The Saudi Riyal (SAR) is the official currency of Saudi Arabia and essential for anyone travelling to the Kingdom – whether it’s for business, tourism, Umrah, or Hajj. Buying SAR in advance usually gives you a better rate than waiting until the airport, and demand often jumps around key religious travel periods.
Notes, Coins & Useful Denominations
Saudi Riyals come in 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 SAR banknotes.
From what travellers tell us, the most practical notes day-to-day are 5, 10, 50 and 100 SAR – ideal for taxis, markets and small purchases.
Cash vs Card in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is pushing hard into digital payments, and Visa/Mastercard are widely accepted in major cities. But cash still plays a big role:
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Markets and small shops often prefer SAR
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Tips are usually given in cash
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Many Umrah/Hajj vendors don’t take cards
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ATMs charge fees via UK banks
For most trips, buying SAR before you go is the simplest and often the cheapest option.
Why More UK Travellers Need Riyals
Since Saudi Arabia introduced easier visitor visas in 2019, UK visitor numbers have been steadily rising. Religious travel remains the biggest driver, but more people are travelling for business and short stopovers. This means SAR demand – and sometimes pricing – can move around Ramadan, Umrah and Hajj.
Over the past 30 days, the pound has strengthened against the Saudi Riyal. The best Saudi Riyal rate rose by 0.25%, from 4.8683 on 15 October 2026 to 4.8804 on 13 November 2026.
This means £1 buys more Saudi Riyal today than it did at the start of the period.
On a £750 purchase, you would receive about ر.س3,660.30 today, around ر.س9.07 more than on 15 October 2026.
Saudi Riyal rates moved around during the month, ranging from 4.8683 on 15 October to 4.9593 on 4 November. That shows why checking live rates before you buy can make a real difference.
Last refreshed at 12:00 on 13 November 2026.