Saudi Arabia Digital Riyal
Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
Status
Architecture
Cross-Border Projects
mBridge
Role: participant
Capabilities
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Saudi Arabia have a CBDC?
Yes, Saudi Arabia is developing Saudi Arabia Digital Riyal, currently in pilot phase.
What is the status of Saudi Arabia's CBDC?
Saudi Arabia Digital Riyal is in pilot phase as of 2026-02-18. The pilot program is actively testing with real users.
When did Saudi Arabia launch its CBDC pilot?
The pilot launched on 2024-01-01.
How many people use Saudi Arabia's CBDC?
User and wallet metrics are not publicly available at this time.
Is Saudi Arabia's CBDC retail or wholesale?
Saudi Arabia Digital Riyal is a wholesale CBDC designed for interbank settlements and large-value transactions.
Which central bank manages Saudi Arabia Digital Riyal?
Saudi Arabia Digital Riyal is managed by Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).
Recent Developments
According to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), Saudi Arabia joined Project mBridge as a full participant in 2024. The Digital Riyal is being developed for wholesale cross-border payments, with participation in the BIS Innovation Hub's multi-CBDC platform alongside China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and UAE. The project aims to facilitate instant cross-border payments and settlements using distributed ledger technology. SAMA's involvement in mBridge represents a significant step in the Kingdom's digital payments strategy and Vision 2030 financial sector development goals.
Updated: 2/18/2026