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Cash on delivery in Saudi Arabia: a guide for Shopify stores

By the COD Confirmation teamUpdated 2 min read

Saudi shoppers have many ways to pay online, from mada cards and Apple Pay to buy-now-pay-later, but cash on delivery is still widely offered, especially by newer stores. To make COD profitable in Saudi Arabia, confirm every order on WhatsApp in Arabic, ask for the customer’s National Address short code, show any COD fee upfront and ship confirmed orders quickly.

Key takeaways

  • COD is still widely offered in Saudi Arabia alongside cards, Apple Pay and BNPL.
  • Ask for the National Address short code to cut failed deliveries.
  • Confirm every COD order on WhatsApp in Arabic before shipping.
  • Show any COD fee at checkout so there are no surprises at the door.

How cash on delivery works in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi market is highly digital: mada cards, Apple Pay and buy-now-pay-later services are part of everyday shopping. Cash on delivery remains popular with shoppers trying a store for the first time, and with stores selling through social media ads. Couriers collect the amount in riyals (SAR) and transfer it to the store, usually charging a COD fee per order.

Why COD orders get refused in Saudi Arabia

  • Impulse orders from Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram ads.
  • Hard-to-find addresses when the customer only gave a district name.
  • The customer isn’t available when the courier calls.
  • Unexpected COD fees added at the door.
  • Slow delivery to cities outside Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

Couriers and delivery

Saudi stores commonly work with SMSA Express, Aramex, SPL (Saudi Post), Naqel and J&T Express, among others. Check each courier’s COD fee, delivery coverage, average delivery time to your main cities, return charges and payout schedule.

Confirming COD orders in Saudi Arabia

Send an Arabic WhatsApp confirmation right after the order. Asking for the National Address in the same flow helps avoid failed deliveries:

Arabic (Saudi Arabia)
مرحباً {{1}} 👋 شكراً لطلبك من {{2}} رقم الطلب: {{3}} المبلغ عند الاستلام: {{4}} المدينة: {{5}} نرجو تأكيد طلبك حتى نقوم بشحنه.
✅ تأكيد الطلب
❌ إلغاء الطلب

Tips for Saudi stores:

  • Ask for the National Address short code if the address is only a district.
  • Show the COD fee at checkout and include it in the confirmation total.
  • Offer prepaid options (mada, Apple Pay) in the reply for customers who prefer to pay now.
  • Follow up by phone for high-value orders without a reply, using a short call script.

More Arabic messages: WhatsApp COD confirmation templates. For the Emirates, see cash on delivery in the UAE.

Checklist for COD stores in Saudi Arabia

  • Confirm every COD order on WhatsApp before shipping.
  • Collect the National Address short code.
  • Make the COD fee visible before the order is placed.
  • Ship confirmed orders quickly, and track delivery times by city.
  • Track refusals by city, product, ad channel and courier.

Questions merchants ask

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Email info@usewhapi.com.

Is cash on delivery still used in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Digital payments are very common, but many shoppers still choose cash on delivery, especially for first orders from stores they don’t know yet. Offering COD alongside cards and buy-now-pay-later options helps conversion, as long as orders are confirmed before shipping.
What is the Saudi National Address?
The National Address is the official addressing system run by Saudi Post (SPL). Each address has a short code of four letters and four numbers. Asking customers for it at checkout or during confirmation helps couriers find them on the first attempt.
Which couriers do Saudi stores use for COD?
Commonly used options include SMSA Express, Aramex, SPL (Saudi Post), Naqel and J&T Express, among others. Compare their COD fees, coverage outside the main cities, delivery times and how quickly collected cash is paid back.

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