Innovation and convenience are reshaping Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce landscape. Here’s what you need to know about selling and delivering to this burgeoning digital consumer base.
#Have you considered selling your goods to Saudi Arabia?
Maybe you’ve thought about it, but worried about logistics and costs. Maybe it’s not even on your radar. If so, there ae some very good reasons why you might want to think again.
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, you’ll find a tech-savvy population with a penchant for spending online. Fashion, lingerie, beauty products, electronics and more are high up on shopping lists and drive consumers to shop all over the world for the best products and deals.
#Why is Saudi Arabia having a bit of a moment in e-commerce? Should I trade there?
In a country of 36 million, 91% say they shop online and 14% say they do this at least once a day. We’ll leave you to do the math, suffice to say the landscape looks very promising for e-commerce businesses.
There’s good reason for the healthy outlook. In recent years, the Saudi government has taken proactive steps to nurture the e-commerce sector, launching the Vision 2030 initiative for economic diversification and regulatory reform. As a result, investments have been pouring into the e-commerce sector from local and international players, driving growth and innovation in the sector.
And that’s not all. Saudi Arabia boasts a young and growing population with rising disposable incomes. This is steering strong demand for online shopping. Growth in in this sector is predicted to reach 13.5% by 2027 – that’s 2.3% faster than the global growth average.
That sounds promising, but doesn’t shipping to Saudi Arabia come with challenges, such as prohibited goods and delivery issues?
When it comes to selling and shipping into the Kingdom there are still a few challenges to be aware of. However, many of the difficulties international sellers faced in the past are no longer a concern, especially with the Saudi market changing and progressing so quickly. For example, cash on delivery used to be the preferred method of payment, but recent innovations and changing attitudes means that Saudi is fast moving towards becoming a cashless society.
#Main challenges for selling and shipping to Saudi Arabia.
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Lack of trust - being a relatively new market with a low awareness of consumer rights, some Saudi shoppers are still a little hesitant to buy online for fears over fraud and security.
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Competition - the market is highly competitive which makes it difficult for new e-commerce businesses to compete with larger companies such as Amazon.
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Prohibited goods – Saudi is an Islamic region and will not accept pork or pork products. There are also some unusual items that won’t make it through customs – like annoying horns or greetings cards that make loud noises (who knew?!).
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High shipping costs with some carriers – Saudi Arabia is a large country, with a spread-out population, which can cause some challenges, especially for large shipping companies that apply a one-size-fits-all approach.
#How do I overcome logistical challenges when shipping to Saudi Arabia?
We’re firm believers that strong customer service and a good reputation will get you far. One of the best assets you have as a business operating in a competitive market is trust. Ensuring that your goods arrive on time, in one piece and they don’t come with any unexpected issues or fees, can help secure customer loyalty and repeat business. Using a reputable shipping partner will help ensure this.
#How do I deliver goods to Saudi Arabia?
SAMOS provides a quick and fully transparent service that will not only deliver your parcel on time but leave a good impression too. All delivery duty paid (DDP) is worked out up front, so your customer won’t be surprised by any doorstep fees. You can also read up on prohibited items on our website at: samos-e.com/services/parcel-delivery/saudi-arabia, or chat with one of our experts for more details.
#How much does it cost to ship to Saudi Arabia?
Shipping into the Kingdom might be cheaper than you think, especially if you use an agile shipping service that specialises in international deliveries. As an example, SAMOS can deliver a parcel under 1kg to Saudi Arabia for as little as £13.83 – we’ll also help you work out taxes and duty to be paid (DDP) upfront.
Saudi Arabia is a highly promising market for e-commerce businesses. There may be a few challenges – but nothing you can’t overcome with a solid service ethic.
To find out more about how SAMOS can help you ensure smooth deliveries and build brand loyalty, get in touch today.
