What Is the National Payment System in Saudi Arabia?

The Mada system is the national payment system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It enables electronic payments through various payment channels and e-commerce points of sale via a central payment system. It redirects financial transactions conducted by cards issued by local Saudi banks.

The Mada system seeks to enhance the growth of e-commerce, points of sale, and automated teller machines. Mada cards are used within the framework of a wide range of transactions, including purchases, withdrawals, and online payments. Mada cards are also approved within other networks, such as the Gulf Payment Network.

Mada system features modern payment technologies. In fact, it enables companies to become a part of the national payment ecosystem, where the system becomes a cash alternative. The system is activated upon connecting the cardholder to his account, where payments are directly deducted from the relevant account.