The Deep dive: digital apps overtake cash for remittances in Saudi Arabia

By Puja Sharma

The deep dive’ is our bi-weekly exploration of a relevant topic, hot trend, or new product. For Prime subscribers only.

How does it work?

More than half of people in Saudi Arabia now prefer sending remittances through digital apps

• Respondents cite safety, privacy, speed (47%) and ease of use (43%) as the main reasons for using digital apps
• 93% send remittances at least once a year

Visa, a digital payment firm, announced the findings from Saudi Arabia in its 2025 Digital Remittances Adoption Report. The findings show that digital apps are increasingly becoming the preferred method for people to send money abroad.

The survey was conducted by Visa and Morning Consult this year among a sample of nearly 44,000 remittance senders and receivers across 20 countries, including North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific. The interviews were conducted online. Within each country, survey respondents are weighted based on census estimates for age, gender, education, and region.

Who is under the radar?

The research reveals that more than half (59%) of people in Saudi Arabia now prefer to send money through digital applications rather than physical outlets. According to the survey, 47% of people in Saudi Arabia cited safety, privacy and speed as the most important factors. This was followed by ease of use at 43%. Confidence in digital channels is growing, with 43% of respondents now saying peace of mind is a reason they use apps, up 6 points from 2024.

More people in Saudi Arabia are now sending remittances than ever before. Visa’s research reveals 51% of respondents send money for humanitarian needs and 42% provide regular support for loved ones. An overwhelming 93% send money at least once a year, representing a 6% increase from last year. This trend reflects the wider market, where expatriate remittances reached SR144 billion in 2024, the highest level since 2021.

Why does it matter now?

Despite the growing adoption of digital methods, pain points remain. A third of respondents cited high costs as a major barrier for sending (29%) and receiving (33%) remittances.

“Fast, easy and secure payments can make a profound difference for people in Saudi Arabia who send money abroad to support their families and communities,” said Ali Bailoun, Visa’s Regional General Manager for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. “Millions of families abroad rely on these funds from Saudi Arabia, and Visa is bringing new ways – in partnership with our clients – to meet the local demand for simpler, faster and more secure ways to transfer money internationally.”

In Saudi Arabia, Visa is working with its financial institution partners to meet the growing demand for easier, more accessible and reliable ways to transfer money internationally. Visa Direct is a payment service that enables real-time money transfers quickly and securely using Visa’s global network, helping people, businesses and governments send and receive funds to billions of eligible cards, bank accounts and digital wallets worldwide.

“For people in the UAE, digital payments are increasingly central to how they provide support to their families and communities around the world,” said Salima Gutieva, Visa’s Vice President and Country Manager for the UAE. “As one of the world’s largest remittance hubs, the UAE plays a critical role in enabling these flows, and Visa is bringing new ways – in partnership with our clients – to meet the local demand for simpler, faster and more secure ways to transfer money internationally.”