Saudi Arabia Quick Commerce Market Size and Share
Saudi Arabia Quick Commerce Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The Saudi Arabia quick commerce market size reached USD 517.3 million in 2025 and is projected to rise to USD 887.2 million by 2030, reflecting an 11.39% CAGR during the forecast window. This uptrend mirrors how sovereign initiatives under Vision 2030 have pushed digital infrastructure, expanded 24-hour retail operations, and incentivized fintech adoption, all of which shorten order-to-door cycles.[1]Arab News, “Cabinet gives go-ahead for businesses to open 24/7 in Saudi Arabia,” arabnews.com Persistent 99% internet coverage and 96% smartphone usage remove friction from app onboarding, while the real-time payment rail “sarie” keeps checkout abandonment low. Platform unit economics have improved as government cold-chain grants lift fresh-food availability, and dark-store networks now sit within three-kilometer radii of dense neighborhoods, securing average delivery windows under 20 minutes. Investment dynamics remain robust, with Chinese entrant Keeta deploying USD 266 million to build market share, signaling that the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market retains headroom for new capital.
Key Report Takeaways
- By product category, grocery and staples led with 54.61% of the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market share in 2024.
- By product category, snacks and beverages are forecast to expand at a 12.84% CAGR to 2030.
- By delivery time promise, orders under 10 minutes captured 58.66% share of the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market size in 2024.
- By delivery time promise, the 11-30 minute band is projected to advance at an 11.81% CAGR through 2030.
- By region, Riyadh commanded 39.83% revenue share in 2024, while the Eastern Province is set to grow at a 13.17% CAGR between 2025-2030.
Saudi Arabia Quick Commerce Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rising dark-store penetration | +2.8% | Riyadh, Makkah, Eastern Province | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| 99% internet and 96% smartphone penetration | +2.1% | National coverage | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Fintech boom enabling cash-less checkout | +1.9% | Urban centers, expanding to rural areas | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Government cold-chain grants to SMEs | +1.4% | Industrial zones in Riyadh, Eastern Province | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| 24-hour labor-hour reform | +1.2% | Major metropolitan areas | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Autonomous sidewalk ‘bot’ delivery pilots | +0.8% | Riyadh, AlUla pilot zones | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Rising Dark-Store Penetration
Capital inflows toward dark stores are reshaping inventory placement across core Saudi metropolitan zones. BinDawood Holding earmarked USD 390 million for micro-fulfillment hubs, placing stock within three kilometers of high-density districts.[2]AGBI, “BinDawood to invest $390m in delivery hubs,” agbi.com Streamlined licensing under the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program cut permit lead times to 60 days, accelerating rollout velocity.[3]Vision 2030, “National Industrial Development and Logistics Program,” vision2030.gov.sa Integrated AI demand-planning trims food waste by 30-40%, boosting gross margins. Platforms hit breakeven once order density reaches 8-12 drops hourly per square kilometer, a threshold now visible in Riyadh and Jeddah. Combined, these shifts enlarge serviceable areas for the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market and lift fulfillment reliability.
Fintech Boom Enabling Cash-Less Instant Checkout
Real-time rails and wallet innovation sustain friction-free payments that elevate conversion on delivery apps. Google Pay went live in January 2025, helping wallet penetration touch 26% of consumers. Buy-Now-Pay-Later now accounts for 10% of basket checkouts, nudging average order values higher. Seamless integrations shrink payment latency from five seconds to under one, curbing cart abandonment. As a result, digital receipts rose 75% year-over-year in 2024, reinforcing topline growth across the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market.
99% Internet and 96% Smartphone Penetration
Ubiquitous connectivity underpins always-on ordering habits. The Kingdom’s 99% internet coverage and 96% smartphone adoption bring even rural consumers within one tap of on-demand delivery. Continuous upgrades to 5G backbones support richer app experiences, including live order-tracking and video customer support. This infrastructure parity accelerates regional subscriber growth outside tier-1 cities. High data speeds also aid autonomous navigation systems by streaming real-time mapping feeds. Consequently, platform reach now spans 13 of the country’s 13 administrative regions, raising addressable volume for the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market.
Government-Subsidized Cold-Chain Grants to SMEs
SIDF funding covers up to 75% of capital for temperature-controlled warehouses, easing entry barriers for small grocers. Ten-year tenors lower fixed-cost intensity, allowing SMEs to stock perishables that meet Saudi Food and Drug Authority standards. Dairy cooperatives in the Eastern Province cut spoilage from 15% to 3% after installing shared cold hubs. Fresh-food reliability, in turn, drives repeat purchase frequency and lifts grocery basket sizes. These dynamics elevate the fresh vertical’s contribution within the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market and support higher lifetime value per user.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rising last-mile logistics cost per drop | -1.8% | National, acute in tier-2 cities | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Fragmented municipal addressing | -1.4% | Tier-2 and tier-3 cities | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Cooling-energy surcharge on dark stores | -0.9% | High-temperature regions | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Higher rider-insurance premiums (2024 spike) | -0.7% | Urban delivery zones | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Rising Last-Mile Logistics Cost Per Drop
In major cities, delivery costs rise due to fuel price fluctuations and mandated employee benefits. Lower order density in tier-2 locales drives even steeper cost-per-route. Platforms face the choice of price hikes or margin sacrifice. Autonomous delivery and hub-and-spoke models are being explored but remain capital intensive. Short-term profitability pressure may temper aggressive expansion plans within the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market.
