Changing money.

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moonhunteruk Active member

Member since 27 September 2012

moonhunterukActive member28 September 2012 03:57:27

Hi all. I arrived in Riyadh 6 days ago from Thailand and did a stupid thing of not changing my Thai baht currency before entering Saudi Arabia. My friend assured me that there were many foreign bank exchange outlets and I wouldn't have a problem. Well on arrival at the airport, I went to the nearest exchange and was told that they didn't accept Thai Baht!!. Can any please advise if there are any international exchange bureau in Riyadh.

Thanks

Mike

Martin Fin Serial expat

Member since 24 March 2012

Martin FinSerial expat28 September 2012 04:41:47

337

Mike

I had a similar problem when I arrived here I had pounds sterling to change I ended up having to go to a bank with one of my work colleagues and he did it for me. However you may have noticed that there are no direct flights to Thailand and Saudi Nationals are banned from travelling there. As a result you may not be able to exchange Thai Baht here in Saudi!

Good Luck

Martin

moonhunteruk Active member

Member since 27 September 2012

moonhunterukActive member28 September 2012 04:46:47

Cheers Martin for your reply. I have also been told about the relations between Thai's and Saudi's. Off to a "souk" today and I am hoping that maybe I will find something there, may have to take a hit on the rate but better than nothing.

Mike

RehabDoctor Serial expat

Member since 13 April 2012

RehabDoctorSerial expat28 September 2012 10:43:19

279

Martin Fin wrote:
Mike

I had a similar problem when I arrived here I had pounds sterling to change I ended up having to go to a bank with one of my work colleagues and he did it for me. However you may have noticed that there are no direct flights to Thailand and Saudi Nationals are banned from travelling there. As a result you may not be able to exchange Thai Baht here in Saudi!

Good Luck

Martin

Martin do you recommend to exchange £ for Riyals in London?

Martin Fin Serial expat

Member since 24 March 2012

Martin FinSerial expat29 September 2012 14:17:37

337

It doesn't make a great deal of diffrence. Just make sure of the rates and what the commission is. I try my best not to change £ Sterling into SAR I prefer to do it the otherway round on a bank transfer.

tonguetwister Contributor

Member since 05 January 2012

tonguetwisterContributor30 September 2012 03:54:50

190

Changing money here is not too straightforward. Firstly, the only Bureau de Change I've seen was at the airport. Banks won't generally change money for you unless you have an Iqama.

Secondly, from what I've been told, they don't generally hold a great variety of currencies and won't accept currencies beyond the main reserve currencies. My wife had to travel to China and rather than changing money directly into Renminbi, she had to convert her Riyals into US Dollars and take that to China to change.

The alternative is that if you are aware of an airport having a bureau de change that has an online pre-order facility, use that and order it on your bank card/credit card. That way you aren't hit twice.

As for the original question...I have no idea about converting Thai Baht. I would speak with the Thai Embassy consular section for assistance as they might have a better idea of who might be able to change the currency. The alternative is to wait till you are back in Thailand and exchanging the money there for US Dollars and bringing that over here; or just change it directly into Riyals if available.

eveningstar Active member

Member since 03 April 2012

eveningstarActive member01 October 2012 11:06:54

Why can't Saudis fly to Thailand?
And back on topic can you change Saudi money in the UK easily?

Evening Star

RehabDoctor Serial expat

Member since 13 April 2012

RehabDoctorSerial expat01 October 2012 11:13:01

279

eveningstar wrote:
Why can't Saudis fly to Thailand?
And back on topic can you change Saudi money in the UK easily?

Evening Star

Yes you can change saudi riyals easily in UK, though rates vary alot.

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