Saudi Personal Loan Calculator 2026
Estimate the monthly installment and total cost of a personal finance loan in Saudi Arabia from the bank's flat rate, and check it against the SAMA one-third salary limit.
| Total profit / interest | — |
|---|---|
| Total repaid (incl. fee) | — |
| Equivalent APR (reducing balance) | — |
| Flat-rate equivalent | — |
In short
Saudi banks quote personal finance at a flat annual rate; the true APR on a reducing balance is roughly 1.8 times higher (a 4.5% flat rate over 5 years is about 8.3% APR). SAMA rules cap total monthly instalments at one-third of salary (25% for retirees), terms at 5 years, admin fees at 1% up to SAR 5,000 and early-settlement fees at 3 months' profit or SAR 5,000.
Who this is for: Borrowers in Saudi Arabia comparing personal finance offers on true APR and checking the SAMA salary limit.
How Saudi personal finance is priced and limited
- Flat vs APR: Saudi banks usually advertise a flat annual rate (e.g. 4.5%). Because the rate applies to the full original amount every year, the true reducing-balance APR is roughly 1.8× higher — around 8.3% for a 4.5% flat 5-year loan. SAMA requires the APR to be disclosed in the contract; always compare that figure.
- Debt burden ratio: under SAMA's responsible-lending rules, total monthly instalments (including credit-card minimums and car finance) are capped at one-third of salary for salaried borrowers and 25% for retirees. Real-estate finance has a separate, higher ceiling.
- Term: personal finance runs up to 5 years; the installment formula is the standard amortising one.
- Fees: admin fee of up to 1% capped at SAR 5,000; early-settlement fee capped at 3 months' profit or SAR 5,000, whichever is lower.
- Islamic personal finance (tawarruq / murabaha) quotes a profit rate instead of interest; the arithmetic is identical.
See also: Saudi Home Loan Calculator.
Assumptions
- Flat rate: installment = (P + P × rate × years) ÷ months; APR solved numerically as the reducing rate giving the same payment.
- APR mode uses the standard amortising formula.
- Debt burden = (this installment + other instalments) ÷ salary against the 33.33% / 25% limits from the Saudi rules file; term capped at 5 years.
Worked example
Interest = 100,000 × 4.5% × 5 = SAR 22,500 → installment = 122,500 ÷ 60 = SAR 2,042 a month; equivalent APR ≈ 8.3%.
Debt burden = 2,042 ÷ 9,000 = 22.7% — within the 33% limit; maximum installment at this salary = SAR 3,000, about SAR 147,000 of borrowing at this rate.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the bank's flat rate look so low?
A flat rate ignores the fact that you repay principal every month, so interest keeps being charged on money you no longer owe. The APR, which SAMA requires banks to disclose, is the comparable number.
Can expatriates get personal loans in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, from most banks, usually with a salary-transfer arrangement, a valid Iqama and a term that ends before the Iqama or contract expiry.
What is the maximum personal loan amount?
There is no fixed cap; it is driven by the one-third salary rule and the 5-year term. On a SAR 10,000 salary with no other debt, roughly SAR 160,000–165,000 at typical rates.
Does a credit card balance count towards the one-third limit?
Yes — banks count the minimum monthly payment on cards and all existing instalments when checking the ratio.
What is the maximum personal loan in Saudi Arabia?
There is no fixed cap; the one-third-of-salary instalment rule and the 5-year term set it — roughly 16 times monthly salary at typical rates with no other debt.
What is the difference between flat rate and APR?
A flat rate charges on the original amount all term; APR reflects the falling balance and is about 1.8× the flat rate on a 5-year loan.
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