Trading from Saudi Arabia: what is different
Saudi Arabia's weekend is Friday and Saturday, so it does not line up with the forex week. Friday is a full trading day — often a volatile one in the afternoon, when US jobs data is released on the first Friday of the month — and Sunday, a working day for you, is a closed market until the week opens late on Sunday night.
The riyal has been pegged at 3.75 to the US dollar since 1986. For a Saudi-based trader a USD account behaves like a riyal account, and the pairs and markets priced in dollars carry no extra currency step.
As the world's largest crude exporter, oil prices touch almost everything in the Saudi economy. Brent and WTI are on the platform with up to 1:20 leverage, alongside gold and 100+ currency pairs.
Forex market hours in Saudi Arabia
The forex market is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, passing from Asia to Europe to North America. These are the main sessions converted to local time in Saudi Arabia.
| Session | Local time, Nov–Mar | Local time, Apr–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo session | 03:00–12:00 | 03:00–12:00 |
| London session | 11:00–20:00 | 10:00–19:00 |
| New York session | 16:00–01:00 | 15:00–00:00 |
| London–New York overlap | 16:00–20:00 | 15:00–19:00 |
| Weekly open | Monday 01:00 | Monday 00:00 |
| Weekly close | Saturday 01:00 | Saturday 00:00 |
The busiest hours for the major pairs and gold are usually the London–New York overlap. Spreads tend to be widest around the daily rollover and in the first hour after the weekly open.
Markets to watch from Saudi Arabia
- Brent and WTI crude oil — the commodities the Saudi economy is most exposed to.
- XAU/USD (gold) — dollar-priced, so no currency conversion against a pegged riyal.
- EUR/USD and GBP/USD — most active from 11:00 Riyadh time (10:00 in summer).
- US indices — busiest from the US stock-market open at 17:30 Riyadh time from November to March.
Accounts and funding
| Account | Minimum deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $100 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Pro | $1,000 | From 0.6 pips | None |
| Raw ECN | $5,000 | From 0.0 pips | $7 per lot |
Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) or Tron (TRC20). There is no Saudi riyal conversion inside your account; any conversion happens wherever you buy or sell USDT. Identity verification is completed once, before your first withdrawal.
Regulation and your responsibility
AlphaFX Pro is an international broker and is not licensed by the Capital Market Authority (CMA). Our registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress. We do not provide investment advice or a local office in Saudi Arabia.
Before opening an account, make sure the law in Saudi Arabia allows you to trade CFDs with a broker based outside the country, and check any rules on moving money abroad. If you are not sure, ask us before you deposit.
Frequently asked questions
Is the forex market open on Friday in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. The forex market trades Monday to Friday, so Friday — a weekend day in Saudi Arabia — is a normal trading day. It closes at 01:00 on Saturday Riyadh time from November to March (00:00 in summer).
When does the forex week open in Riyadh?
Monday at 01:00 Riyadh time from November to March, and at 00:00 (midnight Sunday) from April to October.
What is the minimum deposit from Saudi Arabia?
The Standard account opens from $100, funded in USDT. Pro starts at $1,000 and Raw ECN at $5,000.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is general information, not investment advice. Read the Risk Disclosure.