Find the best way to send money to Saudi Arabia

Learn how to send money to Saudi Arabia from the UK in our step-by-step guide.

Looking for the best way to send money from the United Kingdom to family, friends or businesses in Saudi Arabia (or even to your own overseas bank account)?

Don't head straight to your British bank – compare specialist money transfer services instead. They nearly always offer better SAR exchange rates and lower fees, so for the same amount of pounds you send, your recipient will receive more Saudi riyals.

Of the companies we've compared, CurrencyFair is among the cheapest, with competitive exchange rates and fees starting from €3. Need a really fast transfer? CurrencyFair can get money to your recipient in Saudi Arabia within minutes.

Best ways to send money to Saudi Arabia from the UK

The best way to send money to Saudi Arabia depends on your payment method, how you want your money to be received and how fast you need it to arrive.
  • Online money transfer provider. When buying pounds or Saudi riyals , money transfer specialists typically offer better rates and cheaper fees than a local bank.
  • Bank transfer. Bank transfers are an easy way to send money to Saudi Arabia, but they charge extra for the convenience and are often slower than other methods. UK banks generally add a 3% to 6% markup onto exchange rates.
  • Cash pickup. If you need your money to arrive fast, cash pickup gives your recipient instant access to the money you've sent when they collect it from their agent location in Saudi Arabia.
  • Mobile wallet. Essentially an electronic wallet service, mobile wallets allow users to store, send and receive eligible currencies using their phone, often with fees attached.
  • Home delivery. If your recipient may struggle to get to a cash pickup location, you may be able to opt for door-to-door cash delivery.

Compare the best money transfer companies to send money to Saudi Arabia

Use our table to compare the best money transfer companies to send money to Saudi Arabia. You can compare deposit and receiving options, fees and transfer speeds, then click the "Go to site" button when you've found the best one to get your money to Saudi Arabia.
1 - 17 of 17
Name Product UKFMT Filter values Finder Score Pay by Receiving options Fastest transfer Fee (pay by bank transfer) Key benefits
OFFER
Xe
4.5
★★★★★
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Cash pickup location, Bank account
Within minutes
£2
Refer a friend and you'll each get a £25 Amazon voucher when they transfer over £1,000. T&Cs apply.
OFFER
TorFX
4.5
★★★★★
Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account
Within minutes
£0
Get a £50 Amazon voucher for each friend you refer who transfers £5,000 or more. T&Cs apply.
OFFER
Wise (TransferWise)
4.0
★★★★★
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account, Alipay (China only)
Within minutes
From 0.41%
Refer 3 friends to receive up to £50 referral bonus
Remitly
4.0
★★★★★
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Cash pickup location, Bank account, Mobile wallet, Home delivery
Within minutes
From £0
CurrencyFair
OFFER
CurrencyFair
3.5
★★★★★
Bank transfer
Bank account
Within minutes
€3
New customers get unlimited fee-free transfers for their first 3 months. T&Cs apply.
CurrencyTransfer
CurrencyTransfer
Not rated yet
Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£0
OFFER
Currencies Direct
4.0
★★★★★
Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£0
Get a £50 Amazon voucher for each friend you refer who transfers £5,000 or more. T&Cs apply.
TorFX Business
4.5
★★★★★
Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account
Within minutes
£0
OFX
OFX
4.5
★★★★★
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£0
OFFER
Airwallex multi-currency business account
Not rated yet
Bank transfer
Bank account
Within minutes
£0
Connect your Airwallex account to Xero at no additional cost. Plus, generate Airwallex payment links to share with your customers anywhere in the world so they can pay in the currency and payment method of their choice. T&Cs apply.
Western Union
3.0
★★★★★
Cash, Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Cash pickup location, Bank account, Mobile wallet
Within minutes
From £0
OFX
OFX
4.5
★★★★★
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£0
CurrencyTransfer Business
CurrencyTransfer Business
Not rated yet
Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£0
Xe Business
Not rated yet
Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£0
Special offer: £25 Amazon voucher when you refer a friend
OFX Business
OFX Business
Not rated yet
Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£0
Currencies Direct Business
4.0
★★★★★
Debit card, Bank transfer
Bank account
24 hours
£0
CurrencyFair Business
CurrencyFair Business
Not rated yet
Bank transfer
Bank account
Within minutes
€3
Zero fees on your first 10 transfers. T&Cs apply.
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Please note: You should always refer to quotes you receive from transfer services themselves directly for exact amounts as they may vary from our estimates.

Cheapest way to send money to Saudi Arabia

Bank transfers are typically the cheapest way to get your money to Saudi Arabia. CurrencyFair and OFX have some of the lowest bank transfer fees of the brands we've compared.

When you're hunting down the cheapest ways to send money to Saudi Arabia, it's more important to look at the overall cost of your transfer. This has a couple of elements:

  • Transfer fees. While still cheaper than your British bank, some money transfer services charge either a fixed or percentage-based fee for making your transfer.
  • Exchange rates. Another way money transfer providers make money is to add a margin to the mid-market GBP/SAR exchange rate.

Some providers may charge the mid-market rate but add fees on top. Others may have very low fees but apply a markup on the exchange rate. This means it is important to compare exactly how many Saudi riyals your recipient will end up with.

Fastest way to send money to Saudi Arabia

Many online providers can offer transfers to Saudi Arabia within minutes, although you're likely to pay a premium for the convenience.

Here are some of the fastest average transfer speeds to Saudi Arabia:
  • CurrencyFair — within minutes
  • Xe — within minutes
  • Remitly — within minutes

Actual transfer times from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia can depend on several several factors including transfer amount, payment method and currency.

