Online Shopping: Why Are Saudi Shoppers Choosing Local Over Global?

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Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation is ushering in a new era of consumer confidence, as online shoppers increasingly choose local e‑commerce platforms.

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Homegrown Platforms Win Saudi Shoppers’ Trust

Reflecting this striking shift, the latest Saudi Internet Report issued by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) revealed that 95.3 percent of online purchases were made through local retailers, compared with 55.4 percent through international shopping websites.

These findings spotlight the growing resilience of the Kingdom’s domestic digital marketplace, as consumers increasingly build trust and loyalty with homegrown platforms.

As further testament to this momentum, the fifth edition of the report highlights the rapid adoption of digital commerce across the Kingdom, with 76.9 percent of consumers purchasing products or services online.

Women are at the forefront of this trend, with 85.6 percent shopping online compared to 70.2 percent of men.

More vividly, the figures stand as a living proof of the growing maturity of Saudi Arabia’s digital retail ecosystem and rising consumer confidence in homegrown online marketplaces.

Fashion Leads the Digital Cart

The report also highlights evolving consumer preferences, with fashion overwhelmingly shaping Saudi Arabia’s online retail landscape. Clothing and footwear dominated purchases at 87.7 percent, underscoring the category’s clear dominance in digital commerce.

Cosmetics ranked second at 46.2 percent, followed by groceries at 41.8 percent, reflecting the growing normalization of online shopping for everyday necessities.

Demand also remained strong for technology products, with 36.9 percent of consumers purchasing computers and smartphones online, while travel services placed fifth at 36.5 percent—a sign of the expanding horizons of the Kingdom’s e‑commerce ecosystem.

Who Leads the Kingdom’s Digital Race?

From a geographical perspective, regional data further illustrates the acceleration of Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation. Leading the Kingdom in online shopping, the Eastern Province recorded 85.2 percent of consumers making purchases online.

Meanwhile, digital public services have become a cornerstone of daily life, with 96 percent of consumers relying on government platforms.

In a remarkable milestone, usage remained consistently high across genders and regions, peaking at 98.6 percent in both Tabuk and Qassim, while Al‑Baha registered the lowest adoption rate at 92.4 percent.

As further evidence of this momentum, the report revealed that 85.9 percent of consumers use online banking services, with adoption nearly identical among women (86.2 percent) and men (85.7 percent).

The Eastern Province secured recorded the highest level of digital banking usage at 89.6 percent, while Najran registered the lowest at 78.1 percent.

Powering the Kingdom’s Digital Economy

Ultimately, these consumer trends underscore the rapid expansion of Saudi Arabia’s digital economy.

By the close of 2025, the Kingdom’s communications and information technology market had reached SR199 billion, recording a compound annual growth rate of 8 percent over the past five years. This breakthrough strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as the largest and fastest-growing communications and IT market in the Middle East and North Africa.

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