Saudi Arabia Digital Marketing Statistics 2026: 30 Numbers With Sources

Saudi Arabia’s digital market in 2026 runs on near-universal access. DataReportal counts 34.4 million internet users in October 2025, or 99.0% of the population, and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) reports that 45.2% of internet users now use AI tools. Below are 30 numbered statistics, each with its source, date and scope, grouped into internet, social reach, AI, search, e-commerce, business AI, regulation and search demand.

How many people in Saudi Arabia are online in 2026?

Almost everyone. DataReportal’s Digital 2026 report puts Saudi Arabia at 34.4 million internet users in October 2025, which is 99.0% of the population, with 48.7 million mobile connections. The CST’s own Saudi Internet Report 2025 adds usage depth: 53 GB of mobile data per person each month and long daily sessions.

1. 34.4 million internet users, equal to 99.0% of the total population (DataReportal caps adoption at 99%). Users grew by 598,000 (+1.8%) between October 2024 and October 2025. Source: DataReportal, Digital 2026: Saudi Arabia. Scope: all ages, data October 2025.
2. 48.7 million cellular mobile connections, equal to 140% of the population, up 1.3 million (+2.8%) year on year. Some connections are voice and SMS only. Source: GSMA Intelligence via DataReportal. Scope: connections, not people, end of 2025.
3. 38.6 million social media user identities, equal to 111% of the population, up 5.8 million (+17.7%) year on year. Identities are not unique individuals. Source: Kepios via DataReportal. Scope: October 2025.
4. 194.49 Mbps median mobile download speed, up 59.1% in the 12 months to August 2025; median fixed speed was 126.35 Mbps. Source: Ookla via DataReportal. The CST’s own report gives a median of 216 Mbps for 2025.
5. 53 GB of mobile data per person per month, which the CST describes as three times the global average. Source: CST, Saudi Internet Report 2025, published 19 July 2026. Scope: 2025.
6. 61.3% of internet users spend seven hours or more online every day. Source: CST, Saudi Internet Report 2025 (same release). Scope: internet users, 2025.

Social media ad reach in Saudi Arabia

Platform ad tools show Saudi audiences that rival or exceed the adult population. TikTok reports 38.6 million adults 18+ reachable, YouTube 27.5 million users of all ages, and Snapchat 25.3 million, or 89.0% of adults. These are advertising audiences reported by each platform in late 2025, not counts of unique people.

7. YouTube: 27.5 million ad reach, equal to 79.2% of the total population, up 300,000 (+1.1%) from end-2024. Source: Google ad tools via DataReportal. Scope: late 2025.
8. Snapchat: 25.3 million ad reach, equal to 89.0% of adults 18+ and 72.9% of the total population. In January 2025 Saudi Arabia was Snapchat’s fifth-largest ad audience worldwide at 24.7 million (DataReportal Snapchat stats). Scope: late 2025.
9. TikTok: 38.6 million adults 18+, equal to 154.3% of the adult population, up 5.81 million (+17.7%) year on year. TikTok’s tools only report users 18 and over. Scope: late 2025.
10. Instagram: 18.2 million (71.0% of adults) against Facebook’s 17.7 million (70.0% of adults). Source: Meta ad tools via DataReportal. Scope: late 2025.
11. X: 15.0 million ad reach, down 1.10 million (-6.8%) from end-2024 and 394,000 (-2.6%) in the July to October 2025 quarter. Scope: late 2025.
12. LinkedIn: 12.0 million registered members, equal to 48.0% of adults 18+. LinkedIn counts members, not monthly active users. Scope: late 2025.

We compare every platform against the UAE in our Saudi and UAE social media ad reach comparison.

How fast is AI adoption growing in Saudi Arabia?

Fast, and the two official surveys agree on direction. The CST found 45.2% of internet users used AI tools in 2025, more than double the prior year. The Saudi Center for Opinion Polling (SCOP) found 64% of Saudi adults used AI tools in its 2026 survey, up from 49% in 2025.

