Saudi Arabia’s national currency is the Saudi Riyal (), which is divided into 100 halala. You’ll receive notes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 riyals and coins in denominations of 1 or 2 riyals and 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 halal.

The U.S. dollar is equivalent to 3.75 (fixed rate). Check out this  conversion calculator for quick conversions to help you plan your vacation budget.

All banks in Saudi Arabia offer currency exchange services. You can also find exchange bureaus at airports, some shopping centers, and other locations throughout the country. Banking hours are generally from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday to Thursday. Exchange bureaus are often open later, although they may charge higher commission fees. 

ATMs are widely available, and credit cards including Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted at many retailers, restaurants, hotels, transportation providers and other businesses throughout the country. Smaller shops may include a surcharge for card payments, so having cash handy can help you avoid additional fees. Many businesses also accept digital payment methods, such as Apple Pay.

When it comes to planning how much money you should bring on your trip to Saudi, it’s best to make a budget ahead of time. Typically, two people can comfortably spend about 750 (USD$ 200) a day on accommodations, meals, transportation, and activities. Many businesses accept credit cards, so you don’t need to carry cash for every purchase. Plan to pay for hotels, most transportation, and many meals with a card.

You can send or receive money in Saudi by transferring funds online or through a bank that offers fast money transfer services, all of which are subject to the rules and regulations of the Saudi Central Bank. For more, here is some guidance on international money in Saudi.

Saudi imposes an indirect tax of 15 percent on all goods and services with few exceptions. This is called a value-added tax, or VAT, and it’s common in many countries as a way to diversify their revenue sources. VAT is added to a product or service at any point in a supply chain where value is added — for instance, when a manufacturer purchases raw materials to make a product — and the consumer pays 15 percent of the final retail price when they purchase it.  

Now that you know about Saudi currency, make sure you’re up to speed on other important topics related to your trip: 
 

• Learn how to communicate with these common expressions in Arabic.
  
  
• Apply for your eVisa, a necessary document for visiting Saudi.
  
  
• Discover more about the language and culture.
  
  
• Familiarize yourself with Saudi’s laws and etiquette.