RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total point-of-sale transactions reached SR12.1 billion ($3.2 billion) in the week ending April 25, boosted by a 40.3 percent surge in hotel sector receipts.
According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, hotel spending rose to SR331.9 million, with the number of transactions surging 20.9 percent to 859,000.
This comes as the Kingdom welcomed the arrival of Hajj pilgrims from around the world. Travelers from Pakistan, India, and Turkiye have been arriving in the Kingdom since mid-April, marking the start of the annual pilgrimage season.
During the April 21 Cabinet session, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered that all resources and capabilities be utilized to ensure the success of the organizational, security, and preventative plans adopted for this year’s Hajj season.
The pilgrims’ spending has proven influential in the Kingdom’s retail market. This becomes evident as the city of Makkah – the main site of Hajj – saw a surge of 28.5 percent in spending during the monitored week.
The Hajj season is helping ease the overall decline in POS spending, with the total value falling 1.9 percent week on week, compared with a 7.9 percent drop the previous week. During the seven-day period ending April 25, the number of transactions reached 225.2 million.
Other sectors also saw positive changes during this period. Expenditure on airlines rose 4.6 percent to SR43.2 million. Freight transport and courier services saw an 11.7 percent increase to SR45 million.
Outlays on food and beverages fell 4.8 percent to SR1.9 billion, accounting for the largest share of POS transactions. Spending on restaurants and cafes followed, declining 3.1 percent to SR1.61 billion.
Apparel and clothing spending edged down 0.5 percent to SR902.6 million, marking the third-largest share of POS activity during the monitored week.
Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 2.6 percent drop to SR4.26 billion. The number of transactions in the capital reached 73.9 million, down 2.2 percent week-on-week.
In Jeddah, transaction values decreased 0.6 percent to SR1.68 billion, while Dammam reported a 3.1 percent decrease to SR630.4 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.
