Saudi Riyal Symbol Explained For Travellers From The UAE

Traveling to Saudi Arabia? Learn all about the saudi riyal currency symbol and how to use it effectively during your trip from the UAE in our blog.

Send Money
Saudi Riyal Symbol Explained For Travellers From The UAE

Traveling to Saudi Arabia? Learn all about the saudi riyal currency symbol and how to use it effectively during your trip from the UAE in our blog.

Send Money

Key Highlights

  • The saudi riyal is the official currency of Saudi Arabia. The currency symbol for this money is ﷼.

  • People from the UAE will often see “SAR” as the currency code in prices, receipts, and exchange rate lists.

  • The saudi riyal symbol is important when you pay at shops, hotels, and for transport during your day.

  • A new saudi riyal symbol is now in use to fit better for digital needs.

  • Using Unicode and the right fonts means you can type or show the currency symbol the right way.

  • When you use a clear symbol, it helps with your travel plans and with business papers.

Introduction

If you are going from the UAE to Saudi Arabia, you should know the basics of the saudi riyal before you arrive. The saudi riyal is the official currency of saudi arabia. You will see the currency symbol in shops, at exchange counters, on invoices, and on banking screens. If you know how the symbol looks, it can make your payments easier. It can also cut down on confusion and help you read prices better while you are there.

Overview of the Saudi Riyal Symbol for UAE Travellers

For people from the UAE who plan to visit, the first thing to know is that the currency of Saudi Arabia is the saudi riyal. The saudi riyal symbol is ﷼. You will see this currency symbol in many places. There is also a code for the currency called SAR. People use the currency code on exchange rate websites, in banking, and for booking travel.

So, the official currency can show up in two ways. On banknotes and prices in shops, you may find the riyal symbol. In digital places like online banking, you may see SAR as the currency code. If you learn both the saudi riyal symbol and SAR, you will have a good idea of how money works in Saudi Arabia. This will help you use the saudi riyal with confidence when you are in Saudi Arabia.

Understanding the SAR Symbol in Everyday Transactions

In Saudi Arabia, you will see the saudi riyal symbol or the code SAR in many daily payments. Both show you the same official currency used there. If you look at a menu, pay for a taxi, or check a hotel bill, knowing these signs will help you not get confused about the amount.

The official currency symbol for the saudi riyal is ﷼. This is the riyal symbol, and you can spot it in many places. SAR stands for the saudi riyal and is the three-letter currency code. You will find SAR in banks, exchange rate boards, and online money systems. You may see the saudi riyal symbol, SAR, or both, based on where you look.

If you are travelling and you see a price with SAR or the saudi riyal symbol, it means the cost is in the official currency. Once you know this, making card payments, dealing with cash, and comparing prices will be easy right from your first day.

Importance of Recognising the Saudi Riyal Symbol While Travelling

When you travel, paying attention to small things can save you time. Knowing the saudi riyal currency symbol helps you spot the currency of saudi arabia in shops, airports, and places like restaurants and booking slips. It is useful in commercial transactions when you need to compare prices or check your change.

You will need this tip for basic papers too. In receipts, travel expenses, or simple work documents, it is best to show saudi riyal currency clearly. You can use the currency symbol or put the currency code SAR next to the numbers.

  • It helps you see prices fast in daily spending.

  • It clears up mix-ups between local cash and exchange values.

  • It keeps invoices, receipts, and records of spending correct.

  • It makes your monetary needs easier to handle while you travel.

For people coming to the UAE, using this habit gives confidence and helps keep spending in order.

Official Design and Appearance of the Saudi Riyal Symbol

The saudi riyal symbol most people see is ﷼. But now, there is a new saudi riyal sign made for better use in digital work and fonts. This new official currency symbol makes it easy to use across many systems and projects.

The design shows a strong link to arabic calligraphy and the formal look of the saudi riyal. You can find that the symbol was made for official currency support by the central bank. If you want to see the change, look at the new saudi riyal symbol and how it is not like the old ones.

Visual Elements and the Meaning Behind the New Symbol

The new saudi riyal symbol gives Saudi Arabia a clear and standard official currency symbol that fits modern needs. It comes from arabic calligraphy, that helps the currency sign keep its local style and also makes it easy for use in computer fonts and digital systems.