Fragmented Municipal Addressing Outside Tier-1 Cities
Despite the National Address system, many secondary municipalities lack precise geolocation, causing frequent failed first attempt drops. Platforms invest in manual validation and customer-service callbacks, adding soft costs. Address ambiguity also impedes autonomous navigation algorithms that depend on accurate waypoints. These frictions keep service levels uneven and restrict penetration of the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market in smaller cities.
Segment Analysis
By Product Category – Grocery Dominance Faces Snacks Disruption
The grocery and staples vertical accounted for 54.61% of the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market size in 2024, anchored by high purchase frequency and ticket sizes that averaged SAR 85-120. Repeat demand cushions basket volatility and gives platforms inventory-turn velocity. Snacks and beverages, however, are projected to post a 12.84% CAGR, propelled by impulse buying and brand-driven promotions. Fresh produce and dairy benefit from government cold-chain loans, letting SMEs guarantee temperature integrity throughout 30-minute windows. Personal care and OTC pharma enlarge premium mix as pharmacies broker 30-minute prescription partnerships.
Seasonal peaks define home-care and cleaning supplies, with Ramadan promotions spiking volume. Electronics and accessories, although relatively low in turnover, contribute higher gross margins, but need special handling and insurance. Niche clusters such as pet care and flowers remain sub-5% of sales yet sustain loyal cohorts and premium pricing. Tight Saudi Food and Drug Authority rules demand end-to-end traceability for health-linked items, favoring operators with compliance tech stacks. Collectively, diversified baskets support wider audience reach, ensuring the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market maintains strong user retention dynamics.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Delivery Time Promise – Ultra-Fast Fulfillment Drives Premiumization
Orders fulfilled in under 10 minutes held 58.66% Saudi Arabia quick commerce market share in 2024, underscoring consumer preference for speed linked convenience. Platforms monetize this urgency with 25-40% higher fees that counterbalance last-mile cost inflation. Demand density peaks during evening hours, aligning with the post-work consumption window unlocked by 24-hour trading rules. The 11-30 minute tier will widen fastest at an 11.81% CAGR to 2030, supported by autonomous robots that can traverse five-kilometer radii cost-effectively.
The 31-60 minute bracket covers suburban rings where dark-store coverage remains sparse. Here, hub-and-spoke logistics optimize cost over speed, nurturing adoption until density rises. Category interplay is evident: fresh groceries lean toward sub-20-minute guarantees to secure temperature performance, while electronics tolerate longer lead times for secure handling. Regulatory oversight by Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization enforces delivery-time declarations, sustaining customer trust in the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market.
By Region – Riyadh Leadership Challenged by Eastern Province Surge
Riyadh contributed 39.83% revenue to the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market size in 2024, thanks to dense population clusters, 85% 5G coverage, and rising disposable incomes. Foreign tech giants anchor regional HQs here, deepening cloud access and AI innovation capacity. The Eastern Province is expected to grow quickest at 13.17% CAGR on the back of petrochemical-led prosperity and logistics infrastructure tied to King Khalid International Airport upgrades.
Makkah province exhibits pronounced seasonality as pilgrim influx triples population during Hajj and Umrah, driving surges in food and personal-care orders. The "Rest of Saudi Arabia" segment faces challenges like fragmented addressing and low order density. The National Transport and Logistics Strategy aims to address this with new logistics centers. Over time, these progressions will diversify geographic revenue distribution within the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
Geography Analysis
Riyadh’s prominence stems from high-income households, compact urban grid, and early adoption of 5G, supporting average door-to-door times of 18-22 minutes. Meituan’s USD 266 million Keeta rollout highlights platform confidence in the capital’s depth. Government plans for 15% autonomous public vehicles enhance experimentation opportunities with driverless couriers, potentially trimming last-mile cost curves. Cloud footprints by Amazon, Microsoft, and Google furnish low-latency compute, enabling predictive ordering engines that support merchandising precision.
The Eastern Province benefits from petrochemical income and international freight gateways that shorten supplier lead times. Population nodes in Dammam and Khobar draw premium-priced quick commerce services, while SIDF cold-chain funding aids dairies and fisheries in meeting strict freshness benchmarks. The corridor’s 13.17% CAGR underscores how economic diversification parallels consumption upgrade. Makkah’s hospitality capacity rose 89% in 2024, pushing B2B quick commerce as hotels requisition toiletries, snacks, and cleaning goods in bulk. Pilgrim-season waves test platform scalability and reward those with elastic fleet management.
