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Demand for online delivery services is surging in Saudi Arabia, according to new data released by the Saudi Ministry of Commerce.
According to the latest sectoral bulletin, Saudi Arabia recorded a 61% increase in the number of registered electronic distribution operators in the country.
The data shows how the number of electronic distribution companies increased from 2,903 in Q4 2023 to 4,699 in Q1 2024.
Riyadh has the highest number of e-shipping companies in the Kingdom with 2,473 companies. This was followed by Mecca (1,253 people), Eastern Province (468 people), Madinah (137 people) and Al Qasim (114 people).
Growth of e-commerce
Meanwhile, the significant increase in electronic distribution services in Saudi Arabia is further accompanied by growth in the e-commerce sector.
Here, Saudi Arabia saw a 17 percent increase in the number of registered e-commerce businesses between the last quarter of 2023 and the first three months of this year.
The number of registered e-commerce companies increased from 33,074 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 38,850 in the first quarter of 2024.
The latest bulletin highlights that growth in Riyadh, Mecca and the eastern region is particularly strong.
The growth of Saudi Arabia's e-commerce sector is one of the cornerstones of the country's Vision 2030 goals. As part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to increase the contribution of modern trade and e-commerce to 80% of the country's retail sector.
