{
  "slug": "saudi-middle-east-payments",
  "question": "How big is the payments market in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, how fast is cash disappearing, and who still pays the old way?",
  "title": "Saudi Arabia and Middle East Payments Market 2026: Cashless Share, POS and Mobile Payments, E-commerce and Who Still Pays Cash",
  "answer": {
    "headline": "Electronic payments made up 85% of Saudi retail payments in 2025, up from 79% in 2024, across 14.6 billion electronic transactions; 6.27 billion in-store payments in 2025 were made with a phone. Outside the Gulf the picture flips: 64.2% of Saudi adults made a digital merchant payment in 2024, against 12.5% in Jordan, 9.6% in Morocco and 7.0% in Algeria.",
    "sample": "Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) statistical bulletin (August 2026) and Payments Usage Study 2023, Financial Sector Development Program report 2024, BIS CPMI payment statistics 2024, World Bank Global Findex 2024 and Enterprise Surveys 2025, central banks of the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt and Jordan",
    "verifiedAsOf": "2026-10-17"
  },
  "sections": [
    {
      "id": "size",
      "title": "Saudi Arabia: how much of retail payment is already cashless",
      "note": "SAMA counts electronic payments as a share of all retail payments; the BIS rows use the CPMI definition of cashless payments and are comparable with other countries in the BIS set.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Electronic payments, share of all retail payments",
          "value": "85%",
          "segment": "up from 79% in 2024",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/MediaCenter/News/pages/news-1139.aspx",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Electronic payments, share of all retail payments",
          "value": "79%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "SAMA — Financial Sector Development Program report",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Documents/Financial_Sector_Development_Program_Annual_Report-2024-EN.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Electronic payment transactions",
          "value": "14.6 billion",
          "segment": "12.6 billion in 2024",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/MediaCenter/News/pages/news-1139.aspx",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "All payment transactions, cash and electronic",
          "value": "17.2 billion",
          "segment": "Payments Usage Study",
          "period": "2023",
          "source": "SAMA Payments Usage Study",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Documents/Report_on_Payments_Usage_Study_2023_en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Card transactions at point-of-sale devices",
          "value": "10 billion",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "Financial Sector Development Program report",
          "url": "https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/media/wpsn44ab/fsdp_annual-report-2024_-en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "E-commerce payment transactions",
          "value": "1 billion",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "Financial Sector Development Program report",
          "url": "https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/media/wpsn44ab/fsdp_annual-report-2024_-en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Cashless payments per inhabitant",
          "value": "328.52 a year",
          "segment": "CPMI definition",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "BIS CPMI payment statistics",
          "url": "https://stats.bis.org/api/v2/data/dataflow/BIS/WS_CPMI_CT1/1.0/*?format=csvfilewithlabels&startPeriod=2020",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Card and e-money payments, share of all cashless payments by number",
          "value": "89.45%",
          "segment": "CPMI definition",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "BIS CPMI payment statistics",
          "url": "https://stats.bis.org/api/v2/data/dataflow/BIS/WS_CPMI_CT1/1.0/*?format=csvfilewithlabels&startPeriod=2020",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "in-store",
      "title": "In-store payments: terminals, volumes and the phone",
      "note": "Monthly and annual figures from SAMA's point-of-sale tables; BIS counts terminals on its own definition, so the 2024 BIS figure and the 2026 SAMA figure are not a growth series.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Point-of-sale sales value, one month",
          "value": "SAR 65,687,046 thousand",
          "segment": "all POS sales",
          "period": "August 2026",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Point-of-sale transactions, one month",
          "value": "1,107,398,352",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "August 2026",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Point-of-sale terminals installed",
          "value": "2,472,104",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "August 2026",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Point-of-sale terminals",
          "value": "1,981,111",
          "segment": "BIS definition",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "BIS CPMI payment statistics",
          "url": "https://data.bis.org/topics/CPMI_DEVICES",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Growth of the national POS estate",
          "value": "72%",
          "segment": "2021 to 2023",
          "period": "2021–2023",
          "source": "SAMA Payments Usage Study",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Documents/Report_on_Payments_Usage_Study_2023_en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "In-store payments made with a mobile device (NFC)",
          "value": "6,268,893,524 transactions",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "In-store sales paid with a mobile device (NFC)",
          "value": "SAR 358,085,052 thousand",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Average debit-card payment",
