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Super Modal · Joined: 07 Oct 2012 Posts: 46 Location: Jeddah

I'm wondering how I can send money to Canada from my first pay I get in KSA. I'm leaving for Jeddah in a few days. I won't have my iqama at first so I won't be able to open a bank account until it is issued, right? I have a legit visa that leads to an iqama.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It is easier if you have an Iqama. If your employer is competent, you should have it within a few days. If not, get someone with an iqama to make the tgransaction for you ?

MENA_chica · Joined: 28 Sep 2014 Posts: 82 Location: Middle East

Hi Super Modal,

I'm a British teacher due to arrive in KSA in a few weeks. The options I've heard most talked about with reference to non-iqama holders are Western Union, Telemoney and Tahweel Al Rajhi bank. Here's a blog post of a British teacher without an iqama, detailing her experience of using one of the latter's Riyadh branches:

http://viewfromtheeast.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/banking-in-saudi.html?q=Bank

Here is a list of Tahweel Al Rajhi's various branches in Jeddah:

http://www.tahweelalrajhi.com.sa/en/News/Pages/Tahweel-Centers-working-hours.aspx

Be sure to have the details of your Canadian bank account before leaving Canada, such as the IBAN, BIC and Swiftcode. In addition, it's a good idea to not only compare transfer fees, but also the exchange rate used by each entity.

Hope that helps!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

There are options for those who have no Iqama, but they involve having a passport. Your passport will be with your employer while your igama is being processed.

MENA_chica · Joined: 28 Sep 2014 Posts: 82 Location: Middle East

Good point Scot47! Whilst in the region this year, and waiting for my passport to be returned, I was able to send money via Western Union using a colour copy of my passport information page. Do you know if this is the same in Saudi Arabia?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Super Modal · Joined: 07 Oct 2012 Posts: 46 Location: Jeddah

Thanks for all of your advice. There are always a million questions that swirl around my head just before I leave for a new country. It always seems to work out in the end though. So, I worry for nothing.

jaffa · Joined: 25 Oct 2012 Posts: 403

Do NOT use a bank to bank as they'll fleece you big time. Islamic banking is basically a complete con as they may not charge a percentage interest (haram) but they'll use a lousy rate of exchange costing you a fortune. In other transactions they charge a fee that works out more than regular banks' interest rates.

I would have recommended al Zamil Exchange but they are only in Eastern Province and Riyadh. For others: http://alzamilexchange.com/ Jeddah will have similiar places.

Makkah · Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Posts: 113

jaffa · Joined: 25 Oct 2012 Posts: 403

Which bank is that ....... Rolling Eyes

jaffa · Joined: 25 Oct 2012 Posts: 403

.... as I thought: The Pie In The Sky Bank.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

personally, I recommend using a foreign exchange broker rather than a bank.

I'm a member of GCEN and have never once found the rates they get for SABB to the UK bettered by any other method that any of my colleagues use - even members of the 500 club.

The trick is that you have to persuade your branch to send the cash in Riyals to GCEN's Riyal account in London. Not all banks will do that and you cannot do it online at all. SABB will let you do it if you explain that the reason behind it.

I have no idea if GCEN have facilities for sending money to other countries than the UK but their website will probably have details.

Makkah · Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Posts: 113