黑料社区

Saudi POS transactions hit $3.3bn on surge in home supplies spending 聽

Saudi POS transactions hit $3.3bn on surge in home supplies spending 聽
Spending on furniture and home supplies reached SR609.46 million ($162 million), according to SAMA.
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Saudi POS transactions hit $3.3bn on surge in home supplies spending 聽

Saudi POS transactions hit $3.3bn on surge in home supplies spending 聽

RIYADH: Spending on furniture and home supplies in 黑料社区 saw a 22.5 percent surge during the week ending Sept. 20, keeping total point-of-sale transactions above the $3 billion mark.聽

Transactions in the category reached SR609.46 million ($162 million), helping overall POS payments hit SR12.40 billion聽despite a 5.4 percent weekly decline, the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, said in its latest bulletin.聽

The surge reflects rising demand in the housing market, which saw nearly 93,700 deals in the first half of 2025聽鈥 a 7 percent increase from a year earlier, according to Knight Frank.

The broader real estate sector also maintained steady growth in the second quarter, with residential property prices edging up 0.4 percent, data from the General Authority for Statistics showed.聽

SAMA鈥檚聽weekly bulletin showed聽spending on electronics and electrical devices came second overall, rising 6.8 percent to SR201.34 million. Jewelry sales climbed 10.8 percent to SR352.10 million, though the number of transactions dropped 3.5 percent to 271,000.聽

The fourth positive change was seen in expenditure on construction materials. The category saw a 4.3 percent increase in spending to SR410.41 million, although this was alongsude聽a 5.5 percent decrease in terms of volume to 2.12 million.聽

The education sector saw the largest decrease, dropping by 39.5 percent to SR172.63 million. Laundry services followed, dropping by 12.1 percent to SR43.49 million.聽

In third place, the subcategory of books and stationery saw a 10.7 percent decrease to reach SR122.38million.聽

Food and beverages 鈥 the sector with the biggest share of total POS value 鈥 recorded a 7.9 percent decrease to SR1.81 billion, while the restaurants and cafes sector saw a 7.8 percent decrease, totaling SR1.44 billion and claiming the second-biggest share of this week鈥檚 POS.聽

Spending in gas stations claimed the third biggest share at SR955.70 million despite a 6.6 percent decline in transaction numbers.聽

The top three categories accounted for approximately 33.98 percent of the week鈥檚 total POS payments, amounting to SR4.21 billion.聽

Transportation and health saw a 3.6 percent and a 5.3 percent drop in expenses to SR931.91 million and SR829.53 million, respectively. A small decrease was seen in spending on public utilities and services at 1.3 percent to SR47.66 million.聽

Geographically, Riyadh dominated POS transactions, with expenses in the capital reaching SR4.49 billion, a 3.5 percent decrease from the previous week. 聽

Jeddah followed closely despite a 4.3 percent dip to SR1.77 billion, while Dammam ranked third, down 4.2 percent to SR635.82 million.聽


黑料社区鈥檚 non-oil exports rise 30.4% to $9bn: GASTAT

黑料社区鈥檚 non-oil exports rise 30.4% to $9bn: GASTAT
Updated 15 sec ago

黑料社区鈥檚 non-oil exports rise 30.4% to $9bn: GASTAT

黑料社区鈥檚 non-oil exports rise 30.4% to $9bn: GASTAT

RIYADH: 黑料社区鈥檚 non-oil exports, including re-exports, reached SR33.71 billion ($8.99 billion) in July, marking a 30.4 percent increase compared to the same month last year, official data showed. 

According to preliminary figures released by the General Authority for Statistics, the UAE was the top destination for Saudi non-oil products, with shipments totaling SR10 billion. 

India ranked second, receiving goods worth SR3.48 billion, followed by China at SR1.99 billion, Turkiye at SR1.95 billion, the UK at SR1.25 billion, and Egypt at SR992.4 million. 

The robust growth highlights progress under 黑料社区鈥檚 Vision 2030 program, which seeks to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on oil revenues. 

鈥淣on-oil exports, including re-exports, recorded an increase of 30.4 percent compared to July 2024, while national non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, grew by 0.6 percent. Moreover, the value of re-exported goods increased by 111.3 percent during the same period,鈥 said GASTAT. 