          "value": "US$15.46",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "BIS CPMI payment statistics",
          "url": "https://stats.bis.org/api/v2/data/dataflow/BIS/WS_CPMI_CT1/1.0/*?format=csvfilewithlabels&startPeriod=2022",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Average credit-card payment",
          "value": "US$35.08",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "BIS CPMI payment statistics",
          "url": "https://stats.bis.org/api/v2/data/dataflow/BIS/WS_CPMI_CT1/1.0/*?format=csvfilewithlabels&startPeriod=2022",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Debit cards per inhabitant",
          "value": "1.42",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "BIS CPMI payment statistics",
          "url": "https://stats.bis.org/api/v2/data/dataflow/BIS/WS_CPMI_CT1/1.0/*?format=csvfilewithlabels&startPeriod=2020",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Credit cards per inhabitant",
          "value": "0.11",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "BIS CPMI payment statistics",
          "url": "https://stats.bis.org/api/v2/data/dataflow/BIS/WS_CPMI_CT1/1.0/*?format=csvfilewithlabels&startPeriod=2020",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "pos-by-category",
      "title": "Where Saudis pay by card: point-of-sale spending by merchant category, 2025",
      "note": "Value of POS transactions for the full year 2025 by merchant activity, as published by SAMA (SAR thousand in the source, shown here in billions).",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Food & beverages",
          "value": "SAR 105.5 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Restaurants & cafés",
          "value": "SAR 84.8 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Apparel, clothing & accessories",
          "value": "SAR 55.5 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Professional & business services",
          "value": "SAR 54.8 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Transportation",
          "value": "SAR 51.9 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Gas stations",
          "value": "SAR 50.0 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Health",
          "value": "SAR 47.8 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Furniture & home supplies",
          "value": "SAR 25.6 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Construction & building materials",
          "value": "SAR 21.3 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Jewelry",
          "value": "SAR 18.6 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Hotels",
          "value": "SAR 16.1 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Education",
          "value": "SAR 10.9 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Telecommunication",
          "value": "SAR 8.3 billion",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ],
      "chart": "bars"
    },
    {
      "id": "ecommerce",
      "title": "Online payments: mada, cards and wallets",
      "note": "mada is the national debit scheme; its e-commerce figures cover mada cards only, not credit cards, wallets or cash on delivery.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "E-commerce transactions paid with mada cards",
          "value": "1,770,786,311",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "E-commerce sales paid with mada cards, one quarter",
          "value": "SAR 69.3 billion",
          "segment": "up 56% year on year",
          "period": "Q1 2025",
          "source": "SAMA via WAM",
          "url": "https://www.wam.ae/en/article/15ng8l2-e-commerce-sales-saudi-arabia-exceed-sar-billion",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "E-commerce transactions paid with mada cards, one quarter",
          "value": "370 million",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q1 2025",
          "source": "SAMA via WAM",
          "url": "https://www.wam.ae/en/article/15ng8l2-e-commerce-sales-saudi-arabia-exceed-sar-billion",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Average e-commerce payment by mada card",
          "value": "SAR 186",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "May 2025",
          "source": "SAMA via WAM",
          "url": "https://www.wam.ae/en/article/15ng8l2-e-commerce-sales-saudi-arabia-exceed-sar-billion",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Debit cards, share of e-commerce payment methods used",
          "value": "50%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2023",
          "source": "SAMA Payments Usage Study",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Documents/Report_on_Payments_Usage_Study_2023_en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "E-wallets, share of consumer one-off payments under SAR 50",
          "value": "14%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2023",
          "source": "SAMA Payments Usage Study",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Documents/Report_on_Payments_Usage_Study_2023_en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "who-pays",
      "title": "Who pays digitally in Saudi Arabia: adults 15+ by segment",
      "note": "Global Findex 2024, share of adults aged 15+ in each group. The gaps by age, gender and income show where adoption is thinner.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Made or received a digital payment",
          "value": "75.72%",
          "segment": "all adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/SAU/indicator/g20.any?format=json&date=2011:2024",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Has a digitally enabled account",
          "value": "74.6%",
          "segment": "all adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_DIG_ACC",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Made a digital merchant payment",
          "value": "64.2%",
          "segment": "all adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_MERCHANT_PAY",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Made a digital merchant payment — ages 25+",
