Saudi Arabia Cards and Payments Market Analysis Report 2025: Opportunities and Risks to 2029 - Contactless Payments Surge with NFC and Apple Pay

Core Insights - The report titled "Saudi Arabia Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2029" provides a comprehensive analysis of the Saudi cards and payments industry, focusing on market trends, performance indicators, and competitive landscape [1][2][3]. Market Overview - The report covers current and forecast values for various markets within the Saudi cards and payments industry, including debit, credit, and charge cards [6]. - It includes detailed insights into payment instruments such as cash, card, credit transfer, direct debits, and cheques, along with an overview of alternative payment instruments [6]. - The competitive landscape is analyzed, detailing market shares of issuers and schemes [2][4]. Payment Instruments - The report provides a thorough analysis of payment instruments, highlighting the growth of contactless payments driven by the mada POS-supporting NFC payments and the introduction of Apple Pay's Express Transit mode for public transport [7]. - The adoption of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) solutions is increasing, with significant funding raised by BNPL firms like Tabby, which secured SAR 600 million ($160 million) in February 2025 [7]. Ecommerce Payments - The report discusses the government's initiatives to support ecommerce growth, including the organization of E-commerce Week by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at) to promote ecommerce among entrepreneurs [7]. Regulatory Environment - Detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in the regulatory structure governing the Saudi cards and payments industry are covered, providing insights into the market drivers and regulations [3][6].