You can now open a Saudi bank account with a visitor ID
The major update was shared by Saudi Central Bank
Saudi Arabia, a country that’s always making major moves in travel and tourism, has just announced a massive update for all tourists coming in to the Kingdom. You can now open a visitor ID bank account in Saudi Arabia.
According to a recent report by Arab News, the Saudi Central Bank is now permitting the use of the “Visitor ID” as a valid document for opening bank accounts within the Kingdom.
#SAMA approves the use of “Visitor ID” for opening bank accounts to enhance the banking experience for visitors to #SaudiArabia.https://t.co/yDJkolZcbO pic.twitter.com/V7Y1HZaHcy
— SAMA | البنك المركزي السعودي (@SAMA_GOV) September 28, 2025
The decision aims to streamline the lives of the millions of tourists, business travellers, and pilgrims who visit the Kingdom annually by allowing them to open bank accounts through a seamless, digitally-enabled experience.
Opening a bank account in Saudi Arabia on a visitor ID (issued through the government’s Absher platform), visitors are now allowed to use local mobile wallets and make digital payments with ease, reducing their reliance on cash.
SAMA also clarified that this update to the bank account rules is part of a periodic review, which keeps pace with regulatory developments, facilitates procedures for opening and operating bank accounts
The new change is expected to streamline account opening procedures, strengthen financial inclusion, and further support the ongoing digital transformation of Saudi Arabia’s banking services.
So, what is the visitor ID?
The visitor ID issued by the Ministry of Interior serves as an official identification document for visitors to the Kingdom, and it can be verified through authorised digital platforms.