          "value": "66.7%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_MERCHANT_PAY",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Made a digital merchant payment — ages 15–24",
          "value": "53.9%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_MERCHANT_PAY",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Made a digital merchant payment — men",
          "value": "66.9%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_MERCHANT_PAY",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Made a digital merchant payment — women",
          "value": "59.3%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_MERCHANT_PAY",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Made a digital merchant payment — richest 60%",
          "value": "68.8%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_MERCHANT_PAY",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Made a digital merchant payment — poorest 40%",
          "value": "57.2%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_MERCHANT_PAY",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Did not pay in store by phone or card",
          "value": "18.17%",
          "segment": "all adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/SAU/indicator/fin25e2b?source=28&format=json",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Paid bills by mobile phone or internet",
          "value": "52.88%",
          "segment": "all adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_FIN26A",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Paid bills by mobile phone or internet — men",
          "value": "58.89%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_FIN26A",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Paid bills by mobile phone or internet — women",
          "value": "42.00%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_FIN26A",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Paid bills by mobile phone or internet — ages 15–24",
          "value": "32.21%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_FIN26A",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Owns a credit card",
          "value": "30.13%",
          "segment": "all adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_FIN10",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Owns a credit card — women",
          "value": "26.50%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_FIN10",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Has a mobile money account — ages 15–24",
          "value": "30.93%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/SAU/indicator/mobileaccount.t.d.3?source=28&format=json",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "mena-accounts",
      "title": "Middle East and North Africa: account ownership, adults 15+",
      "note": "Global Findex 2024: share of adults with an account at a financial institution or a mobile money provider. One methodology across countries.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Bahrain",
          "value": "82.32%",
          "segment": "adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=BHR&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_ACCOUNT_T_D",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Saudi Arabia",
          "value": "78.84%",
          "segment": "adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_ACCOUNT_T_D",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Kuwait",
          "value": "74.46%",
          "segment": "adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=KWT&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_ACCOUNT_T_D",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Jordan",
          "value": "46.46%",
          "segment": "adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=JOR&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_ACCOUNT_T_D",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Morocco",
          "value": "44.39%",
          "segment": "adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=MAR&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_ACCOUNT_T_D",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Tunisia",
          "value": "37.84%",
          "segment": "adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=TUN&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_ACCOUNT_T_D",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Algeria",
          "value": "35.29%",
          "segment": "adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=DZA&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_ACCOUNT_T_D",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Iraq",
          "value": "30.16%",
          "segment": "adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=IRQ&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_ACCOUNT_T_D",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Lebanon",
          "value": "23.04%",
          "segment": "adults 15+",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=LBN&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_ACCOUNT_T_D",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ],
      "chart": "bars"
    },
    {
      "id": "mena-merchant",
      "title": "Middle East and North Africa: digital payments at merchants",
      "note": "Global Findex 2024. The first four rows: adults 15+ who made a digital merchant payment. The last four: adults 15+ who did not pay in store by phone or card.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Saudi Arabia — made a digital merchant payment",
          "value": "64.2%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_MERCHANT_PAY",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Jordan — made a digital merchant payment",
          "value": "12.5%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=JOR&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_MERCHANT_PAY",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Morocco — made a digital merchant payment",
          "value": "9.6%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=MAR&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_MERCHANT_PAY",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Algeria — made a digital merchant payment",
