How to send money to Saudi Arabia from UAE with the best AED-SAR rate

The exchange rate determines how many AED the recipient will get in Saudi Arabia when you send UAE Dirham.

Today, the average exchange rate between UAE Dirham and Saudi Riyal is 1.0225. The company offering the best exchange rate is Key Currency.

The AED-SAR rate fluctuates constantly, so timing your transfer to Saudi Arabia can help you save a lot of money.

The total cost of sending money to Saudi Arabia from the United Arab Emirates is a mix of the mid-market, exchange rates and transfer fees.

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The mid-market for AED-SAR is 1.0225 SAR per UAE Dirham.

• Fees: When sending money there may be additional fees. Key Currency offers the lowest fee of the 4 providers tested, costing 0 AED per transfer (based on .د.إ25,000 transferred).

• Amount Received: When comparing providers, the best measure is the amount of Saudi Riyal eventually received in Saudi Arabia.

Sometimes, waiting a day or two can help you get more SAR for the same amount of AED. You can also opt for a forward contract to lock in rates between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

A bank transfer is the most cost effective option for sending money from the United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia.

Here are all the ways to send money from United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia:

Bank transfers

The default option for sending money from the United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia is often a bank transfer.

Using a money transfer company, such as Key Currency for transfers from the United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia, allows for sending via a bank transfer while benefitting from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates. 


Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money from the United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia with a prepaid or debit card is easy with Paysend.


Paysend is a leader in accepting card payments for transfers between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Credit cards

When it comes to international credit card transfers from the United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia, we recommend comparing your options to get the best deal.

Always choose providers that are regulated by financial authorities to ensure funds are safe when transferring from United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia.

If you don’t know what the key regulatory bodies for money transfers are between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, please refer to our directory of financial regulators worldwide.

Some services have limits on how much you can transfer from the United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia. This applies when receiving money in Saudi Arabia as well.

Different companies will offer different rates or lower fees for different transfer amounts.

For example, we recommend using Key Currency if you need to send large amounts of AED to Saudi Arabia.

This being said, always check with the recipient and understand any declarations needed on large amounts of money leaving the United Arab Emirates, or entering Saudi Arabia.

There are different ways to receive money in Saudi Arabia. You can do a direct bank deposit, cash pickup, use a mobile wallet or receive money into a multi-currency account.

If you (or the recipient) want a direct transfer to your bank account, Key Currency is the best money transfer company for bank transfers between United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

And if you need cash right away, check if cash pickup is an option for transfers between United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Mobile wallet services and payment apps like PayPal, Xoom, and CashApp are popular too, but they come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer providers like Key Currency.

When you're sending or receiving money between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, you have to be ready to show some ID.

The exact documents you need might vary. Usually in the United Arab Emirates this will be a government ID like a passport or driver's license. This will be similar if you need to open an account or collect cash in Saudi Arabia.

If you're making a big transaction between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, a provider may ask you for proof of address or may want to know where your money comes from.

Key Currency is a great option for sending from the United Arab Emirates as the sign up process is pretty straightforward, even for larger transactions.

When sending large amounts of money between the United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia there will be tax implications to consider.

Some AED-SAR transfers may need to be reported to tax authorities, particularly where inheritance or property sales are involved.

Tax limits and personal allowances differ in Saudi Arabia based on age, income and a few other elements. When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia to discuss your personal circumstances.