Smaller provinces still wrestle with address ambiguity and longer inter-city distances. The 59-center logistics blueprint under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy will alleviate connectivity gaps, with 21 hubs already underway. Tier-2 cities might adopt community pick-up points to lower per-drop costs until dark-store economics mature. Universal internet coverage paves the path for eventual mass adoption, implying multi-year upside for the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market once infrastructure matures.
Competitive Landscape
Market concentration remains moderate. Delivery Hero assumed full control of HungerStation, consolidating negotiating power with suppliers. In July 2025, Jahez’s USD 320 million Snoonu buyout expands cross-border scale across the Gulf, enhancing bargaining terms for cloud kitchens. Yet Meituan’s Keeta launch injects a player backed by China-honed AI logistics prowess, unsettling incumbents.
Technology capability differentiates winners. Leading apps deploy machine-learning to forecast SKU-level demand, shaping inventory assortment in 15-minute cycles. Autonomous delivery pilots cut variable costs and hedge labor inflation risks. Integrated payment APIs leveraging open-banking standards further strengthen user stickiness. Regulatory compliance, notably with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, creates fixed investment hurdles, favoring well-capitalized entities while still safeguarding consumers.
White-space spans tier-2 cities and B2B verticals like hotel and restaurant replenishment. Partnerships between pharmacies and platforms create moat-like advantages in regulated OTC fulfillment. The Ministry of Human Resources gig-economy framework standardizes rider rights, elevating cost floors but harmonizing competitive conditions. Cumulatively, strategic moves show that the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market continues to attract capital, technology, and policy attention that will define rivalry intensity through 2030.
Saudi Arabia Quick Commerce Industry Leaders
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Delivery Hero SE (HungerStation)
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JAHEZ INTERNATIONAL
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Talabat.com
-
Careem Networks FZ-LLC
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Nana Direct
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- July 2025: Saudi-based quick commerce company Ninja has received US$250 million in a funding round led by Riyad Capital. The investment establishes the company's valuation at US$1.5 billion, positioning Ninja among Saudi Arabia's technology unicorns. The company will allocate the funds toward expanding operations, improving logistics infrastructure, and initiating preparations for its initial public offering (IPO) on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) by 2027.
- July 2025: LuLu Group opened three LOT stores in Makkah, Saihat, and Riyadh, adding 85,700 square feet of retail space aligned with Vision 2030 omnichannel goals
- June 2025: The Egyptian quick commerce firm Rabbit has established operations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, building a dark store network that covers 50% of the city since its launch in early 2024. The company plans to expand across Saudi cities in the next two years and aims to process 20 million item deliveries by 2026.
- May 2025: Amazon Web Services and HUMAIN committed USD 5 billion to an AI Zone that will underpin analytics for instant commerce
- March 2025: Talabat snapped up Instashop for USD 32 million to scale grocery fulfillment across MENA.
Saudi Arabia Quick Commerce Market Report Scope
| Grocery and Staples |
| Fresh Produce and Dairy |
| Snacks and Beverages |
| Personal Care and OTC Pharma |
| Home and Cleaning Supplies |
| Electronics and Accessories |
| Pet Care |
| Flowers and Gifts |
| Other Product Categories |
| < 10 Minutes |
| 11 - 30 Minutes |
| 31 - 60 Minutes |
| Riyadh |
| Makkah |
| Eastern Province |
| Rest of Saudi Arabia |
| By Product Category | Grocery and Staples |
| Fresh Produce and Dairy | |
| Snacks and Beverages | |
| Personal Care and OTC Pharma | |
| Home and Cleaning Supplies | |
| Electronics and Accessories | |
| Pet Care | |
| Flowers and Gifts | |
| Other Product Categories | |
| By Delivery Time Promise | < 10 Minutes |
| 11 - 30 Minutes | |
| 31 - 60 Minutes | |
| By Region | Riyadh |
| Makkah | |
| Eastern Province | |
| Rest of Saudi Arabia |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
How large is the Saudi Arabia quick commerce market in 2025?
It stands at USD 517.3 million and is expected to climb to USD 887.2 million by 2030.
Which product segment sells the most through Saudi quick delivery apps?
Grocery and staples lead, holding 54.61% revenue share in 2024.
Which delivery-time promise is growing fastest?
The 11-30 minute band is projected to advance at an 11.81% CAGR to 2030.
Which region is expanding most rapidly for instant commerce?
The Eastern Province shows the highest growth at a 13.17% CAGR between 2025-2030.
What is driving digital payment adoption in Saudi delivery apps?
Real-time rails such as “sarie” and wallet integrations like Google Pay enable sub-second checkouts, cutting abandonment.
How are platforms managing rising last-mile costs?
Investments in autonomous delivery pilots and data-driven routing aim to offset fuel and labor inflation.
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