Sadad

Sadad refers primarily to the SADAD system, a national electronic bill presentment and payment system in Saudi Arabia. It is overseen by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) and operates on the country’s national payments network. The system enables billers—from utilities and telecom operators to government agencies and municipalities—to issue electronic bills to customers, who can then pay them through banks and other participating payment channels.

Operations within the SADAD system involve billers registering and receiving a unique biller ID. Each bill includes a customer reference and payment amount. Consumers can settle their bills via online and mobile banking, ATMs, bank branches, or other SADAD-enabled services. Payments are routed to the relevant biller through the SADAD network and reconciled within a short settlement window.

Scope and impact of SADAD are broad in Saudi Arabia. The system supports a wide range of billers, including electricity, water, telecommunications, and government services. It is widely used by individuals and businesses and serves as a core component of the country’s digital payments infrastructure, helping to reduce paper billing and streamline cash flows for billers.

History and development: SADAD was introduced in the late 1990s as part of SAMA’s payments modernization program and has since expanded to include most major banks and financial institutions in the kingdom, with ongoing updates to enhance security, interoperability, and user convenience.