When you look at how to use it, the new saudi riyal symbol should be seen in a same way across websites, apps, and documents. The shared info says U+20C1 is the suggested unicode code point in the currency symbols block, and this is what you should use for new work.

For correct use, it is good to be consistent. If your platform has the new saudi riyal symbol, show that one through the whole document or interface. If it does not, you can use the old font ways until more systems support the new riyal symbol as a standard.

Comparison With Previous Saudi Riyal Symbols

The saudi riyal has a long history. Before the 20th century, foreign currencies such as Maria Theresa Thalers and British Gold Sovereigns served monetary needs in Arabia. In the early 1900s, the Hejaz riyal appeared as official currency, and when Saudi Arabia was established in 1932, the Saudi riyal was introduced.

In modern usage, the biggest shift is not the name of the currency but the way the symbol is standardised for digital display. The familiar saudi riyal symbol remains known, while the new symbol is being prepared for formal placement in the currency symbols block.

Period or Form

Key Detail

Before the 20th century

Foreign currencies circulated, including Maria Theresa Thalers and British Gold Sovereigns

Early 1900s

Hejaz riyal issued as official currency

1932 onwards

Saudi riyal introduced as the currency of Saudi Arabia

Traditional symbol use

﷼ commonly used for the saudi riyal symbol

New symbol stage

New symbol linked to U+20C1 in the currency symbols block

So yes, the symbol has changed recently in digital terms, with a new symbol prepared for broader standard use.

How and Where to Find the Saudi Riyal Symbol (Unicode and Special Characters)

If you want to show or type the saudi riyal symbol right, use the correct unicode code point. The info says the saudi riyal sign will use code point U+20C1. This will be in the currency symbols block and part of Unicode 17.

There is an old way too. The private-use code, U+E900, was used with a font that the community kept up. This happened before broad unicode help was here. Travellers, businesses, or designers in the UAE have two good options. Use the newer code point when the system lets you. Or, for now, use a font that works with that old code to get the saudi riyal symbol.

Locating the Saudi Riyal Symbol in Unicode Lists

When you look for the saudi riyal symbol in Unicode lists, you will see that the main code point is U+20C1. This is where you find the new saudi riyal sign. It is the suggested unicode code point for any new work that you do. The plan is for it to be in the currency symbols block, following the unicode standard.

If your device or app does not support that code point yet, you may see U+E900 instead. But this is not for long-term or open use. It works as a private placeholder. A special font for the saudi riyal symbol uses it, so older systems can show the sign.

  • U+20C1 is the unicode code point to use for all new projects with the saudi riyal sign.

  • U+E900 is an older, backup code point for older font styles.

  • Actual support depends on your software updates, fonts, and platform.

Where will you see the saudi riyal symbol? You will find it in Unicode-related lists once it is fully supported. Until then, you can get it with certain supported fonts or symbol files.

Typing and Copying the Symbol on Different Devices (PC, Mac, Mobile)

Typing the Saudi riyal symbol is a bit different on each device. On a PC, hold the ‘Alt’ key and type ‘163’ on the number pad to get the riyal symbol using the Unicode code point. If you have a Mac, you can open the character viewer to find the Saudi riyal symbol. On most mobile phones, you can use the keyboard settings to copy the riyal symbol quickly, or use a third-party app that supports currency signs. These ways help you use the saudi riyal symbol in all your financial transactions.

Using the Saudi Riyal Symbol in UAE-Based Business and Travel Documents

If you make travel records, invoices, or payment notes in the UAE, clear currency labelling is important. The saudi riyal symbol is often used in documents to show that the amount is in saudi riyal. This is especially true when there are commercial transactions with saudi arabia.

Still, many companies like to use SAR. It makes things clear in accounting systems and exchange rate tools. The best way is to be exact and always use the same label in one document. The next parts explain how to do this in invoices, receipts, and office software.

Applying the SAR Symbol in Invoices and Receipts

For invoices and receipts, the best thing to do is to make the currency clear. When working with business documents in Saudi Arabia, you can use the saudi riyal symbol if your system can show it the right way. If the symbol is not shown well, use the currency code SAR next to the number.

