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As of the second quarter of 2025, free delivery remains the top key driver of online purchases among internet users in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, eco-friendly credentials and exclusive content or services continue to be of lower priority in buyers’ minds when making online purchase decisions.

Online retail in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has one of the highest shares of online shoppers in the world. This, coupled with the fact that it has the largest population in the Gulf Cooperation Council, while being the region's biggest economy, makes the country a lucrative market for online retailers. Amazon works closely with the Kingdom through investments in the digital sector, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. It reported that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the fastest-growing e-commerce markets in the Middle East region, with the number of online shoppers doubling in recent years. Although the online retail market has made many strides, e-commerce still accounts for a relatively small share of the MENA region’s total retail sales.

E-commerce's role in digitization

The ability to pay with cash-on-delivery was a priority for roughly **** percent of online consumers. However, this method, although convenient for the consumer, may not always be the most suitable model for online retailers. A survey about weekly online shopping activity in Saudi Arabia found that at least a fifth of consumers had used a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service. Therefore, it is easy to see how the growth of online retail and a large tech-savvy youth population has had a trickle effect on other industries, such as digital payments. Companies have realized the business such services attract and are gradually offering consumers more flexible payment options. In 2021, there were around ** fintech companies in Saudi Arabia, with this number expected to increase consistently over the coming years. Digitizing the economy is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program. To this end, the country has invested heavily in telecommunication infrastructure, financial and other tech startups, and launched various digital services.