A new Arab Advisors Group major survey of Internet users in Saudi Arabia reveals substantial adoption of e-commerce in this affluent and booming economy. 48.36% of Internet users in Saudi Arabia reported purchasing products and services online and through their mobile handsets over the past 12 months. Based on the survey findings, the Arab Advisors Group estimates e-commerce users in Saudi  Arabia to exceed 3.5 million consumers representing 14.26% of the population.

The survey report, Saudi Arabia Internet users and e-commerce Survey 2008, as released on January 6, 2008 and provides the results of a major comprehensive online survey of Internet users in Saudi Arabia. The survey covered the Internet usage, e-commerce and cellular usage and habits of the Internet users in Saudi Arabia. The survey field work was conducted between November and December 2007.

Respondents were randomly targeted by receiving an email shot in their inbox to ask them to fill the survey in cooperation with major online portals in the region. The survey report includes online replies from 1,919 respondents. Quality control checks and personal validation were conducted by Arab Advisors Group’s team. The survey was conducted on the general Internet population, including both genders and all age groups across Saudi Arabia. The online survey yields a confidence level of 99% with a margin of error of less than 2%.

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