What is Saudi Arabia’s Digital Riyal : What’s coming, when, and why it matters, explained
Saudi Arabia is steadily progressing towards launching a digital riyal, initially focusing on wholesale applications. Through participation in the mBridge project and collaborations with regional partners like the UAE, Saudi Arabia aims to enhance cross-border payments. While a retail CBDC launch isn't imminent, ongoing experiments and regulatory developments suggest a potential rollout around 2026 or later.
Saudi Arabia is steadily progressing towards launching a digital riyal, initially focusing on wholesale applications. Through participation in the mBridge project and collaborations with regional partners like the UAE, Saudi Arabia aims to enhance cross-border payments. While a retail CBDC launch isn't imminent, ongoing experiments and regulatory developments suggest a potential rollout around 2026 or later.
