How can foreigners make smooth payments in Middle Eastern countries?

Smooth payments for foreigners in Middle Eastern countries require consideration of regional differences, payment habits and regulatory requirements. Below is a step-by-step guide and considerations:

I. Mainstream payment methods

1. in cash

   • Credit cards are popular in more developed areas such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, but Iraq and Yemen are still cash-based. It is advisable to carry US Dollars/Euros to exchange for local currencies (e.g. Saudi Riyal SAR, UAE Dirham AED).

2. ATM card

   • Visa/Mastercard: Common to large shopping malls and hotels; some countries (e.g., Iran) cannot be used due to sanctions.
   • local cardIn Saudi Arabia, "Mada" and the United Arab Emirates, "Nol" require a local bank account, which is difficult for foreigners to handle in the short term.

3. mobile payment

   • Localised applications are popular in the Gulf States:
     • Saudi Arabia/UAE: Apple Pay, Samsung Pay (bundled with international cards).
     • Egypt: Vodafone Cash (local mobile phone number registration required).

4. Bank transfers and cheques

   • Commonly used in corporate scenarios, proof of source of funds may be required for large personal payments.

5. Hawala(informal remittances)*
   *- Common in less developed regions such as Afghanistan, but lacks legal safeguards and is used with caution.

II. Regional differences and considerations

surname San practical skill

1. 💡 Options : Apply for a separate e-wallet (e.g. Zain Cash) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
2. 📱 mobile phone verification : Egypt can pay its utility bills through Fawry after getting an Orange SIM card.
3. 🏦 Certificate of Compliance :: Cash transactions in excess of $10,000 in the Gulf States are subject to source declaration.

4 High-risk avoidance

• ✖️ Avoid using international credit cards in Yemen/Syria (high rate of theft).
• 🔐 Prefer noon.com over cross-border platforms for online shopping in Dubai Free Zone in case of customs seizure.

Most scenarios can be covered through a combination of prepaid tools + limited cash + international cards.

IV. High-risk avoidance (continued)

• ✖️ Iran Sanctions Restrictions: International credit/debit cards are not available and it is recommended to exchange Iranian Rials (IRR) in advance through third party payment platforms (e.g. LocalBitcoins) or bring cash in Euros to exchange locally.
• 🔐 Saudi gender segregation policy: Women who swipe their cards alone may be asked to provide authorisation documents from a male guardian (Mahram), and it is recommended to use a prepaid card without a gender marker.

V. Country/area specific solutions

(1) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries

✅ Recommendation: Apple Pay + International Credit Cards + Mada Compatible POS
⚠️ take note of::

• abbr. for Saudi Arabia: Some POS machines only accept Mada network, try to top up your STC Pay e-wallet and scan the code to pay.
• UAE: Careem Taxi tied to PayPal may fail, it's more stable to use a Visa card issued by a local bank instead.

(2) North Africa (Egypt, Morocco)

✅ Recommendation: Vodafone Cash (Egypt) / CIB Smart Wallet (Morocco) + Western Union Cash Transfer
💡 finesse: Keep receipts when paying bills in cash at Fawry outlets in Egypt in case of disputes.

*(3) Conflict regions (Yemen, Syria)

⛔ only option : Hawala money transfers or black market exchange of US dollars in cash (exchange rate difference can be up to 30%).

6 Special access for corporate payments

1. Dubai Free Trade Zone Company : Multi-currency accounts through local banks (e.g. Emirates NBD) that support cross-border settlement in RMB (CIPS).
2. Iran Trade Avoidance Programme:
   • UAE's bourse buys gold to hedge the risk of rial depreciation.
   • Turkish or Omani transit settlement (Turkish Bank Ziraat can handle some Iranian-linked transactions).

7 Emergency response

🆘 Scenario 1: Bank card swallowed by ATM → GCC countries call the card issuer's international customer service + contact the local central bank to file a complaint (Saudi SAMA responds fastest).
🆘 Scenario 2: Encountering a forced tip(Iraqi border) → Keep small US dollar change in a separate place to avoid showing wealth.

Final Recommendations 📌

Choose a combination of strategies for different purposes:
|Travellers|Digital Nomads|Traders|
|—|—|—|
|- Revolut Virtual Card
- AED/SAR Cash |- Wise Multi-Currency Accounts
- STC Pay Saudi Arabia Edition | - HSBC MENA Business Accounts
- Dubai Trade Letter of Credit

Keep at least $200 in emergency cash stashed in various locations!