Saudi Arabia is the biggest online market in the Gulf, and customers now judge a business by its website before they call, visit or pay. A website built for Saudi customers is not just a translated English site. It needs to feel natural in Arabic, accept the cards people actually use, and show the information Saudi rules expect.
1. Arabic first, English second
Most Saudi customers search and buy in Arabic. Build the Arabic version as the main language with a true right-to-left layout: menus, icons and forms mirrored, Arabic fonts that read well on mobile, and English as a second language for expatriates and partners.
2. mada, Apple Pay and STC Pay at checkout
mada is Saudi Arabia's national debit card network, and many shoppers will leave a store that does not accept it. Saudi gateways such as Moyasar, HyperPay, PayTabs and Tap support mada, Apple Pay, STC Pay and credit cards. Buy now, pay later with Tabby or Tamara is also very popular.
- A commercial registration (CR) with an e-commerce activity.
- A Saudi business bank account.
- A live website with prices, return policy, terms and contact details.
3. The pages Saudi e-commerce rules expect
The Saudi e-commerce law asks online stores to be clear about who they are and how they sell. Build these into your website from day one:
- Business name, commercial registration number and contact details.
- Prices that include VAT (15%), and your VAT number if you are registered.
- A clear return, exchange and refund policy.
- Terms and conditions and a privacy policy that follows the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL).
4. Arabic SEO, not just translation
Saudi customers search with Arabic words that do not match a direct translation of your English keywords. Research the Arabic terms people type, write Arabic titles and descriptions, and use Arabic URLs or clear slugs. Add your business to Google Business Profile in Arabic and English so you appear in local results in Riyadh or Jeddah.
5. Speed on mobile
Most visits come from phones. Light pages, compressed images and a fast global host keep your website quick on any network, and Google rewards that in rankings.
What does a website cost in Saudi Arabia?
With arafatbin.com a landing page starts from about SAR 196 (OMR 20), a business website from about SAR 244 (OMR 25) and a starter online store from about SAR 244 (OMR 25), with a free domain for the first year, hosting and SSL. Gateway fees are charged separately by the gateway.