SWIFT/BIC codes in Saudi Arabia

Bank SWIFT codes for Saudi Arabia

On this page you find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 75 banks in Saudi Arabia – 123 codes altogether. Each code identifies a bank or a specific branch or department, so a payment from abroad reaches the right place.

Each bank has its own page with the head office code and, where available, branch codes. Further down we explain how a code from Saudi Arabia is put together, how to send money there without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

What the letters in a Saudi Arabia BIC mean

Bank identifier codes use one international format: eight characters plus an optional three-character extension. First comes four letters for the bank, then two letters for the country and a two-character location code.

Whatever the bank, all Saudi Arabia codes share the same country code in positions five and six, namely the ISO code of Saudi Arabia. If those two letters do not match Saudi Arabia, the code belongs to a bank in another country.

The last three characters, if present, stand for a branch or department; XXX is used for the head office. In most cases the head office code is fine, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Saudi Arabia

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details. A wrong code may lead to a delay, a returned payment or extra fees, so compare it with the list on this page.

The directory on GoldexPay is based on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes and our data may lag behind. Treat our data as a reference, not as the final word. We are an independent comparison site for money transfers and not part of any bank listed here.

Watch out for invoices containing changed bank details, especially when they come by email. Before paying, verify changed details by phone, using a number you already had.

Receiving money in Saudi Arabia from abroad

A sender in another country needs several details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. In practice that means: your full name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and sometimes your address.

Find the bank in the list above. Some sending banks may also ask for the name and address of your bank, so keep it at hand.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate applies. On invoices, state how the fees are split, so nobody is left short.

Which bank in Saudi Arabia has the most codes?

Of the 75 banks in Saudi Arabia, Bank Al-Jazira has the largest number of codes. The head office uses BJAZSAJEXXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

The number of codes says something about how it organises its payments than about how big it is. Making a payment to Bank Al-Jazira? Go with BJAZSAJEXXX except when a specific branch code is requested.

Paying a bank in Saudi Arabia from abroad

Because Saudi Arabia does not belong to SEPA, an international payment normally goes as a SWIFT payment. That means the payment always needs the BIC of the receiving bank, together with the account number or IBAN.

Not every country uses IBAN numbers. The receiving bank usually provides instructions for incoming international payments, and it is worth following them to the letter. International transfers can pass through correspondent banks, each of which may deduct a fee.

Sending money to Saudi Arabia for less

When you send money to Saudi Arabia via your bank, the stated fee is only part of what you pay. You pay a transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks along the way and, above all, the exchange rate markup when currencies differ.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest cost item because it is hidden in the rate. An easy check: put the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For many currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer, mainly because of the rate. GoldexPay compares what recipients in Saudi Arabia receive across services.

Tracking a payment to Saudi Arabia

An international transfer to Saudi Arabia usually needs anywhere from one to several business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Bank holidays in either country can add a day or more, because banks do not process payments on those days.

When a payment takes longer than expected, the sender should contact their own bank. Keep your transfer receipt.