Market guide · Middle East
Selling in Saudi Arabia
Saudi shoppers pay mainly with mada debit cards and Apple Pay, and cash on delivery has fallen sharply. Arabic checkout and local customer support make a noticeable difference.
| Currency | Saudi riyal (SAR) |
|---|---|
| Languages | Arabic |
| Region | Middle East |
| Local acquiring | Available |
| Settlement | T+2 |
| Payout rail | sarie · Seconds, 24/7 |
| Import consumption tax | VAT · 15% |
Popular payment methods
Share of online payments by method. Illustrative figures.
| mada | 50% (50% of online payments) |
|---|---|
| Apple Pay | 18% (18% of online payments) |
| Visa, Mastercard, Amex | 15% (15% of online payments) |
| STC Pay | 7% (7% of online payments) |
How to launch in Saudi Arabia
- 1Open a sandbox accountTest every flow for Saudi Arabia with test cards and methods before you sign anything.
- 2Turn on local methodsStart with mada, Apple Pay, STC Pay.
- 3Process domesticallyDomestic processing in Saudi Arabia avoids cross-border fees and lifts approval rates.
- 4Settle in SARHold SAR and convert when you choose, or pay out locally.
- 5Show duty-inclusive pricesQuote VAT and duties at checkout so nothing is due on delivery.
- 6Go liveVerify your business, switch your keys and watch the first orders arrive.
Duties and import tax
VAT at 15% applies to most imported goods.
Thresholds: Low-value shipments under SAR 1,000 generally exempt from duty
Regulatory notes
- The Saudi Central Bank licenses payment providers and requires local processing of mada transactions.
- VAT e-invoicing rules apply to businesses registered in the Kingdom.
Placeholder notes for the prototype, not legal advice.
Customer story nearby
Kestrel Air
Travel & Hospitality
−38%
FX cost on supplier payments · Illustrative
Virtual cards in the supplier's currency removed a whole reconciliation step for our finance team.
Omar Haddad, VP Finance Read the story: Kestrel Air
Other markets in Middle East
Launch in Saudi Arabia
Try the Saudi Arabia flow in the sandbox, or talk to us about your rollout.