          "value": "7.0%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=DZA&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_MERCHANT_PAY",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Egypt — did not pay in store by phone or card",
          "value": "38.65%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/EGY/indicator/fin25e2b?source=28&format=json",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Morocco — did not pay in store by phone or card",
          "value": "35.56%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/MAR/indicator/fin25e2b?source=28&format=json",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Jordan — did not pay in store by phone or card",
          "value": "34.09%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/JOR/indicator/fin25e2b?source=28&format=json",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Saudi Arabia — did not pay in store by phone or card",
          "value": "18.17%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "World Bank Global Findex",
          "url": "https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/SAU/indicator/fin25e2b?source=28&format=json",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "gulf-rails",
      "title": "Other Gulf and North African markets: cards, terminals and wallets",
      "note": "Each central bank publishes its own tables and periods; read each row on its own, not as a ranking.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "UAE — POS transactions through the national card switch (UAESWITCH)",
          "value": "560.7 million",
          "segment": "domestic switch only",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Central Bank of the UAE annual report",
          "url": "https://www.centralbank.ae/media/4qbn11cl/annual-report-2025-en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "UAE — licensed stored value facility (e-wallet) providers",
          "value": "16",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Central Bank of the UAE annual report",
          "url": "https://www.centralbank.ae/media/4qbn11cl/annual-report-2025-en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Qatar — card transactions at POS, one month",
          "value": "48.042 million",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "April 2026",
          "source": "Qatar Central Bank payment statistics",
          "url": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Documents/QCB_Payment%20Statistics%20Report-EN_April_20260514.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Qatar — card transaction value at POS, one month",
          "value": "QAR 8.554 billion",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "April 2026",
          "source": "Qatar Central Bank payment statistics",
          "url": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Documents/QCB_Payment%20Statistics%20Report-EN_April_20260514.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Qatar — online e-commerce card transactions, one month",
          "value": "12.098 million",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "April 2026",
          "source": "Qatar Central Bank payment statistics",
          "url": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Documents/QCB_Payment%20Statistics%20Report-EN_April_20260514.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Qatar — online e-commerce card value, one month",
          "value": "QAR 3.988 billion",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "April 2026",
          "source": "Qatar Central Bank payment statistics",
          "url": "https://www.qcb.gov.qa/Documents/QCB_Payment%20Statistics%20Report-EN_April_20260514.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Kuwait — value of POS card transactions",
          "value": "KWD 17,701.6 million",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Central Bank of Kuwait",
          "url": "https://www.cbk.gov.kw/en/statistics-and-publication/dynamic-statistical-releases/quarterly/2026/q2/2701",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Kuwait — POS terminals in operation",
          "value": "111,746",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "Central Bank of Kuwait",
          "url": "https://www.cbk.gov.kw/en/statistics-and-publication/dynamic-statistical-releases/quarterly/2026/q2/2704",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Oman — POS terminals, physical and SoftPoS",
          "value": "101,221",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "Central Bank of Oman, National Payment Systems report",
          "url": "https://cbo.gov.om/sites/assets/Documents/English/Publications/AnnualPaymentSystem/National%20Payment%20Systems%20Annual%20Report%202024.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Egypt — registered mobile wallets",
          "value": "60 million",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Central Bank of Egypt",
          "url": "https://www.cbe.org.eg/-/media/project/cbe/listing/research/volumes/2023-2024/volume-64-no,-d-,-3.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Egypt — mobile wallet transactions",
          "value": "2.5 billion",
          "segment": "fiscal year",
          "period": "FY2024/25",
          "source": "Central Bank of Egypt",
          "url": "https://www.cbe.org.eg/-/media/project/cbe/listing/research/volumes/2024-2025/volume-65-no,-d-,4.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Egypt — value of mobile money transactions, % of GDP",
          "value": "19.44%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "IMF Financial Access Survey",
          "url": "https://api.imf.org/external/sdmx/2.1/data/IMF.STA,FAS/EGY.FA65.POGDP.A?startPeriod=2021",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Jordan — value of mobile money transactions, % of GDP",
          "value": "12.56%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "IMF Financial Access Survey",
