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How cashback credit cards work in Saudi Arabia

CardSaudi ArabiaLast checked

The short answer

Saudi cashback cards usually pay different rates by category, and some raise the rate as your monthly spend goes up. Almost all have monthly caps, per category and in total. The examples below come from Al Rajhi Bank and Riyad Bank pages. They are examples only, and we do not rank or recommend any card. All amounts are in SAR.

Quick facts

Example 1
Al Rajhi Platinum Cashback Plus: up to 10% on food delivery apps, total cap SAR 500 a month (source: Al Rajhi Bank Platinum Cashback Plus)
Example 2
Riyad Bank Cashback Visa Signature: 5%, 7% or 10% by monthly spend, total cap up to SAR 1,000 (source: Riyad Bank Cashback Visa Signature)
mada
Saudi debit network, usually co-badged with Visa or Mastercard (source: SAIB mada cards)
Currency
SAR (source: SAIB mada cards)
Always check
The bank's current terms; rates, fees and eligibility change (source: Al Rajhi Bank Platinum Cashback Plus)

The basic idea

A cashback card returns part of what you spend. The details are in the terms: which categories earn, what rate applies, how much you must spend, and the monthly cap. We checked two banks' own pages on 2 October 2026. One bank's page we tried (SNB) would not open for us, so it is not covered here.

Example: Al Rajhi Platinum Cashback Plus

Al Rajhi's page for this card lists these rates: food delivery apps 10%, dining 5%, supermarkets 5%, international purchases 2% and other local spend 0.5%. Each category has a monthly cap of SAR 200, and there is a total monthly cashback cap of SAR 500.

The page says cashback goes only to eligible merchants, based on merchant category codes, and that caps apply per statement cycle. It lists a primary card annual fee of SAR 250, a monthly profit rate of 2.5% and a 2% foreign transaction fee. It mentions no minimum spend.

Al Rajhi also has a Signature Cashback Plus card with higher rates in some categories, for example dining at 10% with a SAR 200 monthly cap, and an annual fee of SAR 450 on the page. Check the bank for the current version.

Example: Riyad Bank Cashback Visa Signature

Riyad Bank's page shows a rate that rises with monthly spend, across dining, groceries, entertainment, pharmacies and fuel or taxis. At SAR 2,500 to 7,499 a month it lists 5%, with SAR 100 per category and SAR 500 in total. At SAR 7,500 to 14,999 it lists 7%, with SAR 150 per category and SAR 750 in total. At SAR 15,000 and above it lists 10%, with SAR 200 per category and SAR 1,000 in total.

The page lists an annual fee of SAR 500, a monthly profit rate of 2.50% and an extra 2% fee on international transactions.

What tiers and caps mean in practice

With a tiered card like Riyad Bank's, your rate depends on your total monthly spend. Someone spending SAR 2,000 would be below the first tier listed. Someone spending SAR 8,000 would be in the 7% tier. So the monthly total matters, and it can be worth putting more of your spending on one card.

A cap limits what you earn. On a 5% category with a SAR 200 cap, the cap is reached at SAR 4,000 of spend in that category. After that, extra spend in the category earns nothing from that line, so another card may suit the rest.

How mada debit cards fit in

mada is Saudi Arabia's domestic debit network. SAIB's mada page says mada cards work at ATMs and point of sale terminals across the country. It says a mada card works in the Gulf through GCCnet, and around the world when it is co-branded with a scheme such as Visa or Mastercard.

A mada card takes money from your bank account. A credit card lends you money, and you repay it later. The cashback examples above are for credit cards. The pages we read do not mention cashback on mada debit spend, so check your bank's terms if you want to know whether your debit card earns anything.

Habits that help

  • Read each card's tiers and caps in the bank's current terms.
  • Check which categories count, and which merchants are excluded.
  • Pay your balance in full so profit charges do not wipe out the cashback.
  • Look at the annual fee against what you actually earn.

How Fawz helps

Fawz is not released yet, and people join a waiting list. When it is out, it tracks your minimum monthly spend and caps, so you can see which tier you are in and how much cap is left on each card.

It suggests which of your cards to use at the till. Fawz never stores card numbers or bank logins and never reads SMS.

Join the waiting list

Questions people ask

How do cashback credit cards work in Saudi Arabia?

The card returns a share of your spend in set categories. Rates and monthly caps depend on the card. Some cards, like Riyad Bank's Cashback Visa Signature page shows, raise the rate with monthly spend.

What is the monthly cap on Al Rajhi's Platinum Cashback Plus?

The page lists SAR 200 per category and SAR 500 in total each month. Check the bank for current terms.

Do Saudi cashback cards have a minimum spend?

It depends on the card. Riyad Bank's page starts its tiers at SAR 2,500 a month. The Al Rajhi page we read mentions no minimum spend.

What is a mada card?

mada is Saudi Arabia's domestic debit network. SAIB says mada cards work in the Gulf through GCCnet and can carry Visa or Mastercard for use abroad.

Is a mada debit card the same as a credit card?

No. A mada card spends money from your account. A credit card is a credit line you repay. The cashback cards on this page are credit cards.

Do I pay fees on a cashback card?

Often yes. The two pages we read list annual fees of SAR 250 to SAR 500 and a 2% fee on international transactions. Check the current fee schedule.

Sources

  1. Al Rajhi Bank Platinum Cashback Plusalrajhibank.com.sa
  2. Al Rajhi Bank Signature Cashback Plusalrajhibank.com.sa
  3. Riyad Bank Cashback Visa Signatureriyadbank.com
  4. SAIB mada cardssaib.com.sa

Last checked . Terms change, so check the current terms before you rely on an offer.

Fawz is not affiliated with the companies named here. Names and trademarks belong to their owners.