
The Saudi Riyal is the official currency of Saudi Arabia, and it's widely accepted in the country. It's denoted by the symbol SAR.
You can exchange your money for Saudi Riyals at airports, banks, and currency exchange offices. Some hotels and resorts also offer currency exchange services.
The Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US dollar, which means its value is tied to the dollar's exchange rate. This peg is fixed at a rate of 1 USD = 3.75 SAR.
The Saudi Riyal comes in a variety of denominations, including 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 riyals.
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Historical Exchange Rates
The Saudi riyal has had a fascinating history when it comes to exchange rates. In 1936, the riyal was pegged to the value of 10.6918 grams of silver.
The riyal was initially pegged to the value of 10.6918 grams of silver and 7.32238 grams of gold. The gold sovereign coin was made legal tender in Saudi Arabia in 1948, with an initial value of 62 riyals.
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The government of Saudi Arabia began to stabilize the exchange rate in relation to the US dollar in 1951, with an informal fixed exchange rate of 3+15/22 SAR = 1 USD. This implied an exchange rate of 40 riyals with the British sovereign coin.
Here's a breakdown of the major exchange rate arrangements in Saudi Arabia:
In 1975, the riyal was anchored to the IMF's special drawing rights at an initial exchange rate of 4.28255 riyals per SDR.
Saudi Riyal
The Saudi riyal (SAR) is the official currency of Saudi Arabia, pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 1 USD = 3.75 SAR. It has been in circulation since the country's establishment.
The Saudi riyal is divided into 100 halalas, with coins available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 halalas, as well as 1 and 2 riyals. DenominationSterling equivalent1 halalah£0.0025 halalas£0.0110 halalas£0.0225 halalas£0.0650 halalas£0.11SR 1£0.22SR 2£0.45
The first Saudi riyal coins were issued in 1935, and the first banknotes, Hajj Pilgrim Receipts, were introduced in 1953.
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SAR
The Saudi riyal (SAR) is the official currency of Saudi Arabia, pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 1 US dollar = 3.75 SR.
The Saudi riyal has a long history, with the first coins issued in 1935 and the first banknotes, Haj Pilgrim Receipts, introduced in 1953 by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA).
The SAR is subdivided into 100 halalas, with 1 halala equal to one-hundredth of the Saudi riyal. You can find a range of denominations, including banknotes (1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 riyals) and coins (1, 5, 10, 25, 50 halalas, 1 riyal, 2 riyals).
The Saudi Central Bank is responsible for managing the SAR, and the currency is widely accepted in Saudi Arabia, which is one of the fastest-growing countries globally and one of the world's top 20 economies.
To get the best exchange rate for your SAR, consider shopping around and comparing currency suppliers. Online travel money companies often offer better rates than high street exchanges, and some supermarkets may have better rates if you order online and collect in person.
Here's a rough idea of the current SAR exchange rates:
Keep in mind that exchange rates can fluctuate, so it's essential to monitor them regularly, especially if you're planning to buy SAR for an upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia.
Banknotes and Coins
The Saudi riyal has a rich history, and its banknotes and coins are a reflection of that. The first Saudi riyal coins were issued in 1935, and they were silver coins worth 1/4, 1/2, and 1 riyal.
The Saudi riyal is currently pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 1 USD = 3.75 SAR. The Saudi stock exchange, also known as Tadawul, is the largest stock market in the Middle East and North Africa.
You can find various denominations of Saudi riyal banknotes in circulation, including SR 1, SR 5, SR 10, SR 50, SR 100, and SR 500. The first Saudi riyal banknotes were actually Hajj Pilgrim Receipts that were issued to pilgrims in exchange for 10 riyals in 1953.
Here are the denominations of Saudi riyal banknotes and their sterling equivalents:
The Saudi riyal also has coins, with denominations including 1 halalah, 5 halalas, 10 halalas, 25 halalas, 50 halalas, SR 1, and SR 2. The first polymer note to be used in Saudi Arabia was the 5 riyals note, which was introduced in 2020 and features more environmentally friendly materials and additional security features.
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Proposed Monetary Union

Saudi Arabia was initially planning to join a monetary union with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, aiming to introduce a single currency by 2010. However, this plan has yet to be implemented.
