How to send money to Saudi Arabia from UK with the best GBP-SAR rate

An exchange rate determines the price you will pay when buying Saudi Riyal. A better exchange rate means more money reaching the recipient in Saudi Arabia.

The current rate between the Pound Sterling and Saudi Riyal is 4.9546.

The total cost of money transfers to Saudi Arabia from the United Kingdom, is a combination of exchange rates and fees. Sending with a company that can offer a good competitive rate and low (or no) fees is the best way to get a good deal.

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The current mid-market for GBP-SAR is 4.9546 SAR per Pound Sterling.

• Fees: Some money transfers between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia will be subject to fees. Key Currency has a fee of 0 GBP based on a 6,000 GBP transfer. Although you should search for your send amount for actual fees as your scenario may be different.

• Amount Received: Money transfer companies will show you the amount of Saudi Riyal eventually received in Saudi Arabia.

Waiting a day or two can help you get more SAR for the same amount of Pound Sterlings.

A better option is to use a forward contract can also allows you to lock in an agreed exchange rate between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

Paying via bank transfer is the payment method that will get you the best price with a money transfer company. When sending money from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia.

Here are the best options:

Bank transfers

A bank transfer is often the default option for money transfers from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia.

By using a money transfer company such as Key Currency to send money from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia, you can while benefit from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates than a bank would offer. 


Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia with a prepaid or debit card is very easy with Wise.


Wise is a great choice for sending money with a debit card from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia. This is from the 12 money transfer companies compared.

Credit cards

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

Companies offering money transfers between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much money you can send.

Rates and fees for different transfer amounts could change if you pass a threshold - that’s why it’s best to compare GBP-SAR rates for your specific transfer amount.

For regular transfers from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia, shopping around each time can make a huge difference.

We’ve recommended Wise for sending GBP to Saudi Arabia, because of their combination of rates and fees when sending from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia that is the most competitive, even at larger amounts.

Check with the recipient and understand any declarations needed on large amounts of money entering Saudi Arabia from the United Kingdom.

There are different ways to receive Saudi Riyal in Saudi Arabia. The most popular options are direct bank deposit, cash pickup, a mobile wallet or receiving money into a multi-currency account.

All providers work differently and not all offering transfers from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia support every method for receiving Saudi Riyal so it’s best to check ahead of time.

Sending directly to a bank account in Saudi Arabia is one of the most common ways to receive money from the United Kingdom. For most part, this is convenient but does have receiving fees to potentially be aware of.

Wise is the best company for bank transfers between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

Cash pickup is popular in Saudi Arabia, but not always supported and can be costly compared to cheaper options.

Mobile wallet or P2P services and payment apps like PayPal, Zelle, and CashApp are popular because of convenience. They come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer providers like Revolut, and are recommended for domestic payments only.

When sending Saudi Riyal to Saudi Arabia, you will need to verify your ID with your chosen money transfer company.

The documents you need will vary and in some cases you might need more than one.

For the most part, accepted IDs in the United Kingdom include government issued IDs such as passports or driver's licenses. If the recipient needs an ID to collect money in Saudi Arabia, the options are similar.

Large transactions between United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia can be subject to additional checks such as proof of funds for anti-money laundering purposes. These won’t be needing when signing up, but will be need ahead of any transfer.

One of the reasons Wise has scored so highly for transfers to Saudi Arabia is their easy sign up process in the United Kingdom.

When sending money between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia there will be tax declarations to consider.

Some transfers into Saudi Riyal may need to be reported to tax authorities in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, depending on size and particularly where inheritance or property purchases are involved.

Tax limits and personal allowances will change in Saudi Arabia based on age, income and a few other elements - such as whether the funds are a gift. Tax law can be confusing, when in doubt, please contact a tax professional in the United Kingdom or Saudi Arabia to discuss your personal circumstances to ensure you are not missing any specific tax declarations associated with your international money transfer.

Regulations are important for keeping your money safe, United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia have different regulations to consider.

Our directory of worldwide financial regulators contains details on regulation for money transfers between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.