Saudi Arabia has achieved a new digital economic milestone, with e-commerce sales via Mada cards reaching unprecedented record levels in October 2025. The statistical bulletin issued by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) revealed that total sales exceeded SAR 30.7 billion, the highest monthly figure in the history of digital transactions in the Kingdom, reflecting the accelerating pace of digital transformation in the financial and commercial sectors.
Exceptional growth and record numbers
Official data showed remarkable annual growth of 68%, with sales increasing by approximately SAR 12.4 billion compared to the same period in 2024, which recorded SAR 18.3 billion. This growth wasn't limited to the annual level; sales also rose monthly by 6% compared to September 2025, an increase of SAR 1.6 billion, confirming the continued momentum of purchasing through digital channels.
In terms of quarterly performance, sales during the third quarter of this year reached approximately SAR 88.3 billion, achieving a quarterly growth of 15.2% compared to the second quarter, which recorded SAR 76.6 billion. Mada data also indicated that the period from January to October 2025 witnessed cumulative growth of 47.3% compared to the levels at the beginning of the year.
Economic implications and the context of Vision 2030
These record numbers are a direct reflection of the success of the Financial Sector Development Program, one of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 programs, which aims to promote non-cash transactions and raise their percentage to 70% by 2030. This significant increase indicates the maturity of the digital payments infrastructure in the Kingdom, and the increased consumer confidence in e-commerce platforms, smart applications, and digital wallets.
Change in consumer behavior
This rapid growth is also attributed to a fundamental shift in Saudi consumer behavior, who now prefers online shopping options due to their ease and variety, supported by the widespread availability of high-speed internet and 5G networks. Sales seasons and promotional offers also play a pivotal role in stimulating this growth, further enhancing the attractiveness of the Saudi market as one of the largest e-commerce markets in the Middle East and North Africa region.
It should be noted that these statistics cover payments made via "Mada" cards on shopping websites and applications, and do not include payments made via credit cards, which means that the total size of e-commerce in the Kingdom may be much larger when all payment methods are taken into account.
