Some 59% of Saudis send money digitally from a physical location, while 67% of recipients prefer using digital apps, according to Visa’s Money Travels: 2025 Digital Remittances Adoption Report (pdf). The shift toward digital transfers is driven by desires for safety, privacy, and speed, cited by 47% of senders, along with ease of use and peace of mind, each at 43%.

Overall remittance activity eased over the past year, with the number of senders down 5% and recipients down 4%. Forward-looking intentions also edged lower, with 28% of respondents expecting to send money in the next year, remaining flat y-o-y, while only 24% expect to receive, down 3 percentage points.

However, usage remains high, with 93% of respondents in the Kingdom sending money and 77% receiving it at least once a year.

Humanitarian needs are the main reason for sending remittances, cited by 51% of respondents, followed by regular support at 42% and unexpected needs at 37%. On the receiving side, personal accounts or investments lead at 27%, followed by regular support at 26%.

Saudi users consider digital apps the most secure channel for receiving money (39%), ahead of digital-form-physical transfers (23%), while views on sending are evenly split between the two (33% each). Physical methods like banknotes or checks rank lowest on safety at just 3-10%.

High fees remain the top obstacle for both digital and physical transfers. Another major friction point is the need to travel to a physical location, noted by 41%.

Methodology: The report is based on online interviews with nearly 44k people who send and receive remittances across 20 countries, including the Kingdom. The survey data was weighted within each country to reflect census estimates for age, gender, education, and region.

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