
The platform-based delivery services sector recorded an annual growth of 30% by the end of the first quarter of 2026, with the total number of active commercial records in this activity jumping to 12,845, compared to approximately 9,846 records in the same period last year, an increase of 2,999 records, equivalent to 8 new records per day.
This notable rise in commercial records for this activity coincides with the significant and accelerating growth of e-commerce and the increasing role of technological solutions in meeting consumer needs. This has transformed the sector from a mere supplementary service into a logistical infrastructure that the growth of the private sector heavily relies upon, effectively contributing to solidifying the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub.
Key Regions
According to the periodic report from the Ministry of Commerce for the first quarter of 2026, the Riyadh region accounted for the largest share of records in the electronic delivery sector, with 48.79% of the Kingdom’s total records, amounting to 6,267 records. The Makkah region came in second with a share of 26.44%, achieving 3,396 records, followed by the Eastern Region, which recorded a presence of 1,465 records at 11.40%. Other regions were not isolated from this growth, with Al-Madinah recording 527 records at 4.10%, and Al-Qassim 299 records at 2.33%. The remaining regions of the Kingdom shared the remaining percentage of 6.94%, demonstrating the spread of technological investment growth to encompass all regions of the Kingdom, driven by increased consumer awareness and the development of digital payment services.
Global Growth
On the international level, this local scene is inseparable from a major global boom. Economic estimates for 2026 indicate that the size of the global electronic delivery platform market is heading to surpass the $350 billion barrier, with a compound annual growth rate approaching 12%. These global gains are the fruit of structural shifts in global consumer behavior, where digital platforms now dominate over 58% of channels reaching the end consumer. This boom has enhanced global economic gains by creating new value chains and improving supply chain efficiency through artificial intelligence technologies, contributing to lower operational costs and opening billion-dollar investment horizons in ‘last-mile’ technologies and logistics automation.
Employment Growth
In terms of the labor market and sector localization, electronic delivery activity in the Kingdom has transformed into one of the largest job incubators for Saudi youth. The number of citizens working in this sector, whether under full-time employment or ‘freelance’ work, exceeded the barrier of 100,000 active practitioners by the end of last year. Government support programs, led by the Human Resources Development Fund in cooperation with the General Transport Authority, played