Opening a Saudi bank account.
Once your iqama is issued and you have started receiving salary, opening a bank account is straightforward. Your employer will usually have a preferred bank where your salary is paid, but you are free to open accounts with others.
The major banks Pakistani professionals tend to use are Saudi National Bank (SNB), Al Rajhi Bank, Riyad Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), and the digital-first STC Bank and Mobily Pay. Each has its own strengths. Al Rajhi has the widest branch network. SNB and SAB are strong for salaried professionals. STC Bank is fully digital and excellent for remittances.
To open an account, you typically need: a valid iqama, your passport, a salary letter from your employer (most banks call this a No Objection Certificate or salary certificate), and a Saudi mobile number. Most banks complete setup in 15 to 30 minutes at a branch. STC Bank and other digital-first banks let you do the entire process from your phone.
mada and your debit card.
mada is Saudi Arabia's national debit card network. Almost every card issued by a Saudi bank runs on mada by default, with Visa or Mastercard as a co-brand for international use. mada works at every shop, restaurant and ATM in the Kingdom, and is the lowest-cost option for domestic spending.
Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay all work with mada cards in Saudi Arabia. Setting them up is worth the few minutes it takes, you will rarely pull out a physical card again.
Sending money to Pakistan.
Remittances are the most common money question Pakistani professionals have, and the option you choose makes a real difference over time. The main routes are:
- Bank transfer through your Saudi bank. Every major bank offers remittances to Pakistan via apps like SNB Sadad, Al Rajhi Tahweel, and others. Rates are reasonable, transfers are fast, and the funds land in the recipient's Pakistani bank account or as a cash pickup at agents like Western Union or MoneyGram.
- STC Bank and Mobily Pay. Both offer competitive rates for transfers to Pakistan, with the convenience of mobile-only flows. STC Pay's QuickRemit feature is widely used.
- Exchange houses. Al Mulla, Enjaz, Alawwal Exchange and others have physical branches across the Kingdom. Useful if you prefer cash transactions or send to recipients without a bank account.
- Wise, Remitly, and other digital services. Increasingly popular for Saudi-to-Pakistan transfers. Compare rates and fees carefully, sometimes a Saudi-bank remittance is cheaper, sometimes Wise is.
Always check the all-in cost, not just the exchange rate. A bank may offer a better rate but charge a higher fixed fee. For small transfers, fees matter more; for large ones, the rate matters more.
Salary deposits and SWIFT.
Your monthly salary will be deposited directly into your Saudi bank account by your employer through the WPS (Wage Protection System). This is mandatory. If salary is paid late or in cash without WPS records, raise it immediately, this is a labour law violation.
For incoming international transfers, your Saudi bank can give you a SWIFT/BIC code and IBAN. Your Saudi IBAN starts with SA and is 24 characters.
Credit cards.
Saudi credit cards typically require six months of salary history. Once eligible, most banks offer cards with cashback, airline miles, or supermarket rewards. Be aware that under Islamic banking principles, some cards are structured as commodity-based murabaha rather than conventional interest, which changes how repayment works. Read the terms.
Saving and investment.
Saudi banks offer various deposit accounts and Sharia-compliant investment products. Many Pakistani professionals also save with Pakistan-based instruments like Roshan Digital Accounts, which allow overseas Pakistanis to invest in Pakistani savings certificates, real estate and stocks while in Saudi Arabia. Worth exploring if you plan to repatriate funds eventually.
Banking products, fees and rates change. This guide reflects community knowledge as of June 2026. Always verify with the bank directly before making decisions. This is not financial advice.