SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal

Monetary System

1 Saudi riyal (SAR) = 100 halala

Saudi Central Bank

According to a press release dated 24 November 2020, “King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, has approved the Saudi Central Bank Law. The new law includes changing the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority to the Saudi Central Bank… The Saudi Central Bank shall replace the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority in all its rights and obligations… The Saudi Central Bank will continue to use the acronym ‘SAMA’ due to its historic significance and relevance locally and globally. The banknotes and coins of all denominations bearing the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority will remain in circulation and keep their status as legal tender.”
For more information, visit www.sama.gov.sa.

2021 Issues

These notes are like the preceding issues, but bear the issuer’s name as Saudi Central Bank.

Description: 50.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 155 x 70 mm

Dark green. Front: Arabic text; denomination in SPARK; Al Sakhra Dome mosque; King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Back: English text; Al Aqsa mosque in Al Quds Al Shareef (Jerusalem); national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Holographic stripe. Motion windowed security thread with and coat of arms. Solid security thread with demetalized SAMA5O. Watermark: King Salman bin Abdulaziz, electrotype coat of arms and o and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 155 x 70 mm. Paper.

Description: 100.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 160 x 72 mm

Red. Front: Arabic text; denomination in SPARK; green dome and minaret of aI-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque) in Medina; King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Back: English text; al-Masjid al-Nabawi; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Holographic stripe. Motion windowed security thread with . and coat of arms. Solid security thread with demetalized SAMA 100. Watermark: King Salman bin Abdulaziz, electrotype coat of arms and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 160 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 500.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 166 x 74 mm

Blue. Front: Arabic text; denomination in SPARK; Kaaba (cube); King Abdul Aziz. Back: English text; Ka’aba (cube) in the courtyard of the Holy Mosque in Mecca; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Holographic stripe. Motion windowed security thread with . and coat of arms. Solid security thread with demetalized SAMA500. Watermark: King Abdul Aziz, electrotype coat of arms and 4) 4 • and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 166 x 74 mm. Paper.

2021 Commemorative Issues

This 200-riyal banknote commemorates the fifth anniversary of launching Vision 2030, and is the first note to bear the issuer’s name as Saudi Central Bank.

Description: 200.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 163 x 73 mm

Gray, purple, and green. Front: Arabic text; denomination on SPARK; Vision 2030 logo; King Abdul Aziz. Back: English text; palm trees and Qasr Al Hukm in Riyadh City; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Holographic stripe. Motion windowed security thread with ٢٠٠and coat of arms Solid security thread with demetalized SAMA200. Watermark: King Abdul Aziz, electrotype coat of arms and ٢٠٠, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 163 x 73 mm. Paper.

Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority

According to a press release dated 4 December 2016, “the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency has been changed to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, with effect from the date of this announcement. The acronym SAMA remains unchanged. All existing agreements, obligations, and contracts under the previous name of SAMA will continue to remain in force.”

2020 Commemorative Issues

This 20-riyal banknote commemorates the Saudi presidency of the G20 summit held on 21 – 22 November 2020 in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia.
According to various new sources, India has reportedly complained to Saudi Arabia because the map on the back of the note “gives an incorrect depiction of India’s external territorial boundaries,” specifically the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, which were created after the special status of the region was scrapped by the government in August last year. Pakistan has also complained about the banknote because it depicts Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as part of the separate entity.

Description: 20.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 151 x 68 mm

Purple and olive green. Front: Arabic text; G20 logo; King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Back: English text; map of the world; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Windowed security thread with demetalized SAMA 20. Watermark: King Salman bin Abdulaziz, electrotype coat of arms and ٢٠, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 151 x 68 mm. Paper.

2020 Polymer Issues

This 5-riyal note is like the preceding issues, but printed on polymer.

Description: 5.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 145 x 66 mm

Purple. Front: Arabic text; Shaybah oil refinery in Rub’ al Khali; King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Back: English text; mountains and field of flowers; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Simulated windowed security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (De La Rue). 145 x 66 mm. Polymer.

Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority

According to a press release dated 4 December 2016, “the name of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency has been changed to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, with effect from the date of this announcement. The acronym SAMA remains unchanged. All existing agreements, obligations, and contracts under the previous name of SAMA will continue to remain in force.” For more information, visit www.sama.gov.sa.

2016 – 2017 Sixth Issues

According to an ArabNews article dated 1 June 2016, SAMA replaced the 1-riyal note with a coin.
Each note has a 9-digit serial number and the prefix A (999,999 notes per prefix).

