![\"gpi-saudi](\"https:\/\/www.globalizationpartners.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/gpi-saudi20arabia-online20market_450x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has the largest number of Internet users of all the Gulf States and presents a great opportunity for brands operating in the KSA or those planning to, to access a young, affluent market that, due to the country’s unique cultural dynamics, can at times be isolated from the rest of the world.<\/p>\n
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In July 2016, Saudi Arabia had 20,813,695 Internet users\u00a0out of a total population of 32,157,974. That’s roughly as many Internet users as there are in Australia and Malaysia, respectively.<\/p>\n
To compare, the UAE (who enjoy the second biggest Internet penetration in the Gulf Region) has 8.5 million Internet users, Yemen 6.7 million, Israel 5.9 and Syria 5.5 million. (Source:\u00a0InternetLiveStats<\/a>).<\/p>\n Statista.com<\/a> projects this number will grow to just under 28 million users in 2021.<\/p>\n Also according to\u00a0Statista.com<\/a>, these are the preferred payment methods online shoppers in the KSA prefer to use (2015).<\/p>\n Ronaldo Mouchawar, Co-Founder of Souq.com, Saudi Arabia’s leading online shopping website\u00a0told<\/a> Mastercard.com that Saudi Arabia is the online retailer’s biggest and fastest-growing market. He says they are experiencing ‘record sales’ and enhanced the online shopping experience by offering cash on delivery, free returns and a one-year warranty on all products.<\/p>\n A 2015 MENA region online shopping behavior\u00a0survey<\/a> by MasterCard showed Saudis had a slight preference for local websites over foreign websites. Reasons for preferring to shop locally online included concerns over hidden charges and the ability to find everything they need locally.<\/p>\n According to Mouchawar, 30 to 40 percent of sales on Souq.com are made through mobile devices, demonstrating a huge opportunity for growth in this category.\u00a0Mobile penetration rate in the KSA in 2015 stood at 168%. (Source:\u00a0Statista.com<\/a>) The survey showed the products most often bought online via mobile were: airline tickets, phone apps, toys, gifts, clothing, accessories, home appliances and electronic products.<\/p>\n Dubai-based tech company\u00a0Go-Gulf.com<\/a>‘s report titled:\u00a0Online Shopping Trends in Middle East showed\u00a075 percent of consumers believe that their interactions with brands on social media result in them purchasing more from their favorite brands.<\/p>\n\n