Compare all the best ways to send money to Saudi Arabia

Pay attention to SAR exchange rates, as it determines how much SAR your recipient will receive.

For instance, today’s average USD to SAR rate is 3.7561 but the highest rate over the past 3 months was 3.7563 SAR/USD.

Your aim is to transfer when SAR reaches a higher value so waiting a few days could result in a better rate, hence more SAR received.

If you have to send money to Saudi Arabia now, we recommend Wise. It consistently provided the best SAR rates over the past six months.

How you fund your transfer affects the cost, speed, and the amount of Saudi Riyal the recipient will receive.

The cheapest way to fund your transfer to Saudi Arabia is with a Bank transfer via Revolut, which is 0.7% cheaper than the next cheapest service.

Based on our six-month analysis of a $2,000 transfer from to Saudi Arabia, here are the top options:

• Revolut (bank transfer): Costs $0 + 0.11% markup on top of the SAR mid-market rate.

• Xe (debit card): Costs $22.38 + 0% markup.

• Xe (credit card): Costs $181.41 + 0% markup.

Bank transfer are the most expensive funding method when sending money to Saudi Arabia, so we recommend avoiding it to maximize the amount of SAR received.

Credit card transfers may result in cash advance fees and higher interest rates for transfers to Saudi Arabia.

For instance, Wise charges $59.47 for credit card deposits, while Revolut charges $0 for bank transfers.

Avoid using the SWIFT network for transfers to Saudi Arabia, as it's slower and more expensive. Instead, consider cheaper options like ACH or account balance for SAR transfers.

Money transfer companies often have minimum and maximum limits on how much SAR you can send to Saudi Arabia.

The amount of SAR you send can impact the fees and exchange rate. Some services such as Wise may offer a better exchange rate for large SAR transfers.

There may also be government-imposed restrictions, commercial limitations, and other factors that may affect how much SAR you can send.

To ensure your money transfer to Saudi Arabia goes smoothly, especially if sending large amounts of Saudi Riyal, use our comparison tool to find the service that best fits your needs.

The speed of sending Saudi Riyal to Saudi Arabia depends on factors like the amount of SAR sent, the chosen deposit and withdrawal methods, and when you send SAR.

As a rule of thumb, faster transfers come with higher fees.

Let’s imagine you want to send 2,000 USD from the US to Saudi Arabia, here are your options:

• For the fastest transfers, use PayPal - Out of 12 companies serving Saudi Arabia, PayPal appeared 22 times in our searches as the fastest service in the past 6 months.

• For bank and card deposits, use Xe - Xe provides fast and affordable SAR transfers, with fees around $2.99 for bank account deposits and $21.41 for debit/prepaid card deposits, with a small 1.09% markup on the ‘real’ SAR exchange rate.

• For credit card transfers, use Xe - Xe charges $181.41 for credit card transfers to Saudi Arabia with 0% markup. However, beware of potential cash advance fees and higher interest rates from your credit card company.

• For urgent transfers, use cash transfer services - If you need Saudi Riyal to be delivered urgently, services like Western Union, MoneyGram, or Ria Money will have it ready within minutes for collection in Saudi Arabia.

Avoid using the SWIFT network for SAR transfers, as intermediary banks slow the process. Instead, opt for faster and more cost-effective alternatives discussed above.

There are four main ways you can send money to Saudi Arabia:

1. Money transfer company - You can transfer money online using an FX broker (managed service) or a self-managed online company like Wise. Based on our 6-month analysis, Wise ranked as the top provider for transfers to Saudi Arabia, appearing in 61 comparisons involving SAR.

2. Mobile apps and digital wallets - Many services that support transfers to Saudi Arabia offer mobile apps, often giving transfer offers on SAR rates.

3. Cash transfers - You can send cash to Saudi Arabia through services like Ria Money, MoneyGram, or Western Union. Cash transfers are typically instant, but the recipient must visit a local agent in Saudi Arabia to collect the Saudi Riyal.

4. Wire transfers - While you can send money to Saudi Arabia through your bank, we advise against it. Banks can charge up to $60 per transfer to Saudi Arabia and add 5% - 6% to the SAR exchange rate. Instead, use bank transfer to deposit money to Wise and send SAR from there.

There are several ways to receive money in Saudi Arabia, and choosing the right one will help the recipient get the most SAR. Mainly, these are:

• Deposit to bank account - For direct bank deposits in Saudi Arabia, we recommend Revolut, which appeared in 55.3% of SAR searches as the cheapest option for bank transfers. SAR will arrive directly to the recipient's bank account in Saudi Arabia.

• Deposit to digital or mobile wallet - SAR can be sent directly to digital wallets like PayPal, though this option often has more limitations and higher costs compared to services like Revolut. Recipients in Saudi Arabia will need to transfer it to their account, which may incur more fees.

• Cash pickup or home delivery - If the recipient needs SAR urgently or doesn't have access to a bank account in Saudi Arabia, cash pickup or door-to-door delivery is a good alternative. Be sure to check if these services are available in Saudi Arabia. This will require the recipient to visit a nearby agent in Saudi Arabia.

When making large SAR transfers or sending Saudi Riyal for cash pickup, the recipient may need the following:

• Government-Issued ID: This can be a non-expired and valid passport, driver’s license, or national ID of Saudi Arabia.

• Sender’s Details: The sender's full name, address, and other personal information.

• Transfer Details: The amount being received in SAR.

• Transfer number: This is given to the sender at the time of transfer. They should give it to the receiver.

• SWIFT Code / IBAN: This may be required for bank transfers to Saudi Arabia from some countries.

*The exact documents may vary depending on the transfer method and service used.

For bank accounts, debit cards, or wallet deposits, the recipient typically doesn’t need to do anything. Saudi Riyal will arrive without their involvement.

For larger transfers, companies may request additional documents like proof of funds and address verification in compliance with Anti-Money Laundering policies.

We recommend using Wise for sending large amounts of Saudi Riyal.

When sending money to Saudi Arabia, there may be tax implications and government-imposed limits on Saudi Riyal transfers.

Some Saudi Riyal transfers may be subject to gift tax, commercial tax, and other types of taxes.

Even if no immediate taxes or limits apply, larger SAR transfers may need to be reported to tax authorities in Saudi Arabia or your home country.

To be fully safe, we strongly recommend consulting with a tax professional in either Saudi Arabia or your home country to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and tax laws.