          "url": "https://api.imf.org/external/sdmx/2.1/data/IMF.STA,FAS/JOR.FA65.POGDP.A?startPeriod=2021",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Jordan — JoMoPay mobile wallet transactions",
          "value": "102.0 million",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Central Bank of Jordan annual report",
          "url": "https://www.cbj.gov.jo/EBV4.0/Root_Storage/AR/Research/Annual_Report_2025.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Jordan — JoMoPay mobile wallet transaction value",
          "value": "JD 6,341.6 million",
          "segment": "full year",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Central Bank of Jordan annual report",
          "url": "https://www.cbj.gov.jo/EBV4.0/Root_Storage/AR/Research/Annual_Report_2025.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "players-and-prices",
      "title": "Saudi Arabia: who is licensed, what transfers cost, and the business side",
      "note": "Licence counts and prices from SAMA and the Financial Sector Development Program; remittance cost and firm payments from the World Bank.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Fintech companies operating in Saudi Arabia",
          "value": "261",
          "segment": "up from 14 in 2020",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "SAMA — Financial Sector Development Program report",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Documents/Financial_Sector_Development_Program_Annual_Report-2024-EN.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Fintech companies licensed by the Saudi Central Bank",
          "value": "138",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "Financial Sector Development Program report",
          "url": "https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/media/wpsn44ab/fsdp_annual-report-2024_-en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Fintech companies licensed by the Capital Market Authority",
          "value": "52",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "Financial Sector Development Program report",
          "url": "https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/media/wpsn44ab/fsdp_annual-report-2024_-en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Fintech companies licensed by the Insurance Authority",
          "value": "14",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "Financial Sector Development Program report",
          "url": "https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/media/wpsn44ab/fsdp_annual-report-2024_-en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Licensed banks",
          "value": "39",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Vision 2030 annual report",
          "url": "https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/media/ecdjfopq/vision2030_annual_report_2025_en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Foreign banks, share of licensed banks",
          "value": "61%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Vision 2030 annual report",
          "url": "https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/media/ecdjfopq/vision2030_annual_report_2025_en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Instant payment (sarie) fee, transfers up to SAR 500",
          "value": "SAR 0.50",
          "segment": "against SAR 7 for a same-day RTGS transfer",
          "period": "2023",
          "source": "SAMA Payments Usage Study",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Documents/Report_on_Payments_Usage_Study_2023_en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Instant payment (sarie) fee, transfers of SAR 500–20,000",
          "value": "SAR 1",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2023",
          "source": "SAMA Payments Usage Study",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Documents/Report_on_Payments_Usage_Study_2023_en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "sarie instant payment transactions",
          "value": "437 million",
          "segment": "176 million in 2021",
          "period": "2023",
          "source": "SAMA Payments Usage Study",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Documents/Report_on_Payments_Usage_Study_2023_en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Average unit cost of payments, change",
          "value": "−11%",
          "segment": "debit card −16%, credit card −28%, cash +16%",
          "period": "2021–2023",
          "source": "SAMA Payments Usage Study",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Documents/Report_on_Payments_Usage_Study_2023_en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Total social cost of payments, change",
          "value": "+38%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2021–2023",
          "source": "SAMA Payments Usage Study",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Documents/Report_on_Payments_Usage_Study_2023_en.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Average cost of sending a remittance from Saudi Arabia",
          "value": "4.52% of amount sent",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2023",
          "source": "World Bank",
          "url": "https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/SA;AE;KW;QA;OM;BH;JO;EG;MA;TN;LB;IL/indicator/SI.RMT.COST.OB.ZS?format=json&per_page=5000&mrv=6",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Personal remittances paid out of Saudi Arabia",
          "value": "US$58.7 billion",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "World Bank",
          "url": "https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/SA;AE;KW;QA;OM;BH/indicator/BM.TRF.PWKR.CD.DT?format=json&per_page=5000&mrv=5",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Firm payments made electronically",
          "value": "87.19%",
          "segment": "all firms",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "World Bank Enterprise Surveys",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_ES&REF_AREA=SAU&INDICATOR=WB_ES_T_BREADY_FIN31&top=300&TIME_PERIOD=2025",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Firm payments made electronically — small firms",
