Saudi Arabia Banknotes: History, Notable Notes & Collecting Guide
Saudi Arabia holds one of the most unusual origin stories in world paper money. Its first banknotes were not banknotes at all but Hajj pilgrim receipts, issued in the 1950s so the millions of pilgrims traveling to Mecca would not have to carry heavy silver coins. Those receipts became so trusted that they turned into the Kingdom's first real currency, and modern Saudi notes carry that same thread of faith, oil, and desert kingdom in their designs.
Saudi riyal (SAR) Hajj pilgrim receipts Holy-site designs Currency stability
Last updated: July 2026
The currency of Saudi Arabia is the Saudi riyal (ISO code SAR), divided into 100 halalas and issued by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA), now formally the Saudi Central Bank. What makes Saudi notes collectible is a currency story unlike almost any other: the Kingdom's first paper money was a Hajj pilgrim receipt, not a banknote, and that receipt was trusted into becoming real currency. Add designs built around Islam's holiest sites, the portrait of the founding king, and a riyal that has stayed remarkably stable while other regional currencies faltered, and Saudi Arabia offers a collector a distinctive slice of Middle East history in paper.
What is the Saudi riyal?
The Saudi riyal (SAR) is the official currency of Saudi Arabia, divided into 100 halalas and issued by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, the Kingdom's central bank.
SAMA was established in 1952, which makes it one of the oldest central banks in the Arab world. In 2020 it was renamed the Saudi Central Bank, but it kept the familiar SAMA acronym for its historical weight. Before SAMA, money in the Kingdom meant the silver riyal coin and foreign gold pieces, an economy that ran on metal rather than paper. That coin-based past is the key to understanding why Saudi paper money began in such an unusual way.
The riyal is also one of the region's most stable currencies. It has long been pegged to the US dollar, a rate SAMA has held at 3.75 riyals to the dollar since 1986. That stability sets Saudi Arabia apart from the hyperinflation stories that dominate so much of world numismatics. If you want to see the opposite end of the spectrum, our reference on every hyperinflation ranked shows how differently a currency can behave when confidence collapses.
How did Hajj pilgrim receipts become Saudi Arabia's first paper money?
Saudi Arabia's first paper money was not a banknote but a Hajj pilgrim receipt, first issued by SAMA in 1953 to spare pilgrims the burden of carrying silver coins.
Every year enormous numbers of pilgrims arrive in Mecca for the Hajj, and in the early 1950s they faced a practical problem. The Kingdom's currency was the heavy silver riyal, awkward to carry in quantity across long journeys. SAMA's answer was clever. Rather than issue banknotes outright into an economy built entirely on silver coin, it issued receipts that were exchangeable for silver riyals. The first, a 10 riyal receipt, appeared in 1953, followed by 5 and 1 riyal receipts in 1954 and 1956. They were printed in several of the languages pilgrims spoke, so travelers from across the Muslim world could read and trust them.
The receipts worked far better than anyone expected. Pilgrims and merchants found them so convenient and trustworthy that they began circulating as everyday money and largely replaced silver coins in major transactions. That success is what paved the way for the real thing: in 1961, SAMA issued Saudi Arabia's first official banknotes, in denominations from 1 to 100 riyals. The pilgrim receipts, having done their job of introducing paper money to the Kingdom, were withdrawn in 1965. This history is well documented, and it is exactly what makes an early receipt or a first-series note such a prize for a collector.
What makes Saudi Arabian banknotes collectible?
Saudi notes are collectible because they pair a one-of-a-kind origin, the Hajj pilgrim receipts, with striking designs built around Islam's holiest sites and the story of a modern desert kingdom.
The most historically important pieces are the earliest ones: a pilgrim receipt is a physical record of the moment a coin economy first accepted paper, and the 1961 first series is the founding chapter of the modern riyal. From there the designs become a tour of the Kingdom's identity, with the Kaaba and the Grand Mosque of Mecca, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, portraits of Saudi kings, and desert and oil imagery. The table below groups the notes a collector is most likely to meet, described in general terms rather than by catalog number, since cataloging and inventory vary.
