Saudi Arabia is experiencing a major digital transformation in its e-commerce sector, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), digital payments, and a tech-savvy youth population.
📈 Rapid E-Commerce Growth
The Saudi e-commerce market is projected to reach $708.7 billion by 2033, nearly three times its current size.
Growth is fueled by a young, highly connected population, with 98% of Saudis online and one of the highest smartphone penetration rates globally.
🤖 AI Enhancing Customer Experience
AI-powered tools like visual search are increasingly adopted, with 53% of buyers in the MENA region having used such technologies for online shopping.
This trend highlights a growing demand for personalized and interactive shopping experiences.
💳 Digital Payments Adoption Soars
In 2024, 79% of retail transactions in Saudi Arabia were digital, up from 70% in 2023.
Real-time payment systems such as Sarie, launched in 2021, recorded 593 million transactions in 2024.
The Saudi central bank (SAMA) has launched Google Pay locally and announced a partnership with Ant International to enable Alipay+ acceptance by 2026, strengthening the Kingdom’s digital payments infrastructure.
👥 Youth as a Key Driver
Over 60% of Saudi Arabia’s population is under 30, making this generation central to the digital revolution.
They favor online shopping, mobile payments, and personalized experiences.
In March 2025, online sales surged by 73% year-over-year, reaching 27.5 billion SAR (~$7.4 billion).
🚀 Vision 2030 and Strategic Digital Growth
As part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to diversify its economy, reduce reliance on oil, and grow its digital sector.
The goal is to build a $133 billion digital economy by 2030, supported by investments in fintech, e-commerce, and mobile payments.