other, ATM cash withdrawals did not fall in 2024 but rose 0.7% (AGBI), which does not support a large shift away from cash. We have not yet found the monthly cash-withdrawal series for 2026, and will add it to the comparison when we reach it. Until then, a rise in the number of transactions should not be read as a rise in what people buy.
Where spending moved
| Activity | 2026 (SAR billion) | vs previous week | 2025 (SAR billion) | vs 2025 | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food and beverages | 2.07 | −9.0% | 1.81 | +14.5% | The number of transactions also grew 14.5% and the average bill is unchanged (SAR 36.4), so grocery purchases moving to card is more likely than higher prices |
| Restaurants and cafés | 1.58 | −6.7% | 1.45 | +9.0% | Above inflation (1.8%); part of it is a shift from cash to card |
Riyadh spent SAR 4.66 billion, or 36% of the total, and Jeddah SAR 1.77 billion. We do not compare cities with last year in this issue; the city rows in the 2025 file did not pass verification.
Context
- Season: the two weeks compared are in mid-September, before National Day and away from payday, with no Ramadan. The year-on-year comparison is relatively clean.
- Inflation: 1.8% year on year in August; food 1.4%.
What the figures do not say
These are card purchases at point-of-sale terminals only. Because cards replace cash every year, the year-on-year comparison overstates the growth of actual spending. The 2026 figures are rounded to one decimal, so annual percentages are accurate within ±0.5 points.
Source
Figures for the 2026 week from the Saudi Central Bank as published by Argaam(Arabic) on 23 September 2026 (12 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH), with the electronic payment shares. The previous week from SAMA’s report for the week 6–12 September 2026 · 24 Rabi' al-Awwal – 1 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH. The 2025 figures from SAMA’s report for the week 14–20 September 2025 · 22–28 Rabi' al-Awwal 1447 AH. Inflation from GASTAT as reported by Sobra newspaper(Arabic). Cash withdrawals in 2024 from AGBI, and the electronic payment share from SAMA. Averages, annual percentages and the growth breakdown are our calculations.
Independent platform, not affiliated with the Saudi Central Bank or the General Authority for Statistics; the analysis is ours and is not financial advice.
Three points
- Against the previous week −6.3%, and over the same two weeks last year −5.4%; the weekly movement resembles last year, so it is a usual seasonal pattern.
- 13 of 19 main activities are above last year; fastest growth Telecommunications +22.2%, weakest Furniture and home −17.3%.
- Among the 10 largest cities, 8 are above last year; fastest Buraidah +7.7%, slowest Khamis Mushait −4.7%.
Spending above the previous year in 44 of 52 weeks
Value of point-of-sale payments in Saudi Arabia, weekly, 21 September 2025 – 19 September 2026 · 29 Rabi' al-Awwal 1447 – 8 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH, against the same weeks 364 days earlier. Shaded: Ramadan and the two Eids this year; their Gregorian dates differ in the previous year, so this is not a season-to-season comparison.
Source: Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), weekly point-of-sale data; DataPulse calculations. Latest week: 13–19 September 2026 · 2–8 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH
What this means for your decision: Last 4 weeks +3.7% against the same weeks last year; this trend says more than a single week.
Telecommunications fastest-growing, Furniture and home weakest this week
Change in the value of spending by main activity against the same week last year, %.
