E-Transactions Top 57% of Total Payments in Saudi Arabia in 2021

Consumers in Saudi Arabia now rely more on e-payment methods. (SPA)
Consumers in Saudi Arabia now rely more on e-payment methods. (SPA)
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E-Transactions Top 57% of Total Payments in Saudi Arabia in 2021

Consumers in Saudi Arabia now rely more on e-payment methods. (SPA)
Consumers in Saudi Arabia now rely more on e-payment methods. (SPA)

Electronic payments in the Saudi retail sector exceeded 57% of total transactions conducted in 2021, surpassing the 55% target set out by the Financial Sector Development Program (FSDP), the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) said in a statement.

SAMA Governor Fahad al-Mubarak said the central bank is working on promoting e-infrastructure, expanding e-payment activities and accelerating the e-transformation of transactions.

He explained that this recent achievement was driven by FSDP and the implementation of the bank’s strategic plans for the payments sector, mainly aiming to reduce dependency on cash and increase the rate of e-payments to 70% by 2025.

He further underlined the joint efforts between the government and the private sector to implement many payment digitization initiatives together with private sector innovation and expansion initiatives and open financial services to a new class of Fintech stakeholders in the Kingdom.

SAMA noted the rise in the number and value of payments made through the national “Mada” payment system during these past few years.

The number of transactions made through this system topped 5.1 billion during 2021, with a growth of 81% compared to 76% in 2020, the statement said.

It further observed a remarkable increase in PoS terminal numbers and commercial sector coverage, with more than a million PoS terminals deployed by the end of 2021 compared to 721,000 in 2020.

The bank also revealed a surge in the rate of contactless digital payments (NFC) methods, accounting for 95% of all PoS transactions in 2021, alongside other e-payment methods such as e-commerce payments, “SADAD” system payments and the new Instant Money Transfer through “Sarie” system and others.

Corporate payments in the business sector saw a significant increase in e-payments, with 84% of the sector’s total payment transactions being electronic in 2021 compared to just 51% in 2019, marking a 65% increase in the past two years.

Results also showed that major corporations rely on e-payments to complete 99.6% of their transactions, while the same metric stood at 78% for SMEs and 76% for micro enterprises, SAMA noted.



Saudi Arabia Raises $12 Billion in International Bonds Amid Strong Demand

Skyscrapers are seen in King Abdullah Financial District in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters).
Skyscrapers are seen in King Abdullah Financial District in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters).
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Saudi Arabia Raises $12 Billion in International Bonds Amid Strong Demand

Skyscrapers are seen in King Abdullah Financial District in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters).
Skyscrapers are seen in King Abdullah Financial District in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters).

Saudi Arabia has raised $12 billion from global debt markets in its first international bond issuance of the year, attracting bids worth nearly $37 billion. This demonstrates strong investor appetite for Saudi debt instruments.

The issuance comes just two days after the approval of the 2025 annual borrowing plan by Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan. The plan estimates financing needs for the fiscal year at SAR 139 billion ($37 billion). The funds will be used to cover the projected SAR 101 billion ($26.8 billion) budget deficit for 2025, as well as repay SAR 38 billion ($10 billion) in principal debt obligations due this year.

The National Debt Management Center (NDMC) announced on Tuesday that the issuance includes three tranches: $5 billion in three-year bonds, $3 billion in six-year bonds, and $4 billion in ten-year bonds. Total demand for the bonds reached $37 billion, exceeding the issuance size by three times and reflecting robust investor interest.

The NDMC emphasized that this issuance aligns with its strategy to broaden the investor base and efficiently meet Saudi Arabia’s financing needs in global debt markets.

According to IFR, a fixed-income news service, the initial price guidance for the three-year bonds was set at 120 basis points above US Treasury yields. The six-year and ten-year bonds were priced at 130 and 140 basis points above the same benchmark, respectively.

Strong demand allowed Saudi Arabia to lower yields on the shorter-term bonds, further demonstrating investor confidence. Economists noted that the pricing above US Treasuries is attractive in the current market, showcasing trust in Saudi Arabia’s economic stability and financial strategies.

International confidence

Economic experts view this successful bond issuance as a testament to international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s robust economy and financial reforms. Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani, an economics professor at King Faisal University, said the move underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to diversifying financing tools both domestically and internationally. He added that the funds would support Vision 2030 projects, reduce pressure on domestic resources, and attract strong international investor interest.

The issuance strengthens Saudi Arabia’s ability to meet financial needs, expand its investor base, and establish a global financing network, he said, noting that it also facilitates entry into new markets, enabling the Kingdom to accelerate infrastructure projects and capital expenditures.

Dr. Ihsan Buhulaiga, founder of Joatha Business Development Consultants, described the 2025 budget as expansionary, aimed at meeting the financing needs of economic diversification programs. He stressed that the budget deficit is an “optional” one, reflecting a deliberate choice to prioritize Vision 2030 initiatives over immediate fiscal balance.

Buhulaiga explained that the Kingdom’s approach balances two options: limiting spending to available revenues, which would avoid deficits but delay Vision 2030 initiatives, or borrowing strategically to fund Vision 2030 goals. He said that the annual budget is just a component of the larger vision, which requires sustained funding until 2030.

He continued that Saudi Arabia’s fiscal space and creditworthiness allow it to borrow internationally at competitive rates, explaining that this flexibility ensures financial sustainability without compromising stability, even during challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saudi Arabia’s debt portfolio remains balanced, with two-thirds of its debt domestic and one-third external. As of Q3 2024, public debt stood at approximately SAR 1.2 trillion, below the 30% GDP ceiling. According to the Ministry of Finance, the budget deficit is expected to persist through 2027 but remain below 3% of GDP.

Buhulaiga highlighted the importance of capital expenditure, which reached SAR 186 billion in 2023 and is projected to rise to SAR 198 billion in 2024, a 6.5% increase.

He emphasized the government’s pivotal role in economic diversification, supported by investments from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the National Development Fund, and its subsidiaries, including the Infrastructure Fund.

The PIF recently announced a $7 billion Murabaha credit facility, facilitated by Citigroup, Goldman Sachs International, and JPMorgan. Meanwhile, the NDMC arranged a $2.5 billion revolving credit facility earlier in January, compliant with Islamic principles, to address budgetary needs.

In November, Moody’s upgraded Saudi Arabia’s credit rating to Aa3, aligning with Fitch’s A+ rating, both with a stable outlook. S&P Global assigns the Kingdom an AA-1 rating with a positive outlook, reflecting a high ability to meet financial obligations with low credit risk.

The IMF estimates Saudi Arabia’s public debt-to-GDP ratio at 26.2% in 2024, describing it as low and sustainable. This is projected to rise to 35% by 2029 as foreign borrowing continues to play a key role in financing deficits.