Can I open a Saudi bank account online through an app?

Yes, where your bank offers it: SAMA's rules for opening accounts remotely cover residents with an iqama and visitor ID holders, provided you don't already have an account at that bank.

What SAMA's remote-opening rules say

• Eligible customers are Saudi citizens, residents holding an iqama, and holders of a visitor ID.
• You can't open an account remotely at a bank where you already have one.
• The bank must verify your identity using documents, data or information from a reliable, independent source, and assess the account's risks.
• You provide the same details as for a branch account (ID, National Address, occupation, source of income and the account's purpose), except that the signature specimen can be taken when the account is activated.
• The bank must have a clear, secure way to activate the ATM card.

Before you start

1. Make sure your iqama is valid and your National Address is registered.
2. Have your salary details or employer letter to hand, since the form asks for your source of income.
3. Compare transfer fees if you plan to send money home.

Official sources

• SAMA Rulebook: Rules for Remote Opening of Bank Accounts
• SAMA Rulebook: Documents Required to Open a Bank Account

On Saudi Expats: the guide to opening a bank account and the remittance comparison tool.

Checked September 2026. Not every bank offers every account type online, so check what your bank's app supports.

Opened an account fully online? Share your experience below: which bank, and how long did activation take?