Digital payments are rapidly reshaping how people pay in Saudi Arabia, as consumers increasingly opt for faster, more secure digital experiences. Visa’s third edition of the Where Cash Hides report shows that 67% of consumers in the Kingdom are now largely non-cash users, making most of their payments with cards or mobile devices. This represents a 4% increase compared to last year, signalling a clear and sustained move away from cash.
The decline in cash usage is visible across everyday spending categories that traditionally relied on physical money. Nearly one in four consumers still use cash for daily purchases, but its appeal is weakening. The report highlights notable declines in cash use for eating out (down 9%) and bill payments (down 8%).
For routine expenses such as dining, utility payments, and in-store grocery shopping, cards and mobile wallets are becoming the dominant choice. Cash remains most common for tips, with 39% of consumers still paying this way. It is also used for peer-to-peer transfers (28%) and rent payments (14%), showing that some habits persist even as digital adoption accelerates.
“The data shows a steady move toward digital payments in Saudi Arabia. Such progress is possible only because banks, fintechs, merchants, and technology partners are moving together in the same direction, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” said Ali Bailoun, Visa’s Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman.
“As more people try mobile and card payments in their daily lives, and their expectations evolve, too. Consumers want payment options that are quick, convenient, and safe. When digital solutions meet these expectations, they naturally become the preferred choice,” he added.
Visa’s findings indicate that convenience, security, and added value are driving the shift. Compared to cash, debit and credit cards reduce the risks associated with carrying physical money, enable seamless online and in-store purchases, and provide instant transaction records that support better budgeting.
Mobile payments add another layer of protection through tokenization, which replaces sensitive card details with unique digital identifiers so that actual card numbers are never shared. This improves both security and consumer confidence.
Credit cards further encourage digital usage through rewards programmes, cashback offers, and travel or lifestyle benefits—features that consumers increasingly expect when spending at home or abroad.
As Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 agenda, the report underscores how coordinated efforts across banks, fintechs, merchants, and technology providers are accelerating the Kingdom’s transition toward a predominantly cashless economy.