The GCC countries, including Saudi Arabia, currently operate with their own currency, which is a notable exception to the planned monetary union.
Saudi Arabia's currency, the Saudi Riyal, is one of the many currencies in Asia that have their own exchange rate.
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Currency
Converting Saudi riyals to US dollars is a straightforward process. You can use an online currency converter to make the exchange.
To use the converter, simply type in the box how much you want to convert. This will give you the current SAR to USD rate.
Select SAR in the first dropdown as the currency you want to convert from, and USD in the second dropdown as the currency you want to convert to. This will allow the converter to give you the correct rate.
The converter will show you the current SAR to USD rate and how it's changed over the past day, week or month. This can be helpful in making informed decisions about currency exchange.
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Exchange Rate Information
The Saudi riyal has a fascinating history when it comes to its exchange rate. The riyal was pegged to the US dollar in 1986, and since then, its value has remained relatively stable.
In practice, the currency is fixed at 1 US dollar = 3.75 riyals, which translates to approximately 1 riyal = 0.266667 dollar.
This rate has been in place since January 1, 2003, and is currently reflected in the Saudi riyal to US dollar exchange rate history, which shows a 0.021% increase in the value of the riyal over the past week.
If you're traveling to Saudi Arabia, it's essential to shop around and compare currency suppliers to maximize your chances of getting a good deal. The best Saudi riyal exchange rate can be found by comparing a wide range of UK travel money suppliers.
Here are some key facts about the Saudi riyal's exchange rate:
- 1 US dollar = 3.75 riyals (fixed rate since 2003)
- 1 riyal = 0.266667 dollar (approximate value)
- 0.018% change in exchange rate since yesterday
- 0.021% increase in riyal value over the past week
The Saudi riyal has been pegged to the US dollar for over three decades, and its value has remained relatively stable as a result.
Conversion and Exchange
Converting Saudi riyals to US dollars is a straightforward process. Simply type in the amount you want to convert into the box provided.
To get started, you need to select the correct currencies from the dropdown menus. Choose SAR as the currency you want to convert from and USD as the currency you want to convert to.
Our currency converter will show you the current SAR to USD exchange rate and how it has changed over the past day, week, or month. This gives you a clear picture of the current market trends.
To see the current SAR to USD rate, follow the steps outlined in our currency converter guide.
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Series and History
The Saudi riyal has a rich history, with its exchange rate arrangements dating back to 1936. The riyal was initially pegged to the value of silver, with 1 SAR equivalent to 10.6918 grams of silver.
In 1948, the government introduced a new exchange rate arrangement, pegging the riyal to both silver and gold. The riyal was also made convertible to the US dollar in 1951, with an informal fixed exchange rate of 3+15/22 SAR = 1 USD.
The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) began issuing banknotes in 1961, replacing the previously used Pilgrim Receipts. The first banknotes were issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 riyals.
Here's a list of the different series of banknotes issued by SAMA:
The riyal has undergone several devaluations and revaluations over the years, with the most recent peg to the US dollar established in 1986.
Fixed and Current Rates
The Saudi riyal has a fixed exchange rate with the US dollar, pegged at 1 U.S. dollar = 3.75 riyals, which is equivalent to approximately 1 riyal = 0.266667 dollar. This rate has been in place since January 1, 2003.
The riyal briefly rose to a 20-year high after the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates in 2007, but it returned to its peg against the U.S. dollar in early December of the same year.
The current exchange rate for Saudi riyal to US dollars is 0.266, reflecting a 0.018% change since yesterday. This rate has remained relatively stable over the past week, with a 0.021% increase compared to its value 7 days ago.
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Here's a quick snapshot of the current exchange rate:
To get the best exchange rate, it's essential to shop around and compare currency suppliers. The best Saudi riyal exchange rate right now is 4.4597 from Travel FX, which is based on a comparison of 18 currency suppliers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saudi Arabia currency higher than dollar?
The Saudi riyal has a fixed exchange rate to the US dollar, currently at SAR 3.76 per USD, which is equivalent to approximately 0.27 USD per SAR. This rate has remained relatively stable since 2003.
What is the meaning of 1 riyal?
The Saudi riyal is subdivided into 100 halalas, with 1 riyal equivalent to 100 halalas.
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