The Saudi riyal's exchange rate against the Egyptian pound saw a noticeable fluctuation, trending slightly downward at the close of trading on Sunday, January 11, 2026, across most public and private banks operating in the Egyptian banking sector. This movement in exchange rates comes amid close monitoring by investors and citizens, given the significant economic importance of the Saudi currency in the Egyptian market.
The importance of exchange rate stability and its economic impact
The Saudi riyal exchange rate is a key indicator for a large segment of the Egyptian population, due to the significant volume of trade between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as the large Egyptian community working in the Kingdom whose remittances are a major source of foreign currency. The riyal's value also directly impacts the costs of Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, making it a constant point of interest, especially during religious seasons.
In the context of monetary policies, the stability or fluctuation of the riyal’s exchange rate reflects the supply and demand situation within the banking market, as Egyptian banks adhere to free market mechanisms in determining prices based on available cash flows and reserves, which explains the slight differences in prices between one bank and another.
Saudi Riyal exchange rate in Egyptian banks today
Below are the details of the exchange rates as they appeared on the trading screens at the end of trading on Sunday:
Central Bank of Egypt
The average price of the Saudi Riyal at the Central Bank of Egypt remained stable at 12.57 Egyptian pounds for buying and 12.61 Egyptian pounds for selling , reflecting the market's indicative price.
National Bank of Egypt and Bank Misr
In the two largest state-owned banks, the National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr, the prices were identical, with the riyal recording 12.53 Egyptian pounds for buying and 12.60 Egyptian pounds for selling , reflecting relative stability in the major state-owned banks.
Private and investment banks
Private banks experienced slight variations in prices, which were as follows:
- Commercial International Bank (CIB): Recorded 12.55 Egyptian pounds for buying and 12.60 Egyptian pounds for selling.
- Bank of Alexandria: The price reached 12.56 pounds for buying and 12.60 pounds for selling.
- Suez Canal Bank: Recorded 12.52 pounds for buying and 12.61 pounds for selling.
- Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank: It recorded one of the highest buying prices at 12.57 pounds, while the selling price was 12.60 pounds.
- Faisal Islamic Bank: Recorded 12.52 pounds for buying and 12.59 pounds for selling.
- National Bank of Kuwait: Recorded 12.48 Egyptian pounds for buying and 12.60 Egyptian pounds for selling.
- Cairo Bank: The highest selling price recorded today was 12.63 Egyptian pounds, while the buying price was 12.55 Egyptian pounds.
This slight discrepancy demonstrates the banking sector's flexibility in dealing with foreign currencies, and experts always advise monitoring prices in real time through official bank channels before completing transfers or currency exchange transactions.
