# Saudi Arabia — payment codes and schemes

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/SA
> extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

## Summary

- **Mada** is the national payment network (SAMA operated)
- **SAQR** is the QR code payment standard
- **79% electronic transactions** in retail (2024)
- **SAR 197.42 billion** e-commerce spending (2024)
- **Google Pay launched** September 2025

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
- **Website:** https://www.sama.gov.sa/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, Mada oversight, payment regulation

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | Al Rajhi Bank | Private (Islamic) | Al Rajhi Mobile |
| 2 | Saudi National Bank (SNB) | Private | SNB Mobile |
| 3 | Riyad Bank | Private | Riyad Bank App |
| 4 | Saudi British Bank (SABB) | Private | SABB Mobile |
| 5 | Banque Saudi Fransi | Private | BSF Mobile |

### Market Structure
- **Al Rajhi:** Largest Islamic bank globally
- **SNB:** Formed from NCB merger
- **Mada:** Connects all banks and merchants
- **17,000+ ATMs:** Nationwide coverage

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| Mada | SAMA | National debit | Active |
| SARIE | SAMA | RTGS | Active |
| Mada Pay | SAMA | Mobile payment | Active |
| SAQR | SAMA | QR standard | Active |

### Mada Network Statistics
- **17,000+ ATMs** nationwide
- **225,000+ POS terminals**
- **SAR 197.42 billion** e-commerce (2024)
- **1.12 billion** e-commerce transactions (2024)

### Mada Growth (2020-2024)

| Year | E-commerce Transactions |
|------|------------------------|
| 2020 | 170 million |
| 2024 | 1.12 billion |
| Growth | 559% |

---

## QR code standards

### SAQR (Saudi QR Code Standard)

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Regulator** | SAMA |
| **Status** | Active |
| **License** | SAMA-approved companies only |
| **Disclosure** | Specific obligations required |

### Mada Pay QR Features
- Direct bank account transfers
- Mobile number identification
- QR code scanning
- Account identifiers
- P2P payments

### Payment Methods

| Method | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| NFC (Contactless) | Mada Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay |
| QR Code | SAQR standard |
| Card Emulation | Traditional terminals |
| P2P | Mobile number/QR |

### Cross-Border QR (2026)

| Partner | Status |
|---------|--------|
| Alipay+ | Launching 2026 |

- SAMA and Ant International agreement
- Cross-border QR payments
- Mada-Alipay+ connectivity
- Local merchant digitization

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | Mada | NFC | QR |
|-----|----------|------|-----|-------|
| Mada Pay | SAMA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Pay | Apple | Yes | Yes | No |
| Samsung Pay | Samsung | Yes | Yes | No |
| Google Pay | Google | Yes | Yes | No |
| STC Pay | STC | Yes | Yes | Yes |

### Mada Pay Features
- Android only (currently)
- NFC contactless payments
- QR code scanning
- P2P transfers
- SAMA regulated

### Wallet Launches
- **Samsung Pay:** 2024
- **Google Pay:** September 15, 2025
- **JCB Cards:** 2025 integration
- **Apple Pay:** Already active

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Mada](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/SA/mada) | National debit | Card | Universal | [`mada`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/mada) |
| [SAQR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/SA/saqr) | QR standard | SAMA | Growing | [`saqr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/saqr) |
| [Mada Pay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/SA/mada-pay) | Mobile | NFC+QR | Android | [`mada`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/mada) |

## Sources

- [Wikipedia - Mada Network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Payments_Network)
- [SAMA - Mada Page](https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-us/payment/pages/mada-1.aspx)
- [SAMA Rulebook - Mada Identity](https://rulebook.sama.gov.sa/en/new-identity-saudi-payment-network-mada)
- [Giraffy - Mada Pay Guide](https://giraffy.com/ksa/en/learn/banking-money/digital-wallets/mada-pay-complete-guide)
- [Chambers - Fintech Saudi 2024](https://practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/fintech-2024/saudi-arabia)
- [MEA Finance - Alipay+ Saudi](https://mea-finance.com/alipay-to-launch-in-saudi-arabia-facilitating-cross-border-mobile-payments-for-local-merchants/)
- [Mordor Intelligence - Saudi Mobile](https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/saudi-arabia-mobile-payments-market)
- [WhiteSight - Saudi Digital Boom](https://whitesight.net/how-saudi-arabia-engineered-a-digital-payments-boom/)
- [Soul of Saudi - Google Pay](https://soulofsaudi.com/google-pay-saudi-arabia/)
- [Mubasher - Seamless KSA 2024](https://english.mubasher.info/news/4357017/Saudi-payments-sector-witnesses-remarkable-performance-Abanmi-at-Seamless-KSA-2024/)

## Full country report

[SA-saudi-arabia.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/SA)