13. 45.2% of Saudi internet users use AI tools, more than double the previous year’s rate. ChatGPT, Google Gemini and DeepSeek were the most-downloaded AI apps, and the national HUMAIN platform made the list. Source: SPA, 9 August 2026, reporting the CST Saudi Internet Report 2025.
14. Women 52.8% vs men 39.4% on AI tool use; ages 20 to 29 lead at 55.7%, and ages 60 to 74 sit at 14.8%. Source: CST via SPA. Scope: internet users, 2025.
15. 64% of Saudi citizens aged 18+ use AI tools, with ChatGPT still the most used. Source: SCOP, AI in Saudi Arabia 2026, published 3 September 2026. Sample: 814 citizens.
16. 49% of Saudi citizens used AI in 2025, with ChatGPT the most used tool at 41%. Source: SCOP, published 10 February 2025. Sample: 1,084 citizens aged 18+.
17. ChatGPT sent 75.00% of AI chatbot referral traffic to websites in Saudi Arabia in September 2026, down from 87.81% in September 2025. Source: StatCounter AI chatbot market share, Saudi Arabia. Scope: clicks to sites, all platforms.
18. Google Gemini’s referral share reached 16.54% in September 2026, up from 2.27% in August 2025. Source: StatCounter (same series). This measures referrals, not chatbot usage.

Wondering whether your brand appears when Saudis ask ChatGPT or Gemini in Arabic? Check whether my brand shows up in Arabic AI answers.

Search engine share and AI answers in Google

Google still handles about 94 in every 100 searches in Saudi Arabia. StatCounter put Google at 94.46% of search engine referrals in September 2026, with Bing at 3.75%. Since 20 May 2025, Google has shown AI Overviews in the region and in Arabic, so the answer box now sits on top of most of that traffic.

19. Google 94.46% of search referrals in September 2026, down from 96.39% in September 2025; Bing rose from 2.40% to 3.75% over the same months. Source: StatCounter search engine market share, Saudi Arabia. Scope: all platforms.
20. 20 May 2025: AI Overviews launched in MENA and in Arabic. Google stated that ads continue to appear in dedicated slots above and below AI Overviews. Source: Google MENA blog.

Yandex held 1.06% and DuckDuckGo 0.16% in the same month. For paid search, Google Ads stays the default buy, and Microsoft Advertising reaches a small slice that grew over the year. For organic, the AI Overview now decides whether a click happens at all. For the mechanics of getting cited in those answer boxes, see our Google AI Overviews optimization guide.

E-commerce and payments: mada and GASTAT

Online spending on mada debit cards kept setting records through 2025. Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) data showed SAR 69.3 billion in Q1 2025, SAR 88.3 billion in Q3 2025, and a monthly record of SAR 30.7 billion in October 2025. The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) reports e-commerce sales still growing in Q2 2026.

21. SAR 69.3 billion in mada e-commerce sales in Q1 2025, up 56% from SAR 44.4 billion in Q1 2024, across 370 million+ transactions. Source: SPA, 3 July 2025, citing SAMA’s statistical bulletin.
22. SAR 88.3 billion in Q3 2025, up 15.2% from SAR 76.6 billion in Q2 2025. Source: SAMA statistical bulletin as reported by SPA and Arab News, 25 December 2025. Scope: mada cards only, credit cards excluded.
23. SAR 30.7 billion in October 2025, a monthly record and up 68% from SAR 18.3 billion in October 2024. Source: same SAMA release.
24. GASTAT’s E-Commerce Sales Index rose 9.8% year on year in Q2 2026, with retail trade up 13.4% and wholesale up 6.5%. Source: GASTAT, 30 August 2026. Scope: index of wholesale and retail firms.

What do Gulf CEOs report about AI in marketing?