This is important in commercial transactions. If the currency is not clear, there can be mistakes with totals, payments, and travel claims. Because some systems use fonts in different ways, SAR is often better for any form you share between teams, across devices, or with accounting systems.

  • Use the same style everywhere on the invoice or receipt.

  • Use SAR when you are not sure about font support for the saudi riyal symbol.

  • Keep the symbol or code right next to the numerical values.

  • Look at any PDFs you export to make sure the saudi riyal shows the right way.

For a lot of users based in the UAE, being the same with your currency format matters more than how it looks.

Adding the Saudi Riyal Symbol in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace

Inserting the Saudi riyal symbol in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace is easy to do. In Microsoft Office, go to the “Insert” tab. Then click on “Symbol” and pick the Saudi riyal symbol from the list. You can also type in the unicode code point for the riyal symbol if you have it.

In Google Workspace, open the “Insert” menu. Next, select “Special Characters” and search for the Saudi riyal sign. This will let you put the Saudi riyal symbol right in your document.

Adding the Saudi Arabia currency symbol makes your financial documents look good and shows the official currency symbol for Saudi Arabia. This way, your papers are clear with the right riyal symbol included.

Displaying the Saudi Riyal Symbol in Digital and Design Projects

You can show the saudi riyal symbol on websites, mobile apps, and other digital work. But the way the symbol looks depends on the font and the system you use. If your computer or app does not show the new saudi riyal symbol on its own, you can use a special font or set up an icon to fix this.

For people that design or create apps, you usually pick between using the currency code SAR, putting in a font, or using things you can download like icon packs and SVG-style files. The notes below talk about font support and design files in a simple way.

Best Fonts and Icon Packs Supporting the SAR Symbol

A good choice for font support is the Saudi Riyal Font. It is kept up by the community and is an open-source font. The font works for the saudi riyal sign and fits web, desktop, and mobile use. There are both regular and bold options. This means your saudi riyal symbol stays the same, no matter which layout you use.

You have different ways to set up the font. It can be installed with NPM, used through a CDN, or added to your site with CSS by hand. If you want the font on a PC, Mac, Linux device, Android, or iOS, you can download and install .ttf files yourself.

  • It supports U+20C1 and this gives you the new saudi riyal symbol.

  • It also supports U+E900, so your old files with legacy saudi riyal symbols will still work.

  • You get .woff, .woff2, and .ttf formats. This means it works as other computer fonts and is easy to use across many platforms.

This font is one of the most useful computer fonts for showing the saudi riyal currency symbol. You get good support for both new and legacy riyal symbols.

Downloadable Resources: SVGs and Image Files for Designers

If you need stuff to download for your design work, most of the info out there is about font-based choices. There is not a main library of SVG or image files by themselves. The open-source Saudi Riyal Font comes with files ready for the web, and it also has some sample resources that work well for any kind of design or interface job.

For many people who design, this is good enough. You do not need image files. It is easy to use the symbol with CSS classes, font files, or by loading it fast on the web with NPM and CDN links. This way, the saudi riyal symbol can look better and scale well, which is often nicer than just using old graphics.

  • Download the .ttf, .woff, or .woff2 files when you want to design something.

  • There are simple examples and a CSS setup to help you use it for web work.

  • You can also get the saudi riyal font package by NPM, jsDelivr, or unpkg.

  • Pick the new code point or the old one, based on what your project needs.

So, you can find what you need to use for quick design, and font files are the main kind you can download.

Conclusion

Knowing the Saudi Riyal symbol helps when you travel from the UAE. It makes using money and handling financial transactions easy and clear. You should be able to see the riyal symbol when you buy things or fill out business papers. If you know how to use or find the symbol on your phone or computer, it is more handy for you.

Take this small tip with you on your trip to make your travel better. If you want simple advice or ideas about your money abroad, you can reach out to our team. We offer free consultation to help you.

About Remitly

Remitly is on a mission to make international money transfers faster, easier, more transparent, and more affordable. Since 2011, millions of people have used Remitly to send money with peace of mind.

Visit the homepagedownload our app, or check out our Help Center to get started.