Planning a trip back home? Before you land and head to the nearest ATM, there’s something worth knowing: using your Saudi mada card for cash withdrawals abroad isn’t free — and the fee structure has recently changed.
What Is the Mada Card?
Mada is the national payment scheme of Saudi Arabia, connecting all ATMs and point-of-sale terminals across the Kingdom. All banks in Saudi Arabia are mandated by SAMA to issue cards compatible with the mada network. Mada cards are always co-branded with GCC NET and either Visa or MasterCard, which is what allows them to work at ATMs internationally.
So when you use your Saudi debit card abroad, it’s running on the Visa or Mastercard network — and your Saudi bank charges you for that service.
Two Different Fee Categories: GCC vs. The Rest of the World
Saudi banks treat international withdrawals in two distinct categories, and the fees are different for each.
Within GCC Countries (UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman) These transactions go through the GCC Net — a regional payment network linking Gulf states. The fees are lower here because it’s a regional network, not a global one.
Outside the GCC (USA, Europe, India, Pakistan, Philippines etc.) These go through international networks like Visa or Mastercard, attracting higher fees.
The New SAMA Rules: What Changed?
On December 22, 2025, the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) issued a new Fees Guide for Financial Institutions’ Services, replacing the existing Banking Tariff with a broader framework that significantly reduces and caps customer charges across banking and payment services.
Under the old Banking Tariff, most Saudi banks charged a flat fee of SAR 25 per international cash withdrawal — regardless of how much you withdrew. The new guide fundamentally changes this model.
Under the new guide, international cash withdrawals using Mada cards (excluding GCC NET) are now capped at 3% of the transaction value, with a maximum of SAR 25.
What this means in practice:
| Amount You Withdraw | 3% Fee | What You’d Be Charged |
|---|---|---|
| SAR 100 equivalent | SAR 3 | SAR 3 |
| SAR 300 equivalent | SAR 9 | SAR 9 |
| SAR 500 equivalent | SAR 15 | SAR 15 |
| SAR 833 or more | SAR 25+ | Capped at SAR 25 |
So if you’re only withdrawing a small amount — say, the equivalent of SAR 200 — you’d pay SAR 6, not the old flat SAR 25. For larger withdrawals at or above roughly SAR 833 equivalent, the fee hits the SAR 25 ceiling and doesn’t go higher.
Note: All fees are subject to 15% VAT on top of the stated amount. So a SAR 25 fee would total SAR 28.75 after VAT.
What About GCC Countries?
GCC withdrawals are handled through a separate regional network called GCC Net, which connects ATMs across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman. Because it’s a regional network rather than a global one, the fees are lower.
Most Saudi banks charge a flat SAR 10 per cash withdrawal within GCC countries through the GCC Net. Balance inquiries at GCC ATMs are typically charged at SAR 3, while POS purchases within GCC countries using your mada card are generally free.
The Foreign Currency Conversion Fee — Often Overlooked
Beyond the withdrawal fee itself, your Saudi bank also charges a foreign currency conversion fee whenever your transaction is processed in a non-SAR currency. These are two separate charges that stack on top of each other — not one combined fee.
So a single international ATM withdrawal can carry three layers of cost:
- Cash withdrawal fee — up to 3% of the amount, capped at SAR 25
- Foreign currency conversion fee — up to 2% of the transaction amount
- 15% VAT — applied separately on top of both charges above
Let’s say you travel to your home country and withdraw the equivalent of SAR 500 from a local ATM using your mada card. Here is what your Saudi bank would deduct from your account:
- Withdrawal fee: 3% of SAR 500 = SAR 15
- Foreign currency conversion fee: 2% of SAR 500 = SAR 10
- VAT (15%): on SAR 15 + SAR 10 = SAR 3.75
- Total charges: SAR 28.75
- Total deducted from your account: SAR 500 + SAR 28.75 = SAR 528.75
The ATM’s “Dynamic Currency Conversion” Trap
When you insert your mada card at a foreign ATM, the screen may ask something like: “Do you want to be charged in Saudi Riyals or in [local currency]?”
This is called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), and it’s almost always a bad deal.
If you select “Accept” at a foreign ATM, the machine converts your money at the ATM’s own set exchange rate and you pay an extra fee for this conversion. If you select “Decline,” the ATM charges in local currency and your card’s international network (Visa or Mastercard) handles the conversion, which is generally cheaper.
Always choose the local currency of the country you’re in. Let your Saudi bank do the conversion — it will almost always give you a better rate than the foreign ATM’s conversion.
Does Your Mada Card Work Everywhere Abroad?
Mada cards work at ATMs and payment terminals worldwide, as they are co-branded with international networks such as Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus, Plus, and Maestro. However, mada is a debit card — not a credit card — which means every transaction draws directly from your bank account in real time. So before you travel, make sure your account has enough balance, and keep in mind that some pre-authorisation transactions like hotel deposits or car rental holds may not process as smoothly as they would with a credit card.
Always verify the exact fees with your bank before you travel, as individual banks may update their schedules at any time. The SAMA Fees Guide is available through SAMA’s Rulebook at rulebook.sama.gov.sa.