Local retailers account for 95.3% of shopping in Saudi Arabia

The fifth edition of the "Saudi Internet" report, released by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, highlights the growing reliance of consumers on digital channels. The report found that 76.9% of people in the Kingdom purchase products or services online, with the rate at 85.6% for women and 70.2% for men.

The report also revealed that local retailers captured the largest share of online purchases at 95.3%, compared to 55.4% for international shopping sites. Clothing and footwear were the most purchased items online at 87.7%, followed by cosmetics at 46.2%, groceries at 41.8%, computers and smartphones at 36.9%, and travel services at 36.5%. Geographically, the Eastern Province led in online shopping, with 85.2% of residents making purchases via the internet.

Regarding digital services, the report stated that 96% of people use government e-services, with usage rates of 96.2% among men and 95.6% among women. Tabuk and Qassim regions topped the list for e-government service usage at 98.6% each, while Al-Baha recorded the lowest rate at 92.4%.

For online banking services, usage reached 85.9%, with 86.2% among women and 85.7% among men. The Eastern Province again led with 89.6% usage, while Najran had the lowest at 78.1%.

These indicators reflect the growth of the digital economy in Saudi Arabia, with the communications and technology market reaching a value of SAR 199 billion by the end of 2025, representing a compound annual growth rate of 8% over the past five years. This cements its position as the largest and fastest-growing market in the Middle East and North Africa.