Last updated: 9 November 2026
Related rates: All SAR rates · SAR to PKR · SAR to PHP · SAR to EGP · SAR to BDT · SAR to NPR · SAR to USD · Gold rate today · All expat tools
Sending money to India? Compare transfer fees and the amount received in our best money transfer services in Saudi Arabia guide.
Flying home with gold? See how much gold you can carry from Saudi Arabia to India duty-free, and the customs duty rates for 2026.
SAR to INR Conversion Table (Today)
How many Indian rupees you get for common amounts at today’s market rate. Use it to check a quote from your bank or app before you send money to India.
| Saudi riyal (SAR) | INR at market rate |
|---|---|
| 1 SAR | 25.14 INR |
| 10 SAR | 251.44 INR |
| 50 SAR | 1,257.20 INR |
| 100 SAR | 2,514.39 INR |
| 200 SAR | 5,028.78 INR |
| 500 SAR | 12,571.95 INR |
| 1,000 SAR | 25,143.90 INR |
| 1,500 SAR | 37,715.85 INR |
| 2,000 SAR | 50,287.80 INR |
| 3,000 SAR | 75,431.70 INR |
| 5,000 SAR | 125,719.50 INR |
| 10,000 SAR | 251,439.00 INR |
If you are one of the more than two million Indian expats working in Saudi Arabia, today’s SAR to INR rate directly affects how much your family receives every time you send money home. The live rate above shows the current Saudi Riyal to Indian Rupee exchange rate, updated daily from international forex markets. Use it as your benchmark before visiting any exchange house, using Al Rajhi Bank, or transferring through an app.
What Is the SAR to INR Rate Today?
The rate shown above is the open market mid-rate — the international benchmark used by forex traders and financial institutions worldwide. This is the baseline before any provider adds their margin. Exchange houses in Saudi Arabia, banks, and remittance apps all buy currency close to this rate and sell it to you at a slightly lower rate — that difference is their profit.
Based on real expat experience sending money from Saudi Arabia to India, the rate you receive at the counter is typically 1% to 3% below the market rate shown here. On a 1,000 SAR transfer at a 2% margin, that is approximately 500 INR lost to the provider’s spread. Knowing the benchmark rate before you transfer changes the conversation entirely — you can compare providers, negotiate, or choose a better service.
How Is the SAR to INR Rate Calculated?
The Saudi Riyal is pegged to the US Dollar at a fixed rate of 3.75 SAR per 1 USD by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) — a peg that has been in place since 1986 and is one of the most stable currency arrangements in the world. The SAR therefore never fluctuates against the dollar.
The Indian Rupee, however, floats freely against the dollar on international currency markets. This means the SAR to INR rate changes every day — sometimes significantly — based entirely on what the Rupee is doing against the USD. When the Rupee weakens against the dollar, you get more INR per SAR. When it strengthens, you get less.
Key insight for Indian expats in Saudi Arabia: The SAR never moves. The Rupee does. Tracking the Rupee is what tells you whether today is a good day to send money home.
Saudi Riyal to Indian Rupee Today in Al Rajhi: Where to See the Rate
Al Rajhi Bank does not publish a public SAR to INR rate. As of 9 November 2026, its website, the Tahweel alrajhi page and its offers page show no daily rupee rate. Al Rajhi sets the rate for each transfer and shows it inside its own channels at the moment you send, so the real “Al Rajhi rate today” is the one on your own transfer screen. Any website that shows a fixed “Al Rajhi INR rate” is guessing.
How to see Al Rajhi’s rupee rate in the app:
- Log in to the al rajhi bank app and open international transfers (Tahweel alrajhi).
- Choose your Indian beneficiary, or add one. Al Rajhi’s fee schedule lists beneficiary registration as free.
- Type the amount in riyals. Before you confirm, the app shows the exchange rate, the fee and the rupees your family will receive.
- Divide the rupees shown by everything you pay (amount plus fee plus 15% VAT). Compare that figure with the live market rate at the top of this page. The smaller the gap, the better the deal.
Other Al Rajhi channels: Tahweel alrajhi also sends money abroad through the urpay wallet app, Al Rajhi ATMs (24 hours a day), POS remittance points and Tahweel alrajhi centres, which Al Rajhi says number more than 135, plus access through 520 Al Rajhi branches. The rate and fee appear on the screen or receipt before you pay, and they can differ between channels, so check the one you actually use.
Al Rajhi’s official transfer fee: the bank’s Products and Services Fees schedule (effective 20 February 2026) lists a maximum fee of SAR 50 electronically and SAR 75 at a branch for an outbound international transfer, plus 15% VAT. Changing or cancelling an international transfer costs up to SAR 15 electronically or SAR 25 at a branch. Al Rajhi sometimes runs India offers (one in May 2026 advertised transfers to India for SAR 5), but no India offer was listed on its offers page on 9 November 2026. The fee on your confirmation screen is the one that applies.