Other key destinations in July included Belgium at SR929.1 million, Qatar at SR778.6 million, and Switzerland at SR776.1 million. Exports to Kuwait stood at SR711.6 million, while Jordan and Bahrain received SR678.2 million and SR656 million, respectively. 

Machinery, electrical equipment, and parts led the export basket, accounting for 29.7 percent of non-oil shipments and registering a sharp 191.1 percent year-on-year increase.

Chemical products followed with a 19.6 percent share, edging up 0.9 percent from July 2024. 

In May, GASTAT noted that 黑料社区鈥檚 gross domestic product grew 2.7 percent year on year in the first quarter, driven by robust non-oil activity. 

Economy and Planning Minister Faisal Al-Ibrahim, who also chairs GASTAT鈥檚 board, said non-oil activities contributed 53.2 percent to GDP 鈥 a 5.7 percent rise over previous estimates. 

He added that the Kingdom鈥檚 economic outlook remains strong, supported by structural reforms and large-scale state-led projects. 

Further reflecting this momentum, S&P Global reported that 黑料社区鈥檚 Purchasing Managers鈥 Index rose to 56.4 in August from 56.3 in July, staying well above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction. The Kingdom outpaced regional peers, with the UAE and Kuwait posting PMIs of 53.3 and 53, respectively. 
 
Export gateways 

According to GASTAT, ports played a key role in the July surge.

Jeddah Islamic Sea Port handled the largest volume of non-oil exports at SR3.63 billion, followed by King Fahad Industrial Sea Port at SR3.37 billion and King Abdulaziz Sea Port in Dammam at SR2.44 billion.

Jubail and Ras Al Khair sea ports processed SR2.10 billion and SR1.97 billion, respectively. 

On land, Al-Batha Port processed SR2.18 billion in non-oil exports, while Al-Hadithah and Al-Wadiah ports recorded SR915.4 million and SR553.8 million, respectively. 

Among airports, King Abdulaziz International Airport processed non-oil outbound goods valued at SR6.63 billion, followed by King Khalid International Airport at SR4.78 billion, and King Fahad International Airport at SR404.4 million. 

Overall merchandise exports 

黑料社区鈥檚 overall merchandise exports stood at SR102.38 billion in July, representing a rise of 7.8 percent compared to the same month in 2024. 

Oil exports decreased by 0.7 percent year on year in July. 鈥淐onsequently, the percentage of oil exports out of total exports decreased from 72.8 percent in July 2024 to 67.1 percent in July 2025,鈥 said the report. 

Asia remained the largest market for Saudi exports in July, accounting for SR72.44 billion. 

Europe followed at SR16.54 billion, with Africa and the Americas receiving Saudi exports valued at SR7.50 billion and SR5.72 billion, respectively. 

China was the top destination for 黑料社区鈥檚 merchandise exports in July, as the Asian nation received shipments valued at SR14.33 billion. 

The UAE received goods worth SR10.85 billion, followed by India at SR9.66 billion, South Korea at SR8.72 billion and Japan at SR7.14 billion. 

In July, exports to the US stood at SR4.22 billion, while Egypt and Malta received inbound shipments valued at SR3.68 billion and SR3.43 billion, respectively. 

Imports in July 

黑料社区鈥檚 imports decreased by 2.5 percent year on year in July to reach SR75.52 billion, while the merchandise trade balance surplus rose by 53.4 percent over the same period. 

Machinery, mechanical and electrical equipment led imports, totaling SR22.59 billion in July, followed by transport parts at SR9.97 billion and base metals at SR7.11 billion. 

In July, the Kingdom imported chemical products valued at SR6.91 billion, while mineral goods accounted for SR4.04 billion. 

By region, Asia remained the Kingdom鈥檚 largest trade partner, contributing SR41.96 billion in imports. 

Imports from Europe and the Americas amounted to SR20.24 billion and SR9.13 billion, respectively. Africa supplied SR3.52 billion worth of goods, while imports from Oceania totaled SR648.5 million. 

China led all countries as the top source of imports, with SR19.47 billion worth of inbound shipments in July, followed by the US at SR6.04 billion, and the UAE at SR4.82 billion. 

In July, 黑料社区 received goods worth SR3.39 billion from Germany, while imports from India stood at SR3.37 billion. 