| Series or era | Period | What is on it | Why collectors want it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hajj pilgrim receipts | 1953 to 1965 | Receipts for 1, 5, and 10 riyals, printed in several pilgrim languages | Saudi Arabia's first paper money and one of the most unusual currency origins anywhere. |
| First SAMA banknote series | 1961 | The Kingdom's first official banknotes, from 1 to 100 riyals | The founding series of the modern riyal, the step from receipt to true banknote. |
| King and holy-site issues | 1960s onward | Saudi kings with the Kaaba, the Grand Mosque of Mecca, and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina | The classic Saudi look, national and religious iconography together on one note. |
| Centenary commemoratives | Issued 1999 | 20 and 200 riyal notes marking the Kingdom's centenary | A milestone issue tied to a specific national anniversary, popular with theme collectors. |
| G20 commemorative | 2020 | A 20 riyal note with King Salman and the G20 logo, a world map on the back | A modern commemorative marking the summit Saudi Arabia hosted in Riyadh. |
| Current series | Under King Salman | Notes from 5 to 500 riyals, with King Abdulaziz and the Kaaba on the 500 riyal | The current face of the riyal, and the highest circulating denomination. |
Because many modern Saudi notes were saved rather than spent, a good number survive in Uncirculated condition. Uncirculated (UNC) is the top of the letter-grade ladder that runs UNC, AU, XF, VF, F, VG, G, and it means a note was never folded or handled in commerce. Early pilgrim receipts are far scarcer and harder to find crisp, which is part of their appeal. To understand how condition is judged and what the numbers on a certified holder mean, see our banknote grading guide.
How do you start collecting Saudi Arabian notes?
Start with one note where the story or the design is the draw, a holy-site note or a commemorative issue in Uncirculated condition, from a source-first dealer.
A good first purchase is a note that shows what makes Saudi Arabia distinctive on the paper itself. A modern note featuring the Kaaba or the Grand Mosque of Mecca is the clearest example, and a commemorative such as the G20 or centenary issue adds a dated event you can point to. From there many collectors build toward a small type set: one holy-site note, one commemorative, and, budget allowing, an early piece that reaches back toward the pilgrim-receipt era. Because so many modern issues are affordable and available in top grade, condition is rarely the limiting factor, so you can focus on clean, well-centered examples. For a full walkthrough of choosing a focus, budgeting, and buying safely, read how to start collecting world banknotes. If you want the strongest guarantee of condition, look for examples already certified by PMG or PCGS in our graded banknotes.
Where can you buy Saudi Arabian banknotes?
Buy from a dealer that documents where its notes come from and stands behind them. Planet Banknote stocks Saudi Arabian notes across the eras described above, sourced direct and inspected in-house rather than resold from anonymous lots. Rather than quote collector prices that shift with inventory, we point you to the live listings.
Every note Planet Banknote sells passes our Planet Banknote Verified inspection and ships with a free Certificate of Authenticity, so your purchase is tied to a named, reachable business. If you are new to buying world paper money, our guide on how to start collecting world banknotes covers vetting a dealer and reading a listing with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
What currency does Saudi Arabia use?
Saudi Arabia's official currency is the Saudi riyal (ISO code SAR), divided into 100 halalas and issued by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA), which was renamed the Saudi Central Bank in 2020 while keeping the SAMA acronym. The riyal is one of the most stable currencies in the region and has long been pegged to the US dollar, a rate SAMA has held at 3.75 riyals to the dollar since 1986, so Saudi Arabia is a currency-stability story rather than a hyperinflation one.
What are Hajj pilgrim receipts?
Hajj pilgrim receipts were Saudi Arabia's first paper money, first issued by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority in 1953. They were technically receipts exchangeable for silver riyals rather than banknotes, created so the huge numbers of pilgrims arriving for the Hajj would not have to carry heavy silver coins. Printed in several languages for international pilgrims, they became so trusted that they circulated as everyday money and largely replaced silver coins, which paved the way for Saudi Arabia's first official banknotes in 1961.
What is the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority?
The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) is Saudi Arabia's central bank, established in 1952 and one of the oldest central banks in the Arab world. It issued the Kingdom's Hajj pilgrim receipts in the 1950s and its first official banknotes in 1961. In 2020 it was renamed the Saudi Central Bank, but it kept the historic SAMA acronym.
What images appear on Saudi riyal banknotes?
Modern Saudi riyal notes feature portraits of Saudi kings alongside the Kingdom's most important religious and national landmarks, including the Kaaba and the Grand Mosque of Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, together with desert and oil imagery. The 500 riyal, the highest circulating denomination, carries a portrait of King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of the Kingdom, and the Kaaba. Saudi Arabia has also issued commemorative notes marking milestones such as the Kingdom's centenary and its G20 presidency in 2020.
Are Saudi Arabian banknotes a good place to start collecting?
Yes. Saudi notes combine an unusual origin story, the Hajj pilgrim receipts, with striking designs built around Islam's holiest sites, and many modern issues are affordable and available in crisp Uncirculated condition. A good first purchase is a note where the history or the imagery is the draw, such as a holy-site note or a commemorative issue, bought from a source-first dealer that documents where its notes come from.
Planet Banknote is a family-owned dealership in Sarasota, Florida, founded in 2021. Every note is sourced direct from mints, central banks, and authorized distributors, inspected through our Planet Banknote Verified process, and ships with a free Certificate of Authenticity. US orders ship free via USPS Priority, and every order includes a free bonus gift.