GCC trade with India, Brazil of ‘growing significance’ as it reaches $195bn, says Al-Budaiwi

RIYADH: Saudi e-commerce sales via MADA cards surged 73.4 percent year on year in March to a record SR27.55 billion ($7.34 billion), reflecting rapid growth in the Kingdom’s digital payment ecosystem. 

According to the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, online transactions using the national card network reached 147.6 million during the month, up 54.5 percent compared to March 2024.

The figures reflect transactions completed through websites, mobile apps, and e-wallets linked to MADA, and do not include those carried out using Visa, MasterCard, or other international networks.

MADA — the Kingdom’s domestic debit card network — underpins a growing portion of Saudi Arabia’s non-cash economy by enabling secure, contactless payments through NFC technology both online and at retail locations. This growth in digital commerce reflects rising consumer trust, expanding fintech ecosystems, and national investments in financial technology integration. 

In a step toward digital expansion, SAMA signed an agreement in April with Google to introduce Google Pay in Saudi Arabia using the MADA infrastructure. The integration, expected to launch later in the year, will allow users to add and manage their MADA-linked cards within Google Wallet, offering seamless and secure transactions across physical stores, mobile apps, and websites.

According to SAMA, this move is part of a broader push to establish a robust digital payments infrastructure and reduce the country’s dependence on cash transactions. 

The central bank’s efforts also include licensing new fintech players such as Barq, launching e-wallet platforms, and facilitating the operational launch of STC Bank, all aimed at bolstering financial inclusion and consumer convenience.  

Earlier this year, the eSAMA portal also entered trial phase, providing digital access to a range of central bank services. 

Alongside e-commerce growth, point-of-sale transactions using MADA also expanded, reaching SR65.67 billion in March — a 10.02 percent increase year on year. 

E-commerce sales using MADA cards were equivalent to 42 percent of POS transaction value in March, up from 27 percent a year earlier — underscoring the faster growth of online spending compared to in-store purchases.

POS transactions — which cover physical card usage at retail stores, restaurants, gas stations, and service outlets — do remain a critical pillar of everyday consumer spending. 

With Saudi Arabia aiming for over 70 percent of all transactions to be non-cash by 2025, the latest data signals that the Kingdom is fast approaching its digital transformation benchmarks — with MADA at the heart of this evolution. 

RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council central banks have kept interest rates steady for the third consecutive period, mirroring the US Federal Reserve’s decision to hold its benchmark rate between 4.25 percent and 4.5 percent.

As most currencies in the region are pegged to the US dollar, monetary policy follows the decisions taken in Washington, with policymakers opting to lock the rate at the level it has been since December.  

The freeze comes amid global uncertainty caused by the ongoing trade war, a slowing of economic growth in the US, and unstable inflation trends, according to a statement by the Federal Reserve.

The country’s gross domestic product fell 0.3 percent in the first quarter as a result of slower consumer and government spending and a surge in imports ahead of the tariffs.

The newly released Fed statement said: “In support of its goals, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 4-1/4 to 4-1/2 percent. In considering the extent and timing of additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks.”

This decision implies that the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, will maintain its repo rates at the current level of 5 percent.

The UAE central bank also announced that it has decided to maintain the base rate applicable to the Overnight Deposit Facility at 4.40 percent.

Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman, as well as Bahrain, also mirrored the Fed’s move. 

Repo rates, which represent a form of short-term borrowing primarily involving government securities, underscore the close economic ties and financial dynamics between the GCC countries and the global economic landscape, particularly the US.      

“In assessing the appropriate stance of monetary policy, the Committee will continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook. The Committee would be prepared to adjust the stance of monetary policy as appropriate if risks emerge that could impede the attainment of the Committee’s goals,” the Federal Reserve’s statement said.

It added: “The Committee’s assessments will take into account a wide range of information, including readings on labor market conditions, inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and financial and international developments.”

In April, Fitch Ratings said in a report that Gulf banks face minimal direct impact from new US tariffs but remain exposed to broader risks stemming from weaker oil prices and slowing global growth.

The agency noted at the time that most GCC exports to the US are hydrocarbons, which are exempt from the latest tariffs. Non-oil exports, such as aluminum and steel, which are subject to 10 percent or 25 percent duties, account for only a small share of the trade basket, limiting direct exposure for regional economies and their banking sectors.