Send business payments to Saudi Arabia
We don’t pay out in SAR. Payments to Saudi Arabia go in US dollars or euros by SWIFT, and the recipient’s bank converts them if their account is in SAR.
Quick facts
- Local currency
- SAR · Saudi Riyal
- Pay out in SAR?
- No — pay in USD or EUR by SWIFT
- Route
- USD · SWIFT / EUR · SWIFT
- Typical timing
- SWIFT: typically 1 to 3 working days (typical, not guaranteed)
- Account details
- IBAN, 24 characters, starts SA · Format and example
- Banks closed
- Friday – Saturday · Payment calendar
- Next SAR closing days
- 22 February 2027 — Founding Day · 9 March 2027 — Eid al-Fitr (provisional) · 10 March 2027 — Eid al-Fitr (provisional)SARIE
- SWIFT codes
- 72 banks in our directory
Paying suppliers in Saudi Arabia
We don’t pay out in Saudi riyals (SAR). Payments to Saudi Arabia go in US dollars or euros by SWIFT, and the supplier’s bank converts them if the account is held in riyals. The riyal is pegged to the US dollar by the Saudi Central Bank, so paying in dollars avoids a cross-rate; check with your supplier which currency their account is held in.
Saudi accounts use a 24-character IBAN starting SA: a 2-digit bank code followed by an 18-character account number. With the IBAN and the bank’s SWIFT code, the supplier’s bank has what it needs.
Saudi banks close on Friday and Saturday, and the SARIE payment system follows the same week. Founding Day, National Day and the two Eids are the main closures; the dates are in the payment calendar.
What you need from your supplier
The beneficiary’s full legal name
Exactly as their bank holds it: the company name for a business, not a trading name.
Their address
Street, town and country.
IBAN (24 characters, starting SA)
Check it with our IBAN checker before the first payment: the check digits catch almost every typo.
The bank’s SWIFT/BIC code
8 or 11 characters. Use the code the supplier gives you; the head-office code works if you only know the bank.
What the payment is for
An invoice number or a short description. Some payments need a supporting document such as the invoice.
How it works
- 01
Add your beneficiary in Saudi Arabia
Enter the details above once and save them. Every later payment to the same supplier, employee or partner starts from the saved record.
- 02
Pay in USD or EUR
Pay from a balance you hold, or convert as part of the payment. The fee, the rate and the amount the beneficiary receives are shown before you confirm.
- 03
Approve and send by SWIFT
A second approver can sign off if your policy requires it. You can download a confirmation of the payment to forward to the beneficiary.
Largest banks in Saudi Arabia
Fees
- SWIFT payment out
- 0.25%, min €25.00
- Currency conversion
- 0.5%
Figures from the MENA plan. Every fee is shown before you confirm a payment, and banks in a SWIFT chain may deduct charges of their own. All plans and fees →
Sending money to Saudi Arabia: questions
- How long does a business payment to Saudi Arabia take?
- A SWIFT payment typically takes 1 to 3 working days, depending on the currency and the banks in the chain. Banks in Saudi Arabia are closed Friday – Saturday. Payments instructed after the daily cut-off, at a weekend or on a holiday start on the next working day. Timings are typical, not guaranteed; the payment calendar shows value dates.
- How much does it cost to send money to Saudi Arabia?
- On the MENA plan a SWIFT payment out costs 0.25%, min €25.00, and banks in the SWIFT chain may deduct charges of their own. Converting currency costs 0.5%. Every fee and the rate are shown before you confirm.
- Which currency should I pay a supplier in Saudi Arabia in?
- SAR isn’t one of our payout currencies, so pay in US dollars or euros. If the supplier’s account is held in SAR, their bank converts the payment at its own rate; ask which currency their account is in before you send.
- What details do I need from the supplier?
- The beneficiary’s name and address, their IBAN (24 characters, starting SA) and their bank’s SWIFT/BIC code.
- Will I need to send documents?
- Sometimes. Depending on the destination and the amount, we may ask for an invoice or another supporting document before a payment is released, and the recipient’s bank may ask your supplier for the same. Keeping the invoice number in the payment reference helps both.
- Can a business based in Saudi Arabia open an account?
- Yes, Saudi Arabia is not on our list of markets we can’t serve, so a business based there can apply, subject to KYC/KYB review. Onboarding hasn’t opened yet: join the waiting list and we’ll contact you when it does.
Related
Other destinations in Middle East and North Africa
Paying suppliers in Saudi Arabia?
Onboarding hasn’t opened yet. Join the waiting list and we’ll contact you when it does.