Currency Exchange & Money Guide for Hac & Umre Pilgrims

The Saudi Riyal (SAR), sometimes written as SR, is the official currency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. One of its most important features for travelers is that it has been pegged to the US Dollar at a fixed rate of approximately 3.75 SAR to 1 USD since 1986, making exchange rate calculations straightforward and predictable. The riyal is divided into 100 halalas, though halala coins are rarely used in practice. Banknotes come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 riyals, with the 500 riyal note being relatively uncommon. For everyday haci expenses, the most useful denominations are 5, 10, and 50 riyal notes. Coins exist in 1 and 2 riyal denominations and are commonly received as change. When exchanging money, it is helpful to request a mix of smaller denominations, as some small vendors and taxi drivers may not have change for 100 or 500 riyal notes. Understanding the basic conversion to your home currency before arriving will help you quickly assess whether prices are reasonable.

Currency exchange services are widely available throughout Mekke, Medine, and at the airports. At Jeddah and Medine airports, exchange counters operated by major Saudi banks such as Al Rajhi, NCB (SNB), and Al Bilad are located in the arrivals halls and operate extended hours. Airport exchange rates are typically slightly less favorable than city rates, but the convenience makes it worth exchanging a small amount (500 to 1,000 SAR) upon arrival for immediate transport and meal expenses. In the cities, licensed money exchange houses (known as 'sarafah') are abundant in the areas surrounding the Haram in both Mekke and Medine. Popular and reputable exchange chains include Al Rajhi Exchange, Enjaz (by Bank Al Bilad), and Western Union-affiliated offices. These money changers typically offer better rates than airport counters and are open from early morning until late at night, with some operating 24 hours during Hac season. Competition among exchangers in the Haram area means rates are generally fair, but it is still advisable to compare rates at 2 to 3 locations before exchanging large amounts. Always count your money carefully before leaving the counter and obtain a receipt.

ATMs are plentiful in Mekke and Medine, with numerous machines located within walking distance of both Harams. Major banks including Al Rajhi Bank, Saudi National Bank (SNB, formerly NCB), Riyad Bank, and Al Bilad Bank operate ATMs throughout the commercial districts surrounding the holy camis. Most international debit and credit cards on the Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay networks are accepted at Saudi ATMs. ATM withdrawals typically dispense Saudi Riyals in 100 and 500 riyal denominations. Be aware of fees: your home bank may charge an international withdrawal fee (typically 2 to 5 USD per transaction), and the Saudi ATM operator may charge an additional fee of 7 to 15 SAR per foreign card transaction. To minimize fees, withdraw larger amounts less frequently rather than making many small withdrawals. Daily withdrawal limits vary by bank but are typically 3,000 to 5,000 SAR per transaction and up to 10,000 SAR per day. Notify your home bank of your travel dates to Saudi Arabia before departing to prevent your card from being blocked for suspicious foreign transactions. The Mada card system is Saudi Arabia's domestic debit card network, and while it is primarily for Saudi residents, understanding that vendors displaying the Mada logo accept electronic payment is useful.

Credit and debit card acceptance in Saudi Arabia has expanded dramatically in recent years, particularly in Mekke and Medine's commercial areas. All major hotels, shopping malls, large restaurants, and chain stores accept Visa and Mastercard, and increasingly American Express and UnionPay as well. Contactless payments via NFC (tap-to-pay) are widely supported, and Apple Pay and Google Pay work at most point-of-sale terminals in larger establishments. However, many smaller shops, street vendors, traditional markets (souqs), small restaurants, and taxi drivers still operate primarily on cash. During Hac, when hacilar spend time in Mina's tented areas and at Arafat, cash is essentially the only payment method accepted by the small vendors selling food, drinks, and supplies. For this reason, hacilar should always carry a reasonable amount of cash even if they primarily use cards. Saudi Arabia has also adopted the STCPay, URPay, and other mobile wallet services, but these typically require a Saudi bank account or Saudi-issued card to set up, making them impractical for visiting hacilar. When using credit cards, be aware that some banks charge foreign transaction fees of 1 to 3 percent on purchases made outside your home country.

The amount of cash you need depends on the length of your trip, whether your package includes meals and transport, and your personal spending habits. As a general guideline, a haci on a standard Hac or Umre package that includes accommodation, meals, and group transport should carry approximately 1,000 to 3,000 SAR (270 to 800 USD) in cash for incidental expenses over a 2 to 3 week trip. These incidental expenses typically include snacks and drinks outside of provided meals (10 to 50 SAR per day), local taxi rides (20 to 100 SAR per trip), small purchases from vendors near the Haram (namaz beads, ihram cloth replacements, umbrellas, zamzam water containers), telephone top-ups, and gifts or souvenirs. For hacilar on budget or self-arranged trips without meal packages, daily food expenses of 50 to 150 SAR should be budgeted. It is advisable to split your cash between your hotel safe and your person — carry only what you need for the day. A money belt worn under your ihram is a practical way to keep cash secure during tavaf and sa'i, as pickpocketing, while not extremely common, does occur in very crowded conditions around the Haram.

Tipping in Saudi Arabia is appreciated but not strictly farz in most situations. In restaurants, a service charge of 15 percent is often included in the bill, but leaving an additional 5 to 10 percent for good service is a welcome gesture. For hotel staff such as porters and housekeeping, tipping 5 to 10 SAR per service is customary. Taxi and ride-hailing drivers do not expect tips, but rounding up the fare is common — for example, paying 30 SAR for a 27 SAR ride. For your Mutawwif (Hac guide) and bus drivers who assist your group throughout the Hac journey, a tip at the end of the hac ibadeti is a long-standing tradition; 50 to 200 SAR per haci is a common range depending on the quality of service and your means. Barbers who shave or trim your hair after completing Umre or Hac are typically paid 10 to 30 SAR. Bargaining is expected and appropriate in the souqs and with street vendors, where initial asking prices are often inflated by 30 to 50 percent. However, bargaining is not appropriate in fixed-price shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, or restaurants. When bargaining in the souq, start at about 50 to 60 percent of the asking price and negotiate from there, always remaining polite and good-humored.