Bank sales of foreign currency in Saudi Arabia decreased by 2.4% in April 2026 compared to March 2026, reaching 300.500 billion riyals in April, down from 307.901 billion riyals in March.
The monthly statistical bulletin from the Saudi Central Bank reported that Saudi bank sales in the “import financing” sector amounted to 6.953 billion riyals in April 2026, compared to 6.098 billion riyals in March 2026. In the “foreign contractors” sector, sales reached 11.681 billion riyals in April 2026, versus 13.510 billion riyals in March 2026. In the “personal transfers” sector, sales totaled 20.149 billion riyals in April 2026, compared to 22.092 billion riyals in March 2026. In the “travel abroad” sector, sales were 39 million riyals in April 2026, down from 41 million riyals in March 2026. In the “foreign investments” sector, sales amounted to 8 million riyals in April 2026, compared to 40 million riyals in March 2026.
The bulletin also indicated that Saudi bank sales in the “government entities” sector reached 311 million riyals in April 2026, compared to 305 million riyals in March 2026. In the “central bank” sector, sales were 10.446 billion riyals in April 2026, versus 13.507 billion riyals in March 2026. In the “ministries and municipalities” sector, sales were 12 million riyals in April 2026, compared to 15 million riyals in March 2026. In the “other customers within the kingdom” sector, sales amounted to 87.383 billion riyals in April 2026, compared to 75.120 billion riyals in March 2026. In the “banks within the kingdom” sector, sales reached 15.705 billion riyals in April 2026, down from 21.671 billion riyals in March 2026. In the “banks outside the kingdom” sector, sales totaled 147.811 billion riyals in April 2026, compared to 155.498 billion riyals in March 2026.
The bulletin confirmed that bank sales of foreign currency in Saudi Arabia rose by 34.3% year-on-year, reaching 300.500 billion riyals in April 2026, compared to 307.901 billion riyals in April 2025.