Description: 5.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 145 x 66 mm

Purple. Front: Arabic text; Shaybah oil refinery in Rub’ al Khali; King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Back: English text; mountains and field of flowers; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Windowed security thread with demetalized SAMA5. Watermark: King Salman bin Abdulaziz, electrotype coat of arms and ٥, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 145 x 66 mm. Paper.

Description: 10.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 150 x 68 mm

Brown. Front: Arabic text; King Abdulaziz’s palace in Almoraba area; King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Back: English text; King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Windowed security thread with demetalized SAMA10. Watermark: King Salman bin Abdulaziz, electrotype coat of arms and ١٠, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 150 x 68 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 155 x 70 mm

Dark green. Front: Arabic text; denomination in SPARK; Al Sakhra Dome mosque; King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Back: English text; Al Aqsa mosque in Al Quds Al Shareef (Jerusalem); national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Holographic stripe. Motion windowed security thread with ٥٠and national emblem. Watermark: King Salman bin Abdulaziz, electrotype coat of arms and ٥٠, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 155 x 70 mm. Paper.

Description: 100.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 160 x 72 mm

Red. Front: Arabic text; denomination in SPARK; Green dome and minaret of Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque) in Medina; King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Back: English text; Al-Masjid al-Nabawi; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Holographic stripe. Motion windowed security thread with ١٠٠and national emblem. Watermark: King Salman bin Abdulaziz, electrotype coat of arms and ١٠٠, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 160 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 500.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 166 x 74 mm

Blue. Front: Arabic text; denomination in SPARK; Ka’aba (cube); King Abdul Aziz. Back: English text; Ka’aba (cube) in the courtyard of the Holy Mosque in Mecca; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Holographic stripe. Motion windowed security thread with ٥٠٠and national emblem. Watermark: King Abdul Aziz, electrotype coat of arms and ٥٠٠, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 166 x 74 mm. Paper.

Museum

The SAMA Money Museum is located in the SAMA Head Office Building at Almazar Street, Riyadh. For more information, write to vaults_issue@sama.gov.sa.

Outmoded Notes

Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency

On 22 October 1952, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) opened for business in Jeddah.
For more information, visit www.sama.gov.sa.

2007 – 2016 Fifth Issues

Each note has a 6-digit serial number and 3-digit numeric prefix (999,999 notes per prefix). The prefix on each denomination starts at 001, and the number advances consecutively over time. New signature varieties have prefixes that resume where the preceding varieties end.

Description: 1.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 133 x 63 mm

Light green. Front: Arabic text; front of 7th-century Amawi gold dinar, first Islamic coin; King Abdullah. Back: English text; SAMA headquarters building; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Windowed security thread with demetalized SAMA 1. Watermark: King Abdullah, electrotype 1, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 133 x 63 mm. Paper.

Description: 5.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 145 x 66 mm

Violet. Front: Arabic text; Ras Tanorah oil refinery; King Abdullah. Back: English text; Jubayl Port in eastern region; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Windowed security thread with demetalized SAMA 5. Watermark: King Abdullah, electrotype 5, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 145 x 66 mm. Paper.

Description: 10.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 150 x 68 mm

Brown. Front: Arabic text; King Abdulaziz’s palace in Almoraba area; King Abdullah. Back: English text; King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh with palm trees; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Windowed security thread with demetalized SAMA 10. Watermark: King Abdullah, electrotype 10, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 150 x 68 mm. Paper.

Description: 50.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 155 x 70 mm

Dark green. Front: Arabic text; Al Sakhra Dome mosque; King Abdullah. Back: English text; Al Aqsa mosque in Al Quds Al Shareef (Jerusalem); national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized 50 and Arabic text between wavy lines. Watermark: King Abdullah, electrotype 50, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 155 x 70 mm. Paper.

Description: 100.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 160 x 72 mm

Red. Front: Arabic text; green dome and minaret of Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque) in Medina; King Abdullah. Back: English text; Al-Masjid al-Nabawi; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized 100 and Arabic text between wavy lines. Watermark: King Abdullah, electrotype 100, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 160 x 72 mm. Paper.

Description: 500.00 SAR – Saudi Arabian Riyal Size: 166 x 74 mm

Blue. Front: Arabic text; Ka’aba (cube); King Abdul Aziz. Back: English text; Ka’aba (cube) in the courtyard of the Holy Mosque in Mecca; national emblem (two crossed swords with palm tree). Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread with demetalized 500 and Arabic text between wavy lines. Watermark: King Abdul Aziz, electrotype 500, and Cornerstones. Printer: (De La Rue). 166 x 74 mm. Paper.