| Activity | SAR million | Million transactions | Average transaction (SAR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telecommunications | 169.9 +22.2% | 5.2 +41.2% | 32.9 −13.5% |
| Clothing and accessories | 1,060.7 +20.3% | 9.4 +19.9% | 112.3 +0.3% |
| Public utilities | 54.8 +14.9% | 0.8 +15.2% | 65.0 −0.2% |
| Groceries and food | 2,074.4 +14.5% | 57.0 +14.5% | 36.4 less than 0.1% |
| Laundry | 48.0 +10.4% | 2.8 +5.3% | 17.2 +4.8% |
| Restaurants and cafés | 1,578.2 +9.0% | 57.5 +7.8% | 27.4 +1.1% |
| Health | 882.0 +6.3% | 9.8 +7.6% | 89.8 −1.2% |
| Hotels | 257.9 +5.0% | 0.7 +12.8% | 349.0 −6.9% |
| Education | 180.7 +4.7% | 0.2 −4.5% | 852.3 +9.6% |
| Transport | 961.3 +3.2% | 6.6 +30.5% | 144.8 −20.9% |
| Fuel stations | 978.7 +2.4% | 17.8 +2.4% | 54.9 less than 0.1% |
| Electronics | 203.5 +1.0% | 2.0 +22.2% | 101.4 −17.3% |
| Other activities | 1,923.3 +0.1% | 39.9 +8.1% | 48.2 −7.5% |
| Building materials | 407.3 −0.8% | 3.0 +40.0% | 135.4 −29.1% |
| Culture and recreation | 327.7 −4.3% | 4.0 −1.7% | 82.2 −2.7% |
| Bakeries and sweets | 221.0 −6.5% | 6.0 −18.9% | 36.6 +15.3% |
| Professional services | 763.4 −7.2% | 15.3 +23.1% | 49.9 −24.7% |
| Jewellery | 325.6 −7.5% | 0.3 +6.6% | 1,126.7 −13.3% |
| Furniture and home | 503.8 −17.3% | 2.6 +8.9% | 197.4 −24.1% |
Source: Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), weekly point-of-sale data; DataPulse calculations. Latest week: 13–19 September 2026 · 2–8 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH
What this means for your decision: In the weakest activities demand is falling across the market; in the fastest, a shop growing more slowly than its activity is losing part of its share.
Buraidah fastest-growing of the 10 largest cities
Weekly spending of the 10 largest cities, SAR million.
| City | SAR million | vs previous week | vs same week last year | Million transactions | Average transaction (SAR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Riyadh | 4,660.9 | −4.3% | +3.8% | 81.3 +11.9% | 57.3 −7.2% |
| 2. Jeddah | 1,770.5 | −6.2% | +0.1% | 27.2 +5.2% | 65.1 −4.8% |
| 3. Dammam | 664.0 | −3.8% | +4.4% | 9.8 +6.6% | 67.9 −2.0% |
| 4. Makkah | 508.0 | −5.1% | +7.4% | 9.2 +9.5% | 55.1 −1.9% |
| 5. Madinah | 487.3 | −6.2% | +4.5% | 9.0 +5.8% | 54.3 −1.2% |
| 6. Al Khobar | 381.9 | −0.7% | +1.1% | 5.0 +7.5% | 76.4 −5.9% |
| 7. Buraidah | 325.2 | −6.9% | +7.7% | 5.4 +7.8% | 60.3 less than 0.1% |
| 8. Taif | 263.1 | −12.5% | +2.1% | 5.8 +2.6% | 45.3 −0.5% |
| 9. Khamis Mushait | 241.5 | −9.0% | −4.7% | 4.0 −1.0% | 60.7 −3.8% |
| 10. Tabuk | 212.4 | −9.1% | −3.5% | 4.6 +2.3% | 45.9 −5.7% |
Source: Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), weekly point-of-sale data; DataPulse calculations. Latest week: 13–19 September 2026 · 2–8 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH
What this means for your decision: Saudi Arabia (+4.2%) is the reference for cities: those below it had a weaker local market this week, which does not mean your shop is weaker.
Calendar of the coming weeks
Announced calendar facts only, no forecasts; salaries from the Ministry of Finance schedule.
Also present last year, so the comparison is balanced:
- 27 September – 3 October 2026 · 16–22 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH: Government salaries on Sunday 27 September (16 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH).
- 25–31 October 2026 · 14–20 Jumada al-Ula 1448 AH: Government salaries on Tuesday 27 October (16 Jumada al-Ula 1448 AH).
Ramadan 1448 AH starts around Monday 8 February 2027 (1 Ramadan 1448 AH) by the Umm al-Qura calendar (the official start is by moon sighting), in 19 weeks.
What this means for your decision: The salary week was 20.0% higher than the average ordinary week over the last 52 weeks.
Methodology
- Point-of-sale payments by card and mobile, from SAMA: 60 cities weekly, 30 activities for Saudi Arabia weekly (19 main and 11 sub-activities), and 60×30 monthly.
- Cash payments and online purchases are not included.
- City = location of the payment terminal, not where the buyer lives. Activity = the merchant’s classification at the bank.
- Figures are before removing price rises, so part of the growth is higher prices, not larger quantities.
- Year-on-year comparison: the same week 364 days earlier.
- SAMA may revise its figures; we update earlier issues and say so here.
- No estimated figures in this issue; every figure is published by SAMA or calculated directly from it.
What changed: Newsletter methodology version 1.0. Added the week 13–19 September 2026 · 2–8 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH.