The currency of Saudi Arabia is the Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR). The Riyal is in fact older than Saudi Arabia itself, having been used by the kingdom of Hejaz beforehand. The name Riyal actually comes from the Spanish ‘real’ and means ‘royal’.
Notes in circulation
The current notes in circulation are the 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Riyal notes.
The 1 Riyal note is possibly the only bank note in the world with a picture of a coin on it.
Coins in circulation
The Riyal is divided into 100 Halalas and you can find coins in of 1, 5, 10 and 50 Halalas as well as 1 and 2 Riyal coins in circulation.
Exchanging money
Money exchanges are common in major cities like Jeddah and Riyadh. The official rate used is around 1 USD to 3.75 SAR (April 2022). Although there might be a money changer in your hotel, it is best to use exchange bureaus outside as they tend to offer a better rate.
Can you use foreign currencies in Saudi Arabia?
It is very rare that you can use foreign currency in Saudi Arabia, unless you are bargaining in a Souq and even then, the preferred currency is SAR.
ATMs
ATMs are widespread in Saudi Arabia and nearly all foreign cards are accepted. The use of credit cards is also widespread.
