Send money from Saudi Arabia to Philippines: Compare SAR → PHP rates by provider
Western Union
Rate 16.5905 · Fee free
You send
﷼2,000
Estimated receipt
₱33,181
Affiliate link · No extra cost to you
Quick answer: Western Union is the only estimate we hold for 2,000 SAR → PHP: 33,180.99 PHP. One estimate cannot establish the cheapest option.
Latest pricing observation: . Quotes are kept per SAR→PHP pair, not per country, so confirm the provider sends from Saudi Arabia before you commit. Methodology.
What is the cheapest way to send SAR to PHP?
Sending ﷼2,000 from Saudi Arabia to Philippines: 2 SAR → PHP quotes so far.
Western Union
Minutes to 5 days
Best value₱33,180.99
recipient gets
Western UnionBest value
16.5905
Free
₱33,180.99
SendRegency FX
Same day may be available; confirm your route
Indicative estimate · not ranked
₱33,214.47
recipient gets
Regency FX
Indicative estimate · not ranked
16.6072
Free
₱33,214.47
SendOver one million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) live and work in Saudi Arabia, making the SAR to PHP corridor one of the largest remittance routes in the world. With tax-free salaries and fierce provider competition, choosing the right service can mean thousands of extra pesos reaching your family every month.
Saudi Arabia hosts the largest concentration of OFWs outside the Philippines, with workers across healthcare, construction, engineering, domestic work, and hospitality. The SAR to PHP corridor is served by SAMA-licensed exchange houses like Al Rajhi Bank (which operates a massive remittance business), Western Union, Enjaz (Bank Al Bilad), and STCPay, alongside global digital providers like Wise and Remitly. GCash, the Philippines' dominant mobile wallet with over 90 million users, has transformed how recipients access funds — many providers now support direct GCash delivery. Since OFW salaries in Saudi Arabia are tax-free, the full gross salary is available for remittance, making cost efficiency even more impactful. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) regulates the receiving side and has been proactive in integrating digital payment rails with international remittance platforms. SAMA (Saudi Central Bank) licenses and regulates all exchange houses and payment service providers operating in the Kingdom.
Which provider offers the best SAR to PHP rate?
Western Union
4.3Exchange rate
16.5905
Fee
Free
Recipient gets
₱33,180.99
Speed
Minutes to 5 days
Guides, fees & how it works
What matters on the Saudi Arabia to Philippines corridor
Over 1 million Filipino OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) in Saudi Arabia send billions in remittances home annually. SAMA-licensed providers and banks like Al Rajhi dominate, with GCash wallet delivery emerging as the fastest option for recipients.
- Al Rajhi Bank's remittance service is the most widely used by Filipino workers in Saudi — its branch network and mobile app cover the entire Kingdom.
- GCash delivery puts money directly into your recipient's mobile wallet, often within minutes — ideal for family members who need funds urgently.
- SAMA (Saudi Central Bank) licenses all remittance providers — only use SAMA-authorized services to ensure regulatory protection and legal compliance.
- Compare Al Rajhi against digital providers like Wise and Remitly; bank exchange rate markups can be 1–2% higher than specialist transfer services.
Iqama-linked sending limits
Saudi remittance regulations tie sending limits to your Iqama (residency permit) status and salary. Exceeding your registered income bracket can trigger delays or blocks on your transfers.
Recipient details: Saudi Arabia to Philippines
Before sending from Saudi Arabia, confirm these details with your recipient in Philippines: Full name, Bank account number, Bank name.
Receiving requirements and examples for PhilippinesHow much does it cost to send money from Saudi Arabia to Philippines?
Fees on the SAR to PHP route range from SAR 0 (some providers waive fees for GCash delivery) to SAR 15–30 for exchange house counter transactions. Al Rajhi Bank's remittance service charges SAR 9–18 depending on the delivery method. Exchange rate markups range from 0.5% (Wise) to 2.5%+ (some exchange houses). On a SAR 2,000 transfer, a 2% markup difference means approximately PHP 2,500–3,000 less for your recipient. Many providers offer loyalty programmes or reduced fees for frequent senders — important for OFWs who send monthly.
Only one provider here
SendScoreBest rate -0.00% vs the 30-day average, 54% up the 10-day range. Rates are improving — +0.35% week on week. Based on only 11 days of history, so treat it as indicative. One provider only, so no comparison.
