What documents do I need to open a bank account in Saudi Arabia as an expat?

Once you have a valid iqama, a Saudi bank can open an account for you: the Saudi Central Bank's (SAMA) rules ask the bank to take a copy of your iqama and record both your Saudi address and your home-country address.

What to bring and expect

• Your iqama. SAMA's account form also records your nationality, ID number and expiry date, National Address, occupation and contact details.
• Details of your income: the form asks for your source of income, the expected activity on the account and why you're opening it. A salary letter from your employer makes this easy to show.
• A signature specimen: a signature, thumbprint or personal stamp.

Before your iqama is issued

• SAMA's rules cover expatriates on a 90-day temporary work visa: the account is opened only on an official request from the employer, is limited to an ATM card and transfers, and is frozen after 90 days if the iqama isn't submitted.
• In the first three months before the iqama is issued, transfers and cheques are capped at SAR 10,000 (limits for professionals can reflect their salary).

Digital iqama and opening online

• SAMA's remote account-opening rules include iqama holders, so you may be able to open an account in a bank's app. They don't apply if you already have an account at the same bank.
• If you go to a branch, ask beforehand whether it accepts the digital Muqeem ID from the Absher app or needs the physical card.

Choosing a bank

The right bank depends on how you'll use it, so compare transfer fees and exchange rates if you send money home, card fees, and the app. SAMA requires remittance centres to display prices, commissions and fees clearly.

Official sources

• SAMA Rulebook: Expatriates and Visitors in Saudi Arabia
• SAMA Rulebook: Documents Required to Open a Bank Account
• SAMA Rulebook: Rules for Remote Opening of Bank Accounts
• SAMA Rulebook: Remittance Centers, Disclosure and Transparency

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

Checked September 2026. Each bank applies SAMA's rules through its own process, so exact requirements can vary.

Which bank did you choose, and how long did opening take? Share your experience below to help the next newcomer.