Saudi Arabia Develops A Reliable E-Commerce Measurement Methodology With UNCTAD

Saudi Arabia is working with the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on a unified system to measure e-commerce and digital trade, as part of efforts to develop the digital economy. UNCTAD stated that the Kingdom is among the first countries globally to build such a scientific and dependable methodology.

The planned framework will calculate the size and value of both e-commerce and wider digital trade in the Kingdom. It will track transaction values, monitor sector growth and gauge how much digital trade is used. The framework also aims to raise competitiveness and support more effective digital economy policies.

UNCTAD experts explained that the new framework is designed to match leading international standards and practices. It will also help improve government services for businesses by giving clearer data for decision-making. The system will measure e-commerce activities across all classifications, using internationally recognised definitions for consistency and comparability.

To manage the project, the E-Commerce Council created a working group led by the council secretariat. The group includes 11 government entities, which will coordinate directly with UNCTAD. Officials expect that the project will help place the Kingdom in a stronger global position in the e-commerce field.

The statement from UNCTAD was delivered during a workshop held alongside the 68th regular meeting of the E-Commerce Council. The session was chaired by Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi and attended by representatives from 25 government bodies, together with several other members of the council.

Council members also reviewed joint initiatives with international organisations and Saudi government entities that aim to ease e-commerce activity. Discussions covered possible regulatory and procedural adjustments that could support online trade. Participants were briefed on how these reforms might improve the business environment and services linked to electronic transactions.

The meeting examined the Transport General Authority’s plan to handle expected seasonal increases in demand, especially during Ramadan. The authority reported that holiday periods and national occasions usually bring a sharp rise in online orders. This pattern leads to higher postal shipment volumes, so planning focuses on keeping delivery services efficient during these peak times.

With inputs from SPA