Gulf CEOs report heavier AI use in sales and marketing than their global peers, but weaker data foundations. PwC’s 29th CEO Survey found 43% of GCC CEOs use AI extensively in demand generation versus 22% globally, while only 16% say their AI tools reach all relevant company data.

25. 43% of GCC CEOs report extensive AI use in sales, marketing and customer service, against 39% across the Middle East and 22% globally. Source: PwC 29th CEO Survey, Middle East findings 2026.
26. 70% of Middle East CEOs have a defined AI roadmap, against 51% globally. Source: PwC (same report).
27. 16% of GCC CEOs say their most-used AI tools access all relevant data, against 22% across the Middle East and 29% globally. Source: PwC. Fieldwork: 30 September to 10 November 2025, 312 Middle East responses.

The gap between item 25 and item 27 is the part that matters for marketers. AI is already writing ads and answering customers, but it is working from partial data. Expect output quality to track data access, not tool spend.

Regulation: PDPL enforcement in 2025

Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) moved into active enforcement in 2025. Committees at the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) issued 48 decisions confirming violations, and the published list of violation types includes sending advertising and marketing messages without the data subject’s consent.

28. 48 PDPL violation decisions in 2025, covering unlawful collection and processing, disclosure without legal basis, missing security measures, and marketing messages sent without consent. Source: SPA, 16 January 2026, reporting SDAIA. Analysis: IAPP, 25 February 2026.

For marketers the practical reading is narrow. SMS blasts, WhatsApp broadcasts and email lists built without recorded consent are the exposure. Lead forms that feed retargeting or CRM uploads need a consent record you can produce on request.

The SDAIA has not published the size of each penalty in the release we read, so the cost of a breach is unknown from this source. This is not legal advice; read the regulator’s own guidance on the SDAIA personal data protection portal and speak to counsel before changing data flows.

Search demand examples from our Semrush pull

Arabic service searches in Saudi Arabia carry large volumes at low estimated click costs. We pulled keyword data from Semrush on 1 October 2026 (September 2026 snapshot). Arabic-language queries are shown as English translations. “car rental” shows 201,000 monthly searches. These are Semrush estimates, not live Google Ads auction prices.

29. “car rental”: 201,000 average monthly searches, Semrush estimated CPC USD 0.34, keyword difficulty 55. Source: Semrush Keyword Magic Tool, Saudi Arabia database, pulled by VOCTOS on 1 October 2026.
30. “dental clinic”: 135,000 monthly searches at an estimated USD 1.32 CPC in Saudi Arabia, against 2,900 searches at USD 12.21 for “dentist dubai” in the UAE database. Source: same Semrush pull.

The same pull shows “furniture moving” at 40,500 searches and an estimated USD 3.73 CPC, and “lawyer” at 33,100 searches and USD 2.67. Treat these as relative signals for planning. Real CPCs depend on your account, bidding and quality scores. Our guide to GEO for Arabic content covers how to write for this demand.

What changed vs 2025?

Four shifts stand out between 2025 and 2026. Saudi adults using AI rose from 49% to 64% (SCOP), and Gemini’s share of AI referrals rose from 3.41% to 16.54%. Google’s search share slipped about two points, while mada e-commerce grew above 50% year on year. The table lists only rows where both values are published.

DataReportal asks readers not to compare its 2026 figures with older reports because the publication cycle and source data changed. That is why its year-on-year changes appear in the stat lines above rather than in this table.

How to cite these numbers

Cite the original publisher, not this page, and always carry the date and scope. Write “34.4 million internet users in Saudi Arabia, October 2025 (DataReportal, Digital 2026)”, never “34.4 million Saudis online”. Each line above names the primary source and links to it, so you can quote it directly.

• Keep the scope. CST’s 45.2% covers internet users across age groups from 10 to 74. SCOP’s 64% covers Saudi citizens aged 18 and over. Those are different populations, so the two figures do not contradict each other.
• Keep the measure. StatCounter’s AI chatbot share counts clicks from chatbots to websites. It is not a measure of how many people use each chatbot.
• Do not add ad reach figures together. Platform ad audiences overlap and count accounts, not people.
• Label Semrush data as estimates. Volumes and CPCs come from Semrush models, not from a live Google Ads account.