Sea routes were the dominant entry channel for imports, accounting for SR42.87 billion, while air and land routes handled inbound goods worth SR24.13 billion, and SR8.52 billion, respectively. 

King Abdulaziz Sea Port in Dammam was the leading sea entry point with SR19.67 billion in imports. 

Jeddah Islamic Sea Port handled inbound shipments valued at SR15.75 billion, followed by Ras Tanura Sea Port at SR1.50 billion and King Abdullah Sea Port at SR934.8 million. 

Among land entry points, Al-Batha Port processed SR3.59 billion worth of goods, while Riyadh Dry Port and King Fahad Bridge processed SR2.26 billion and SR800.1 million, respectively. 

By air, King Khalid International Airport received SR10.86 billion in imports in July. 

King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Fahad International Airport handled SR8.44 billion and SR4.31 billion, respectively. 


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,426聽

Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,426聽
Updated 24 September 2025

Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,426聽

Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,426聽

RIYADH: 黑料社区鈥檚 Tadawul All-Share Index rose on Wednesday, gaining 550.03 points, or 5.06 percent, to close at 11,426.45. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR14.46 billion ($3.86 billion), as 247 of the listed stocks advanced, while only 11 retreated.   

The MSCI Tadawul Index also increased, up by 80.07 points, or 5.66 percent, to close at 1,494.88. 

The Kingdom鈥檚 parallel market Nomu gained 308.68 points, or 1.22 percent, to close at 25,608.10. This comes as 65 of the listed stocks advanced, while 39 retreated. 

The session saw an early surge, with Tadawul climbing 4.48 percent within the first hour of trading.

Alinma Bank led the gains, rising 9.99 percent to SR27.96, followed by Dar Alarkan Real Estate Development Co., also up 9.99 percent to reach SR17.73, and Bank Albilad, which rose 9.96 percent to SR29.82. 

On the downside, MBC Group Co. fell 2.20 percent to SR34.62, Malath Cooperative Insurance Co. dropped 1.35 percent to SR13.13, and Amlak International Finance Co. declined 1.20 percent to SR13.16.    

On the announcements front, International Human Resources Co. secured a renewed and amended one-year Shariah-compliant credit facility worth SR30 million from Al-Rajhi Bank, received on Aug. 19 following the final agreement on Sept. 22. 

The financing will be primarily allocated for working capital and partially for issuing letters of guarantee for contracts and projects. 

Shares of International Human Resources Co. traded 0.18 percent higher on the parallel market, closing at SR5.61. 


Saudi鈥揝panish JV to build green hydrogen electrode plant at SPARK聽

Saudi鈥揝panish JV to build green hydrogen electrode plant at SPARK聽
Updated 24 September 2025

Saudi鈥揝panish JV to build green hydrogen electrode plant at SPARK聽

Saudi鈥揝panish JV to build green hydrogen electrode plant at SPARK聽

JEDDAH: 黑料社区鈥檚 green hydrogen sector is set to receive a boost with the development of an advanced electrode manufacturing facility at King Salman Energy Park, underscoring the Kingdom鈥檚 drive for sustainable industrial transformation. 

Jolt Green Chemical Industries, a Saudi鈥揝panish joint venture between the Green Electrodes Consortium for Industry and Spain鈥檚 Jolt Solutions, has signed an agreement with Dyar Al-Safwah Engineering Consultancy to engineer and oversee construction of the plant in the Eastern Province, according to a press release. 

The initiative aligns with 黑料社区鈥檚 Vision 2030, which prioritizes green hydrogen, local content development, and technology transfer as key pillars of sustainable economic transformation. By advancing these goals, the Kingdom is strengthening its position as a regional hub for clean energy technologies. 

It also supports the Kingdom鈥檚 strategic goal of achieving 75 percent localization in the energy sector by 2030. 

The signing ceremony was attended by Arturo Vilavella, chief operating officer of Jolt Green Hydrogen Solutions; Khodran Al-Zahrani, CEO of Dyar Al-Safwah; Abdulrahman Al-Qahtani, CEO of the joint venture; and Said Jubran Al-Qahtani, chairman of the Green Electrodes Consortium. 

