Point-of-sale spending fell 2.8% to SR14.19 billion ($3.79 billion) in the week ended 15 August across 249.68 million transactions, down 1.5%, while education transactions jumped 62.7% week on week to SR446.08 million. Food and beverages led at SR2.2 billion, down 3.7%, and Riyadh accounted for SR4.84 billion across 79.80 million transactions.
The 62.7% increase in education spending, despite a 2.8% overall decline, reflects a calendar effect rather than increased consumer confidence. Households shifted funds rather than increasing total spending.
Explore more signals
Riyadh's Startup Bench
More than 2,500 startups, roughly US$2.6 billion of venture capital into Riyadh since 2018, and four unicorns.
The takeaway: your next competitor — or your next acquisition — is younger than your strategy document. Corporates need a scouting lane, not a memo.
The money is moving closer
Assets under management in Saudi reached SR1.244 trillion at the end of 2025, from SR612 billion in 2020, with listed companies up 89% to 392, foreign ownership doubling to SR417 billion, and net foreign purchases on the Saudi Exchange running $1.6 billion in Q2 2026.
Doubling AUM and foreign ownership within five years indicates a market that has shifted in ownership, not just in value. Foreign owners often pose different questions to management than domestic owners.
SR 180M to keep the machines running
Al-Moammar Information Systems (MIS) was awarded a SR179.8M contract by King Saud Medical City covering maintenance and repair of medical devices and equipment together with IT works and services.
This is recurring revenue in a quarter when project revenue is under pressure. If your business is capex-dependent, the strategic question this award poses is what part of your offering could be sold as an annual service instead.