If you reference the compiled list, credit “VOCTOS Research, Saudi Arabia Digital Marketing Statistics 2026, voctos.net, 1 October 2026” and still link the primary source for the number you use.

Our read

Reach is no longer the constraint in Saudi Arabia; relevance, Arabic answer quality and consent are. With 99% of people online and ad audiences above 100% of adults, buying more impressions solves little. The brands that win in 2026 are the ones cited inside Google’s and ChatGPT’s Arabic answers and contacted only with consent.

Three positions follow from the numbers. First, plan Google first and measure AI separately. Google holds 94.46% of search, and Gemini’s referral share grew from 2.27% to 16.54% in a year, so two of the fastest-moving surfaces belong to one company. Second, stop reading “ChatGPT is losing share” as “ChatGPT matters less”. It still sends three of every four AI referrals. Third, treat PDPL consent as a media cost. A list you cannot prove consent for is a liability, not an asset.

Our own evidence on AI citations comes from published work. In the Delta Medical Labs case study, 5,570 pages were cited by AI engines in the July 2026 breakdown, most of them in Google AI Overviews and AI Mode. With Google at 94.46% of Saudi search, that split is what we would expect to see. For ChatGPT specifically, our guide on how to rank on ChatGPT explains what moves citations.

FAQ

What is the internet penetration rate in Saudi Arabia in 2026?

DataReportal’s Digital 2026 report puts Saudi internet penetration at 99.0% in October 2025, with 34.4 million internet users. DataReportal caps adoption at 99%, so the real figure is effectively universal. Users grew by 598,000 (+1.8%) between October 2024 and October 2025, roughly in line with population growth of 1.8%.

How many people in Saudi Arabia use AI tools?

Two official sources answer this. The CST’s Saudi Internet Report 2025 found 45.2% of internet users used AI tools, more than double the year before. SCOP’s 2026 survey of 814 Saudi citizens aged 18 and over found 64% used AI tools, up from 49% in its 2025 survey.

Is Google still the main search engine in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. StatCounter recorded Google at 94.46% of search engine referrals in Saudi Arabia in September 2026, against 3.75% for Bing and 1.06% for Yandex. Google’s share was 96.39% a year earlier, so the decline is about two points, while Bing gained about 1.3 points over the same period.

Why do Saudi social media numbers exceed the population?

Platform ad tools count accounts, not unique people. One person can hold several accounts, some accounts belong to businesses, and residents missing from official population counts still appear. DataReportal publishes these figures as reported, so TikTok’s 38.6 million adults equal 154.3% of Saudi adults. Treat them as ceilings for planning.

Can I quote these statistics in my own report?

Yes. Quote the primary publisher named on each line, such as DataReportal, CST, SCOP, StatCounter, SAMA, GASTAT, PwC or SDAIA, and keep the date and scope. Label any Semrush figures as estimates. You can credit this compilation as VOCTOS Research, 1 October 2026, alongside the primary source link.

Which of these numbers should shape your plan?

The useful question is not how many Saudis are online. It is where your buyers get answers and whether you can measure it. The numbers that change budgets are the AI adoption rates (45.2% and 64%), the Gemini referral jump to 16.54%, and the 48 PDPL decisions.

If your reporting already separates Google organic, AI referrals and paid social for Saudi Arabia, use these figures to set targets by channel and review them each quarter. If it does not, fix measurement first: tag AI chatbot referrers in analytics, record consent for every contact list, and track Arabic and English queries separately. Our Arabic AI citations research is a good starting point for the AI side. Without that baseline, none of these 30 numbers can tell you whether your own share is rising or falling.

Not sure which of these 30 numbers apply to your category? Show me which Saudi numbers matter for my business.