- 40%54% up the 10-day range
- 25%-0.00% vs the 30-day average
- 15%improving — +0.35% week on week
SAR→PHP: 11 days of our recorded provider rates · limited history, treat as indicative
SAR to PHP Exchange Rate History
Per 100 SAR sent, 11 days.
| Date | Western Union | __mid Market__ |
|---|---|---|
| Trend | ||
| Oct 13 | 16.5909 | 16.7416✓ |
| Oct 12 | 16.5909 | 16.7382✓ |
| Oct 11 | 16.6125 | 16.7482✓ |
| Oct 10 | 16.6125 | 16.7414✓ |
| Oct 9 | 16.6125 | 16.7431✓ |
| Oct 8 | 16.6327 | 16.7415✓ |
| Oct 7 | 16.5976 | 16.7315✓ |
| Oct 6 | 16.6047 | 16.7083✓ |
| Oct 5 | 16.5660 | 16.7316✓ |
| Oct 4 | 16.5412 | 16.6830✓ |
| Oct 3 | 16.5412 | 16.6696✓ |
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about sending money from Saudi Arabia to Philippines
What is the cheapest way to send money from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines?
Western Union is the only estimate we hold for 2,000 SAR → PHP: 33,180.99 PHP. One estimate cannot establish the cheapest option. Wise, Remitly, TapTap Send, XE and Ria's online service do not take payments from Saudi Arabia. Al Rajhi Bank's remittance service is widely used for its convenience, with branches across Saudi Arabia and a popular mobile app; compare it with the other SAMA-licensed services, such as Enjaz and SNB Quick Pay, on the pesos delivered. Many providers offer first-transfer promotions with enhanced rates. For frequent monthly senders, even a small rate improvement adds up significantly over a year — potentially PHP 25,000–50,000 in savings across 12 transfers.
Can I send money directly to GCash from Saudi Arabia?
Yes, GCash is widely supported as a delivery option for transfers from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines. Remitly, Western Union, WorldRemit, and several other providers offer direct GCash delivery. Funds typically arrive within minutes of the provider processing the transaction. GCash is the Philippines' largest mobile wallet with over 90 million registered users, and it allows recipients to make purchases, pay bills, transfer to bank accounts, or withdraw cash at GCash partner locations across the country. To send to GCash, you need the recipient's GCash-registered mobile number. Some Saudi-based exchange houses have also integrated GCash delivery into their services. For OFWs, GCash delivery is often the fastest and most convenient option, as recipients do not need to visit a bank branch or cash pickup location.
What does SAMA licensing mean for my money transfer?
SAMA (Saudi Central Bank, formerly Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority) is the regulatory authority that licenses and supervises all financial institutions in Saudi Arabia, including banks, exchange houses, and payment service providers. When you use a SAMA-licensed provider, your transaction is protected by regulatory oversight that includes minimum capital requirements, customer fund segregation, AML/KYC compliance, and dispute resolution procedures. All major exchange houses operating in Saudi Arabia — including Al Rajhi Bank, Western Union, Enjaz (Bank Al Bilad), and STCPay — hold SAMA licences. Digital providers like Wise that serve Saudi customers must either hold a SAMA licence or operate through a licensed local partner. Using unlicensed or informal channels (such as hawala) is illegal in Saudi Arabia and carries significant penalties. Always verify that your chosen provider is SAMA-licensed before transferring funds.
How long does a transfer from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines take?
GCash delivery is the fastest option — funds arrive in the recipient's GCash wallet within minutes of the provider processing the transfer. Cash pickup through Western Union, MoneyGram, Cebuana Lhuillier, and M Lhuillier is also near-instant, with thousands of pickup locations across the Philippines including in rural areas. Bank deposits to major Philippine banks like BDO, BPI, Metrobank, Landbank, and UnionBank typically take 1–2 business days. Some providers offer express bank deposits that arrive same-day when initiated during Philippine banking hours. Al Rajhi Bank's remittance service processes transfers within 24 hours for most delivery methods. If sending through an exchange house counter, transfers are typically initiated same-day. The funding method in Saudi Arabia also affects speed — counter payments and debit card funding are processed immediately, while bank transfers may take a few hours to clear.
Do OFWs in Saudi Arabia have tax advantages when sending money home?
Yes, OFWs in Saudi Arabia benefit from the Kingdom's zero personal income tax policy — there is no income tax on salaries earned in Saudi Arabia, meaning the full gross salary is available for remittance and personal use. This is a significant advantage over corridors from countries like the US, UK, or Australia where income tax reduces disposable income before remittance. On the Philippines side, under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act and BSP regulations, incoming remittances from OFWs are not subject to Philippine income tax. OFWs are also exempt from certain documentary stamp taxes on remittance transactions. Additionally, the Philippine government provides OFW benefits through OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration), including insurance and emergency assistance. To maintain OFW status and associated benefits, workers should register with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and ensure their OWWA membership is current.