Many Indian expats in Saudi Arabia keep Al Rajhi for their salary and still compare it before a big transfer. Our guide to the best money transfer services in Saudi Arabia puts Tahweel alrajhi side by side with STC Bank, barq and Enjaz, and if you are still choosing a salary account, see the best bank in Saudi Arabia for expats.
SAR to INR in STC Pay and Other Apps
Other banks and apps work the same way as Al Rajhi: each sets its own rate several times a day and shows it only inside the app, just before you confirm. Here is how to see it in seconds:
- Al Rajhi Bank: follow the app steps in the section above.
- STC Pay: open the app, choose international transfer to India and enter the amount. The rate and fee appear on the summary screen before you pay.
- Compare with the table above: divide the rupees offered by the riyals you are sending. The closer that figure is to the market rate on this page, the better the deal.
Why is the app rate lower than Google’s? Google and this page show the market rate, the rate banks trade at between themselves. Every provider adds a margin on top, usually around 0.5% to 2%. On SAR 1,000 at a rate near 25, each 1% of margin costs your family about 250 rupees, so it is worth checking two providers for larger transfers.
Best Ways to Send SAR to India from Saudi Arabia
Based on real expat experience transferring money from Saudi Arabia to India across multiple providers, here is how the main options compare:
| Provider | Exchange Rate | Transfer Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Rajhi Bank | 1–2% below market | Same day | Trusted, widely used |
| STC Pay | 0.5–1.5% below | Minutes | Quick smaller transfers |
| Wise | 0.3–0.7% below | 1–2 days | Best rate on larger amounts |
| Western Union KSA | 2–3% below market | Same day | Cash pickup in India |
| Saudi Banks (SWIFT) | 3–4% below market | 2–3 days | Large official transfers |
For most Indian expats in Saudi Arabia sending regular monthly remittances, Wise consistently offers the closest rate to the mid-market benchmark — particularly for transfers above SAR 1,000. STC Pay is the fastest option for urgent smaller transfers. Al Rajhi Bank remains the most popular overall choice due to its widespread availability across the Kingdom and strong coverage of Indian bank accounts through NEFT and RTGS.
The real cost of any transfer is always the exchange rate margin combined with the flat fee. A provider offering a slightly better rate but charging SAR 30 can cost more overall than one with a modest margin and no fee — especially on smaller transfer amounts. Always calculate the total INR your recipient will receive, not just the headline rate.
When Is the Best Time to Send Money from Saudi Arabia to India?
Several factors cause the SAR to INR rate to shift, and many experienced Indian expats in Saudi Arabia track these to time their transfers strategically:
RBI (Reserve Bank of India) policy decisions are the most direct driver of the Rupee’s strength. When the RBI raises interest rates, the Rupee typically strengthens — meaning you get fewer INR per SAR. Rate cuts or dovish signals weaken the Rupee, giving you more INR per transfer. RBI meetings are scheduled events published well in advance and are worth tracking if you send large amounts regularly.
Indian inflation data affects the Rupee significantly. Higher-than-expected inflation in India typically weakens the Rupee because it signals economic stress or the likelihood of rate adjustments. This often gives Indian expats in Saudi Arabia a brief window of better SAR to INR rates following the data release.
US Federal Reserve decisions matter even though they seem unrelated to India or Saudi Arabia. Since the SAR is pegged to the USD, anything that strengthens the dollar also indirectly strengthens the SAR against the Rupee. US Fed rate hikes therefore tend to improve the SAR to INR rate for senders in Saudi Arabia.
Seasonal remittance demand affects rates noticeably before Eid ul Fitr, Eid ul Adha, and Diwali. Remittance volumes from Saudi Arabia to India spike sharply during these periods. This increased demand can slightly compress the rate for a few days around the peak. Sending a week before the Eid rush often secures a marginally better rate than sending on the day itself.
How Much Does It Cost to Send SAR to India?
Beyond the exchange rate margin, providers charge transaction fees that vary widely. Here is what Indian expats in Saudi Arabia typically pay per transfer:
- Al Rajhi Bank: up to SAR 50 online or SAR 75 at a branch for an international transfer, before 15% VAT, under its published fee schedule; the app shows your exact fee before you confirm
- STC Bank (formerly STC Pay): SAR 15 per Western Union transfer to India, before 15% VAT (see the STC Bank international transfer fee list)
- Wise: Small percentage fee of 0.4% to 0.8% with no hidden margin on the exchange rate
- Western Union KSA: SAR 15 to SAR 25 flat fee depending on delivery method
- Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB): SAR 15 to SAR 40 per transfer excluding VAT
Always calculate the total INR received after all fees are deducted rather than comparing headline rates alone. On a SAR 500 transfer, a SAR 25 flat fee represents a 5% cost even before the rate margin — making small transfers through fee-charging providers expensive.