          "value": "89.13%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "World Bank Enterprise Surveys",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_ES&REF_AREA=SAU&INDICATOR=WB_ES_T_BREADY_FIN31&top=300&TIME_PERIOD=2025",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Firm payments made electronically — large firms",
          "value": "86.67%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "World Bank Enterprise Surveys",
          "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_ES&REF_AREA=SAU&INDICATOR=WB_ES_T_BREADY_FIN31&top=300&TIME_PERIOD=2025",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "MSME share of total bank credit",
          "value": "11.4%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "SAMA Monthly Statistical Bulletin",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "rules",
      "title": "Rules that route money through banks",
      "note": "Wage protection systems require employers to pay salaries through licensed banks and financial institutions — which is why payroll is digital even where retail cash survives.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Saudi Arabia — Wage Protection System: every private-sector employer with one or more employees pays wages by bank transfer through institutions authorised in Saudi Arabia",
          "value": "in force",
          "segment": "all private-sector entities since 31 December 2020; rollout began 1 June 2013",
          "period": "since 2013",
          "source": "ILO (Saudi Ministry decision no. 803)",
          "url": "https://www.ilo.org/media/234261/download",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Saudi Arabia — WPS compliance thresholds on the Mudad platform",
          "value": "in force",
          "segment": "payroll compliance of 90% for firms under 30 employees, 95% above 30, measured against GOSI registration",
          "period": "since December 2020",
          "source": "ILO Beirut wage protection report",
          "url": "https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2025-11/ILO_Beirut_Wage-Protection_Report_R10.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "UAE — Wage Protection System, Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026",
          "value": "in force",
          "segment": "wages due on the first day of the following month; compliant if at least 85% of total wages are transferred on time",
          "period": "since 1 June 2026",
          "source": "WAM (UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation)",
          "url": "https://www.wam.ae/en/article/c0k0w6i-mohre-new-wage-protection-system-decision-adopts",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "reconciliation": {
    "title": "Why Saudi payment numbers seem to disagree",
    "body": "Four things move the answer. First, what is being counted: SAMA's 85% is electronic payments as a share of all retail payments, the BIS counts cashless payments on the CPMI definition, and Findex measures people, not transactions — 85% of payments can be electronic while 18.17% of adults still did not pay in store by phone or card. Second, which rail: mada figures cover the national debit scheme only, so mada e-commerce is not all of e-commerce (credit cards, wallets and cash on delivery sit outside it). Third, the terminal count: BIS reports 1,981,111 POS terminals for 2024 and SAMA reports 2,472,104 installed in August 2026 — different definitions and dates, not a growth rate. Fourth, the period: SAMA's monthly bulletin is current to August 2026, Findex is a 2024 survey and the Payments Usage Study covers 2021–2023. Across the region, every central bank publishes its own tables, so use the Findex rows when you need one comparable number across countries.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "source": "Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) — Monthly Statistical Bulletin, August 2026",
        "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Statistics/MonthlyStatistics/Monthly_Statistical_Bulletin_for_Aug_2026.pdf"
      },
      {
        "source": "SAMA — Payments Usage Study 2023",
        "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/Documents/Report_on_Payments_Usage_Study_2023_en.pdf"
      },
      {
        "source": "BIS — CPMI payment statistics",
        "url": "https://data.bis.org/topics/CPMI_DEVICES"
      },
      {
        "source": "World Bank — Global Findex 2024",
        "url": "https://data360api.worldbank.org/data360/data?DATABASE_ID=WB_FINDEX&REF_AREA=SAU&TIME_PERIOD=2024&INDICATOR=WB_FINDEX_MERCHANT_PAY"
      }
    ]
  },
  "methodology": "Every number on this page is a fact node in the God of Startups Atlas — a knowledge graph where each metric carries its source URL, reporting period, evidence tier and the verbatim quote it was taken from. Tier 1 means official or statutory sources: central banks (SAMA, CBUAE, QCB, CBK, CBO, CBE, CBJ), the BIS, the IMF and the World Bank. Regulations come from verified rule records with their primary source. Values are shown in the currency and precision the source reports; the POS-by-category values are SAMA's SAR-thousand figures expressed in billions. Nothing is converted between currencies, estimated or modelled.",
  "metaTitle": "Saudi Arabia Payments 2026: Cashless Share, POS, E-commerce",
  "metaDescription": "Electronic payments were 85% of Saudi retail payments in 2025; 64.2% of adults paid merchants digitally vs 12.5% in Jordan. POS, e-commerce, wallets.",
  "cite": "God of Startups Atlas (2026). Saudi Arabia and Middle East Payments Market 2026: Cashless Share, POS and Mobile Payments, E-commerce and Who Still Pays Cash. https://godofstartups.com/atlas/saudi-middle-east-payments — data: SAMA, BIS, World Bank Findex. Licence: CC BY 4.0.",
  "page": "https://godofstartups.com/atlas/saudi-middle-east-payments",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "note": "Each row carries its primary source, period and evidence tier (1 = official/statutory, 2 = industry research with disclosed method)."
}