Business & Shopping

Shopping

There is a superb range of shopping opportunities in the major cities of Saudi Arabia. World class brands are widely available, from reasonably-priced electronic items from the Far East to high-priced fashion goods from Europe. Locally-crafted gold jewelry is relatively inexpensive and of premium quality.

There is also an extraordinary range of different food types and brands available in supermarkets and stores that cater to the diverse tastes of expatriate community. Food is plentiful and basics, such as bread and sugar and relatively inexpensive.

Business Hours

Government offices are open from 7:30 a.m. till 2:30 p.m.; private businesses from 8:00 a.m. till noon, and from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; general banking from 8:00 a.m. till noon and from 5:00 to 7:00 PM; markets and shops are open till 9:00 p.m. Government offices and private businesses are closed Thursdays and Fridays.

Currency/Exchange Rate

The Saudi currency is the Saudi Riyal (SR) with the rate of exchange pegged at approximately 3.75 Saudi Riyals (SR) to the U.S. dollar. One Saudi Riyal is equivalent to 100 Halalas. Coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 100 Halalas.

The Saudi Riyal is fully convertible and there are no existing currency regulations or restrictions.