Key Insights as of Jun 2025
Market Demographics
Population size
660,000 people
Population growth rate
2.3 %
Age distribution
30% under 20, 50% 20-44, 15% 45-64, 5% 65+ %
Household size
5.8 people
Household composition
70% families, 20% singles, 10% others %
Education levels
25% high school, 40% bachelor’s, 10% postgraduate, 25% other %
Economic Indicators
Median household income
72,000 SAR/year
Employment rate
92 %
Job growth
3.5 %
Dominant industries
Oil, retail, agriculture, education
Cost of living index
85 index
Consumer Spending & Buying Power
Retail sales per capita
12,000 SAR/year
Disposable income
48,000 SAR/year
Spending behavior - apparel
20 % of retail spend
Spending behavior - dining
25 % of retail spend
Spending behavior - electronics
15 % of retail spend
Competition & Retail Presence
Existing retail mix
40% local, 40% regional, 20% international %
Number of competitors
150 businesses
Market saturation
Moderate
Presence of anchor tenants
Yes
Foot traffic from nearby businesses
High
Real Estate & Infrastructure
Rent costs
50 SAR/sq meter/month
Property values
3,500 SAR/sq meter
Zoning laws
Retail-friendly
Business permits
Streamlined
Availability of retail space
Moderate
Proximity to major roads
High
Public transportation access
Limited
Parking availability
Adequate
Traffic & Accessibility
Pedestrian traffic
Moderate
Vehicle traffic
40,000 vehicles/day
Public transport accessibility
Low
Commute times
25 minutes
Work patterns
70% office, 20% remote, 10% other %
Psychographics & Consumer Lifestyle
Shopping preferences
60% in-store, 40% online %
Brand affinity
High for international brands
Consumer loyalty
Moderate
Entertainment and leisure trends
Dining, cinema, family events
Crime Rates & Safety
Crime statistics
1,200 incidents/100,000 people
Shoplifting rates
Low
Public safety measures
High
Tourism & Seasonal Factors
Tourist spending
5,000 SAR/tourist
Tourist footfall
50,000 visitors/year
Major local events
Al-Ahsa Festival
Seasonal attractions
Winter festivals
Online vs. In-Store Shopping Trends
E-commerce penetration
35 %
Click-and-collect adoption
20 %
Local preference for in-store shopping
65 %
Retail & Mall Performance
Total retail space
500,000 sq meters
Retail space per capita
0.76 sq meters/person
Projected growth in retail space
5 % annually
Retail leakage rate
15 %
Sustainable retail demand
High
Major upcoming retail projects
Al Hofuf City Center
Consumer Behavior & Spending
Grocery market share - Retailer 1
Carrefour, 30 %
Grocery market share - Retailer 2
Panda, 25 %
Grocery market share - Retailer 3
Lulu Hypermarket, 20 %
Consumer spending patterns
40% essentials, 30% discretionary %
Grocery expenditure trends
10% annual growth %
Luxury retail performance
Moderate
Top mall shopping preferences
Al Ahsa Mall, Othaim Mall
Shopping trips to other cities
20 % of residents
Key drivers for mall visits
Dining, entertainment, fashion
Preferred brand categories
Value fashion, electronics
Competitive & Site Analysis
Number of existing malls
3 malls
Total retail footfall
5,000,000 visits/year
Retail market gaps
Luxury retail, experiential dining
Trade area population
800,000 people
Retail potential in catchment area
High
Projected retail growth rate
6 % annually
Preferred mall layouts
Open-air, mixed-use
Site & Accessibility
Public transport access
Low
Walkability score
50 index
Road infrastructure & car access
High
Parking capacity in comparable malls
2,000 spaces/mall
Surrounding land use & future developments
Commercial, residential