Al-Qahtani affirmed that 鈥渢he plant will serve as a platform for technology localization and the empowerment of national talent, thereby strengthening the Kingdom鈥檚 position as a regional hub for green technologies.鈥 

He also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Ministry of Energy, noting that its support and encouragement during previous visits played a pivotal role in motivating the company to bring this technology to the Kingdom and localize it, the release added. 

Scheduled to begin operations in the second quarter of 2027, the facility will feature advanced automated production lines, dedicated research and development laboratories, and sustainable practices such as wastewater reuse and solar integration.  

At full capacity, the plant will supply over 750,000 sq. meters of electrodes annually. 

The plant will focus on producing and refurbishing high-performance catalyst-coated electrodes. It will also support the Kingdom鈥檚 initiatives in green hydrogen, petrochemicals, and refining. Additional areas include water treatment, eFuel, and batteries, as well as desalination, disinfection, chlor-alkali, and pipeline protection. 


PIF, Aramco, BlackRock heads unveiled in FII9聽speaker lineup

PIF, Aramco, BlackRock heads unveiled in FII9聽speaker lineup
Updated 24 September 2025

PIF, Aramco, BlackRock heads unveiled in FII9聽speaker lineup

PIF, Aramco, BlackRock heads unveiled in FII9聽speaker lineup

RIYADH: BlackRock CEO Laurence Fink, Aramco President Amin Nasser, and Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan are among the global leaders set to converge in Riyadh next month for the ninth Future Investment Initiative, or FII9.

Scheduled for Oct. 27-30 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the Kingdom鈥檚 flagship investment summit will bring together more than 600 speakers across 230 sessions, including heads of state, investors, and industry executives, under the theme 鈥淭he Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth.鈥 

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the conference will host more than 15 heads of state, alongside prominent executives, investors, and policymakers at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center. 

FII9 seeks to build upon the momentum generated by previous editions, which have established the summit as a key platform for signing landmark agreements. Highlights from FII8 included the launch of a SR1 billion ($267 million) startup fund, Beta Lab, designed to support emerging companies across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. 

鈥淔II9 is where global leaders align capital with purpose. The Priority Compass ensures our discussions are not abstract, but rooted in the real concerns of people across the world,鈥 said Richard Attias, chairman of the executive committee and acting CEO of FII Institute, as reported by SPA. 

The proceedings will open with a keynote by PIF鈥檚 Al-Rumayyan, who will present the 4th annual Priority Compass, a global survey gathering insights from tens of thousands of citizens across 32 countries, representing 66 percent of the world鈥檚 population. The survey is designed to guide discussions on investment priorities and emerging economic trends. 

The agenda is structured around confronting complex global paradoxes, including balancing technological progress with its societal consequences, fostering innovation while managing risk, and navigating economic fragmentation in an interconnected world. 

Key topics will include the future of global trade, the energy trilemma, and the governance of artificial intelligence. 

The speaker roster includes some of the most influential figures in finance and industry, such as Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih; Bill Ackman, founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management; and Bruce Flatt, CEO of Brookfield.

Other confirmed participants include Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase; Jane Fraser, CEO of Citi; Patrick Pouyanne, chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies; and Ruth Porat, president and CIO of Alphabet and Google.

The 2024 edition saw significant international partnerships forged, including a collaboration between 黑料社区鈥檚 Hassana Investment Co. and the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan to explore infrastructure and real estate opportunities. 

Additionally, Japan鈥檚 SBI Holdings partnered with BIM Ventures to establish BIM Capital, a firm aimed at channeling over SR750 million in foreign direct investment into the region. 

Further agreements, such as a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Investment and the World Bank鈥檚 International Finance Corp., and a partnership between stc Group and the Saudi Sports for All Federation, underscored the event鈥檚 focus on driving tangible economic development and social impact. 


Saudi e-commerce via mada cards surges 79% to $8bn

Saudi e-commerce via mada cards surges 79% to $8bn
Updated 24 September 2025

Saudi e-commerce via mada cards surges 79% to $8bn

Saudi e-commerce via mada cards surges 79% to $8bn

RIYADH: 黑料社区鈥檚 e-commerce spending via mada cards surged to SR29.86 billion ($7.96 billion) in July, up 79.45 percent from a year earlier.