Safest way to send money to Saudi Arabia

The safest way to get your money to Saudi Arabia is to use a provider registered with the United Kingdom's industry regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). All the companies we've compared in our table are overseen by a local regulator and comply with the relevant laws and regulations in both the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

A great way to dive deeper is by reading our extended reviews of each transfer service and researching first-hand customer feedback on Trustpilot and similar platforms.

Large money transfers to Saudi Arabia

If you need to make a sizable money transfer to Saudi Arabia, consider using a provider such as Wise (TransferWise) or TorFX to benefit from its expertise in handling larger transfer amounts.

Using a large transfer specialist can have the following advantages:
  • Tax guidance. Large transfers to Saudi Arabia may have tax implications for you or your recipient. A transfer specialist can help get you up to speed on the HMRC's latest advice.
  • Foreign exchange (forex) tools. Advanced tools such as forward contracts, limit orders and stop-loss orders can help you lock in the SAR exchange rate you want.
  • Account manager. Some money transfer providers assign a personal account manager who can help and advise you on your transfer needs.
  • Phone service. If you want to talk your transfer through with someone, providers such as CurrencyTransfer Business and Wise (TransferWise) can give you support over the phone.

How to send money to Saudi Arabia from the UK

To send money to Saudi Arabia, you'll need the necessary documentation, your recipient's details and a way to pay.

  1. Compare your options.
    Use our table to find a money transfer provider that sends funds to Saudi Arabia. One may be better for cash pickups, while another may suit a bank transfer. Once you've found the best one for your requirements, click "Go to site".
  2. Create an account.
    You'll need to give your name, address, contact details, proof of ID and method of payment.
  3. Provide your recipient's details.
    Enter your recipient's name and contact information. If you're sending straight to their Saudi bank account, you'll need the account number, SWIFT or IBAN plus their bank branch's address.
  4. Enter your transfer amount.
    Make sure you're happy with the fees, exchange rates and transfer speed, then enter the amount you wish to send. Double-check the total Saudi riyals your recipient gets.
  5. Complete your transfer.
    Send your money transfer to Saudi Arabia. Keep your transaction reference number safe so you can track your transfer. Your recipient may need it, too.

Example: Fatimah sends money to Saudi Arabia

Fatimah is working in the United Kingdom as a software engineer and she regularly contacts his elderly parents back home in Saudi Arabia. Her parents need some funds to help pay off a mortgage, so Fatimah plans to send them £2,000 from the United Kingdom.

She decides to compare a bank and a money transfer specialist to see which one can save the most money on her transaction.

Bank Money transfer company
Exchange rate 1 GBP = 4.81 SAR 1 GBP = 4.88 SAR
Transfer fee £10 £2.50
Transfer method Bank account deposit Bank account deposit
Processing time 2 - 5 working days Next day
Amount received 9,575.68 SAR 9,739.01 SAR

The money transfer company enables Fatimah to send an extra ر.س163.33, which is transferred straight to her parents' Saudi National Bank account.

How to choose the best money transfer companies to send money to Saudi Arabia

When choosing a money transfer provider to send money from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia, it's important to consider the cost, how you want your recipient to receive the funds and the turnaround time. Here are other features to review:

  • Exchange rates. Banks and transfer services use the mid-market rate to trade with one another. It is the best rate you can get. However, not all money transfer providers offer you this mid-market rate so compare the SAR you're offered to the mid-market rate and look for the smallest difference.
  • Transfer fees. Are you being charged a flat fee or a percentage of your transfer amount? For example, a provider offering to transfer your money to Saudi Arabia for a flat or low fee might work out better if you plan to send a large amount.
  • Transfer type. Does your recipient have a Saudi bank account or is cash or cell phone top-up a better option? Each transfer type has different fees. For example, instant cash pickups tend to be more expensive than bank transfers .
  • Transfer speed. If you need your transfer to arrive quickly, you can pay for an express delivery. Companies such as Western Union offer instant cash pickups but may charge more. If you're not in a rush, online money transfer services offer the best value and get your money to Saudi Arabia faster and cheaper than banks.
  • Transfer limits. Find out how much you can send with each service. For example, Western Union has a transfer limit of £4,000 while OFX allows unlimited transfers.
  • Discounts. Some providers may offer you a free transfer simply for signing up. Others may offer a discount if you transfer more than a specific amount of Saudi riyals.

Frequently asked questions

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.

More guides on Finder

4 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    BambuzaJuly 24, 2018

    I am an expatriate(Nigerian) working in Saudi Arabia. Can i transfer money from my Saudi bank account to a Nigerian bank, or vice versa?

      AvatarFinder
      joelmarceloJuly 25, 2018Finder

      Hi Bambuza,

      Thanks for leaving a question on finder.

      Many major banks in Saudi will allow you to wire money to banks in Nigeria. We have guide HERE on how you can send money to Nigeria. In sending money to Saudi, please click HERE.

      Cheers,
      Joel

    Default Gravatar
    HanifOctober 23, 2017

    Money transfer from to Pakistan to Saudi arbia SABB account hold is this possible

      AvatarFinder
      GruOctober 23, 2017Finder

      Hello Hanif,

      Thank you for your query.
      Just to clarify though, are you intending to transfer money to or from Pakistan or is it from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia?

      If you are intending to send money to Saudi Arabia, you are on the right page.
      You may indeed send money to Saudi Arabia, feel free to choose from the options above.

      If you are planning to do a bank to bank transfer or money transfer to bank account, please feel free to contact your local bank directly or the money transfer company you are eyeing to help you in facilitating this.

      Hope this helped.

      Cheers,
      Gru

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