Electricity is a collection of physical phenomena associated with the movement...
Home Appliances in Saudi Arabia are devices that rely on electricity to operate their essential components. Electrical Devices are one of them. Explore Shobbak.
Learn More About Electricity and Electrical Devices:
Electricity is a collection of physical phenomena associated with the movement and presence of matter that carries an electric charge. It is closely linked with magnetism, and together they form part of a phenomenon known as electromagnetism. Many natural occurrences are connected to electricity, including lightning, static electricity, electric heating, electric discharge, and many more.
Electrical Devices are machines that function using electric power—either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC)—to operate their core components. These include electric motors, transformers, lighting systems, rechargeable batteries, and electronic control devices.
Electrical Devices can be compared to traditional mechanical machines, which rely on other sources of energy such as fuel or human physical effort. Electronic devices, a specialized type of electrical device, usually use electric energy to process data rather than generating mechanical force. To differentiate them more clearly, Electrical Devices that primarily perform physical work are sometimes referred to as electromechanical.
What is the History of Home Appliances in Saudi Arabia and Electrical Devices?
While many appliances have existed for centuries, those powered by electricity or gas are a uniquely American innovation that emerged in the early 20th century. Interest in developing such appliances grew as live-in household staff became less common and people sought to reduce time-consuming chores in favor of more leisure time.
These appliances included electric or gas-powered machines such as washing machines, water heaters, refrigerators, boilers, and sewing machines. The invention of the small electric iron by Earl Richardson in 1903 gave an initial push to the home appliance industry as a whole. After World War II, domestic use of dishwashers and clothes dryers became part of the transition into an era of convenience. During this period, rising household incomes also reflected an increase in the number and variety of home appliances owned.
What Are the Most Popular Types of Home Appliances in Saudi Arabia?
Home appliances are divided into several categories, including small appliances, large appliances, and consumer devices. Each category is defined by its typical use:
Small appliances are commonly used for minor cooking or household tasks.
- Large appliances are primarily used for cooking, baking, or laundry.
- Consumer appliances are everyday household items designed for personal use, such as computers or headphones.
Consumer appliances are much smaller than major or large appliances and tend to wear out faster. Common examples include:
Vacuum Cleaner:
A device that uses suction to remove dirt from floors, carpets, curtains, and other surfaces. Vacuum cleaners evolved from manual carpet sweepers to electric devices that save both time and effort. The first hand-operated models, using bellows, appeared in the 1860s. Motorized designs were developed in the early 20th century, notably by Walter Griffith in 1905.
- Washing Machine:
A household appliance with a drum where clothes are placed. The drum is filled with water and rotated at high speed using a motor to remove dirt from clothing. Detergents, available in liquid or powder form, enhance cleaning efficiency. The first washing machine resembling the modern design was invented by Thomas Bradford in 1868.
- Refrigerator
Electrical appliances used to keep items cold are usually maintained at 4–5°C for home use. People place food and drinks inside to preserve them longer and prevent spoilage. Refrigerators operate using a heat pump that removes heat from the interior air and releases it outside, powered by an electric motor. The first electric home refrigerator was invented by American Fred W. Wolf in 1913.
What About Some Other Types of Home Appliances in Saudi Arabia?
Air Conditioner:
A system or device that conditions air within an enclosed space through a cooling cycle. It removes warm air and replaces it with cool air. During this process, water is cooled through the evaporation of another liquid called a refrigerant. Air conditioners convert gas into liquid and back using chemicals to remove warm air from indoors and release it outside.
- Microwave Oven:
Electrical Devices that heat food using microwave radiation. They employ evacuated magnetron tubes similar to wireless transmitters, emitting short radio waves that penetrate about 2.5 cm into food. These waves cause water molecules to rotate roughly 2.5 billion times per second, heating the surrounding molecules and transferring heat throughout the food. The microwave oven was invented by American engineer Percy Spencer in 1946.
- Television:
A box-shaped device containing a set of lenses that receives broadcast signals and converts them into images, sound, and motion. It transforms video signals into streams of tiny particles called electrons, which are projected from the rear of the screen through the picture tube. These electron streams “color” pixels on the screen row by row to create images.
- Clothes Iron:
A small device with a handle and a flat metal plate used to press clothes and remove unwanted wrinkles. Home irons operate at temperatures ranging from 121°C (250°F) to 182°C (360°F). The electric iron was invented by Henry W. Seeley in 1882.
- Light Bulb:
The earliest electrical device developed by scientists consisted of an electric light with a filament that glowed when heated. The filament is housed in a glass bulb containing a protective gas to prevent oxidation. The filament receives current through wires embedded in the glass, while the lamp base provides mechanical support and electrical connection. Humphry Davy invented the first electric lamp in 1802.
What are the Leading Brands of Home Appliances in Saudi Arabia?
LG Electronics:
LG is the second-largest appliance manufacturer in the world and ranks fourth in LCD television production globally. It is the top supplier of electrical appliances in Saudi Arabia. Founded by Koo In-Hwoi in 1958, LG operates over 125 facilities worldwide, offering home entertainment, mobile devices, air conditioners, and consumer electronics in almost every region, including Saudi Arabia.
- General Electric (GE):
A U.S.-based multinational company was established in 1892 in New York, with headquarters in Boston. GE has historically operated in healthcare, aviation, energy, renewable energy, the digital industry, additive manufacturing, venture capital, and finance. Today, GE focuses on healthcare, aviation, energy, and renewable energy sectors. It has supported Saudi Arabia’s energy and water needs for decades, generating over 50% of the Kingdom’s electricity.
- Samsung:
A South Korean multinational and one of the largest appliance producers in the world. Samsung manufactures a wide range of consumer and industrial appliances, including home appliances, digital media devices, and integrated systems. Samsung entered the appliance market in 1969, initially producing black-and-white TVs, and in the 1970s began exporting household electronics internationally.
What about The Introduction of Home Appliances in Saudi Arabia?
The arrival of various home appliances marked a turning point in the lives of Saudi families. Lighting fixtures and ceiling fans were introduced first, essential for the desert climate. Later, portable floor fans entered the market, coinciding with the arrival of refrigerators in the 1960s. Refrigerators significantly benefited Saudi households, enabling the storage of fruits in non-agricultural regions, meat preservation, and changing food habits and consumption patterns.
At the time, Saudis also experimented with cooling techniques, such as placing wet, cold cloths on fans. Desert-style air conditioners appeared in the late 1970s, with advanced units introduced in the 1980s. Electric heaters later became common, not only for warming homes but also for drying clothes and heating food.
Electrical appliances are now essential in modern life: fresh, healthy food cannot be preserved without refrigerators, summers are unbearable without air conditioning, and daily routines often revolve around watching television.
How to Buy and Sell Home Appliances in Saudi Arabia via Shobbak?
Shobbak is one of Saudi Arabia’s leading open-market platforms, offering exclusive and premium services that distinguish it from other platforms. It provides a safe and wide range of options for listing and searching products, with smooth interaction between buyers and sellers for communication, delivery, and payment.
On Shobbak’s advanced platform, users can browse the electrical appliances category and explore popular brands of Home Appliances in Saudi Arabia, such as LG, Samsung, GE, Al-Zamil, and Carrier. Results can be filtered by type, model, price, and available cities.
Shobbak provides detailed product specifications, as well as information on sources for buying and selling, making it a comprehensive platform to explore all types of Home Appliances in Saudi Arabia.