NRE or NRO: Which Indian Account Should Receive Your Riyals?
Most Indians working in Saudi Arabia count as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), which the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) defines as citizens of India who are resident outside India. That status decides which type of account your salary transfers should land in, and the choice affects tax and how easily you can move the money later.
- NRE account: a rupee account funded with money sent from abroad. RBI lists it as fully repatriable, and the interest earned is exempt from income tax in India. This is the natural home for savings from your Saudi salary.
- NRO account: meant for income that arises in India, such as rent, pension or dividends. Its interest is taxable, and balances beyond current income can be sent abroad only up to USD 1 million per financial year (April to March), together with your other eligible assets.
- FCNR(B) account: a term deposit held in a freely convertible foreign currency for 1 to 5 years. It suits Indians who would rather keep dollars than convert at today’s SAR to INR rate.
Both NRE and NRO accounts can be held jointly with a resident relative on a “former or survivor” basis. When you return to India for good, RBI rules let you redesignate the NRE account as a resident account or move the funds into a Resident Foreign Currency (RFC) account.
Where the Liberalised Remittance Scheme Fits In
The Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) appears often in Indian money news, but it governs money that residents of India send out of the country. Transfers you make from Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam into India are inward remittances, so they are not counted against anyone’s LRS limit. LRS matters only in the opposite direction: RBI allows a resident relative’s rupee gift or loan to you, within LRS limits, to be credited to your NRO account.
Worked Example: Divide by Everything You Paid
For easy maths, assume the market rate above is 23.60 rupees per riyal and you are sending SAR 3,000 for a family expense.
- Bank app: quotes 23.70 and adds a SAR 15 fee plus 15% VAT, so you pay SAR 3,017.25 and your family receives INR 71,100. The real rate is 71,100 divided by 3,017.25, about 23.56.
- Exchange counter: quotes 23.50 with no fee, so you pay SAR 3,000 and your family receives INR 70,500. The real rate is 23.50.
- Result: the app wins by about 0.06 rupees per riyal, but only because the transfer is large. On SAR 300 the same fee would cost more than the rate advantage.
Rerun this sum whenever a provider changes its fee. Compare your answer with the benchmark on our SAR exchange rates page, and see how much Indians and other expats sent home last year in our report on record GCC remittances in 2025.
If a Transfer to India Goes Wrong
Keep the transaction reference and the UTR number your family’s Indian bank shows on the credit. If the riyals have left your Saudi account but the rupees have not arrived, raise a complaint with the Saudi bank or app that sent it. When that route fails, the Saudi Central Bank’s consumer protection department accepts complaints through SAMA Cares and on 8001256666.
SAR to INR: Frequently Asked Questions
Is interest on my NRE account taxed in India?
No. RBI lists income earned on NRE balances as exempt from Indian income tax. Interest on an NRO account is taxable.
Can I move money from my NRO account to my NRE account?
Yes, but RBI counts that transfer within the USD 1 million per financial year limit that applies to NRO balances.
Can an NRE account be joint with a relative living in India?
Yes. RBI allows an NRE account to be held jointly with a resident relative on a “former or survivor” basis, as well as with other NRIs.
Why does the SAR to INR rate change every day?
The Saudi Riyal is pegged to the USD at 3.75 and never changes against the dollar. The Indian Rupee floats freely on international currency markets.As the Rupee strengthens or weakens against the dollar, the SAR to INR rate moves accordingly — sometimes by a meaningful amount within a single trading day.
Which is the best way to send SAR to India from Saudi Arabia?
Wise consistently offers rates closest to the mid-market benchmark, particularly for transfers above SAR 1,000. For speed and convenience, STC Pay and Al Rajhi Bank are the most widely used by Indian expats in Saudi Arabia.
Is there a limit on how much money Indian expats can send from Saudi Arabia to India?
Saudi Arabia does not impose a personal remittance limit for expatriates with a valid iqama. Individual banks and exchange houses may have their own per-transaction limits. There is no upper limit for transfers into an NRE account in India, and repatriation from NRE accounts is unrestricted.
Does the SAR to INR rate change on weekends?
Forex markets are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, so the rate shown on weekends reflects Friday’s closing price. Exchange houses may apply minor weekend rate adjustments. Live fluctuation resumes from Monday morning when Asian forex markets open.
What is the Saudi riyal to Indian rupee rate today in Al Rajhi?
Al Rajhi Bank does not publish a public rupee rate. It shows its rate for each transfer in the al rajhi bank app, urpay, Al Rajhi ATMs and Tahweel alrajhi centres just before you confirm, together with the fee and the rupees your family will receive. Compare that rate with the live market rate on this page. Al Rajhi’s fee schedule lists a maximum of SAR 50 online or SAR 75 at a branch for an international transfer, plus 15% VAT.