By 2020, online retail sales in Saudi Arabia are anticipated to surpass the current leading Middle East e-commerce market, the United Arab Emirates, according to yStats’ report.
Advanced infrastructure, high connectivity rates and a young demographic are helping boost the Saudi B2C e-commerce sector. In a country where 9 out of 10 adults own a smartphone, the widespread popularity of mobile devices is another strong factor in facilitating this growth.
Mobile purchases have been used by most online shoppers. The use of device geolocation is also being used by smartphone owners to expedite delivery of ordered products.
Social media and cross-border shopping are also helping the growth of B2C e-commerce in Saudi Arabia. Marketing campaigns take advantage of the popularity of social media, as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are among the top 10 most visited websites in the country. Among the top e-commerce platforms used by Saudi customers are Amazon.com, eBay.com and Aliexpress.com, showing a strong inclination towards cross-border shopping.