According to recent data from the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, the number of online transactions also climbed 65.64 percent to 149.74 million. The July tally is among the highest on record and underscores the Kingdom鈥檚 rapid pivot to digital commerce.

The series tracks e-commerce purchases made with mada cards across websites, in-app checkouts and e-wallets, but does not include transactions on international credit card schemes.

The momentum rests on two reinforcing dynamics: a young, always-online consumer base and a policy push to normalize cashless payments at scale. About 70 percent of Saudi citizens are under 35 years old, per the General Authority for Statistics as of August, an age profile that leans toward early adoption of mobile shopping and app-based payments.

At the same time, connectivity is near-universal: 黑料社区 counted roughly 33.9 million Internet users in January, according to Data Reportal, implying around 99 percent penetration, with mobile the dominant access channel.

Together, demographics and digital reach have created a large addressable base for e-retailers and payment providers, amplifying every improvement in checkout speed, choice, and security.

Behind the brand at the center of these flows, mada is the national payment scheme operated by Saudi Payments under SAMA鈥檚 oversight. Introduced as the modern identity of the Saudi Payments Network, mada links all local banks and connects ATMs and point-of-sale terminals nationwide to a central switch, enabling real-time card payments in stores and online.

Policy has been a powerful accelerant. The central bank reported that electronic payments accounted for 79 percent of all retail transactions in 2024, up from 70 percent in 2023, well ahead of the Vision 2030 objective to make non-cash payments the norm.

Building on that foundation, SAMA launched in July a new e-commerce payments interface that lets service providers integrate more easily with the national mada network and global schemes, introduces tokenization, and simplifies onboarding, measures explicitly intended to keep pace with online-sales growth.

Two months later, Google announced the official launch of its Pay and Wallet offerings in the Kingdom, enabled by mada, widening everyday wallet choices in stores, apps, and on the web.

Recent research also points to structural shifts in how Saudis shop and pay. Kearney consultancy in a September research paper argued that the Kingdom is entering a value-driven 鈥渄iscounters鈥 era, with price-sensitive consumers gravitating to promo-led, mobile-first journeys where a fast, low-friction pay experience is decisive for conversion.

That dovetails with a regional trend identified by the World Economic Forum in August: communications-led digital ecosystems, super-apps and platforms that bundle messaging, services and embedded finance, are accelerating financial inclusion and normalizing cashless, app-based purchasing across the Middle East and North Africa.

Both dynamics favor seamless card-and-wallet checkouts and help explain the persistent outperformance of e-commerce volumes through 2025.

Macro conditions remain supportive. In its August press release concluding the Article IV consultation, the IMF said non-oil activity, including retail, continues to expand, underpinned by domestic demand and ongoing Vision 2030 projects.

The fund also noted that authorities are looking to capture unregistered e-commerce in the value added tax base, a signal of both the sector鈥檚 scale and policymakers鈥 intent to anchor it within the formal tax net as it matures.

Put together, these factors help explain why recent e-commerce figures are not a one-off. The consumer side is large, youthful, and digitally engaged; the rails are expanding with tokenized wallets and unified interfaces; and the retail offer keeps moving online, where speed of checkout and breadth of payment options lift conversion.

The culture around payments in 黑料社区 has tipped: card-and-wallet is now the default in daily life, from grocery deliveries and fashion to travel, electronics and recurring services. With Google Pay joining Apple Pay, mada Pay and bank wallets 鈥 and integration paths to global networks simplified 鈥 both incumbents and new entrants can reach shoppers with fewer technical hurdles and more consistent user experiences.

The upshot for merchants is a steadily improving economics of selling online in the Kingdom. Tokenization increases approval rates and reduces fraud; interoperable rails broaden acceptance; and wallet proliferation compresses the gap between discovery and purchase on mobile.

As Kearney noted, in an environment where value-seeking is pronounced, frictionless payments are a competitive lever, not just a back-office utility. 

Meanwhile, the WEF鈥檚 depiction of MENA鈥檚 platformization implies more commerce will migrate inside communications environments like chat, short video, and community apps, where embedded payments are native and card credentials are already vaulted.

Looking ahead, sustaining double-digit growth will hinge on continued execution: rolling out the new e-commerce interface across gateways and banks; ensuring robust consumer protection and data security; and keeping checkout experiences light and universal across devices.