Once a partner has an active payment method, paying them takes under a minute. This article covers the standard flow for any payment type.

💡 Who can do this: Anyone with the Make payments permission. Depending on your company's settings, some payments may need approval before they are sent.

Start a payment

There are two ways to start a transfer:

• From the partner: Open the partner from Payments → Partners, then click Pay.
• From Payments: Go to Payments → New payment, choose the transfer type, and select the partner.

Transfer flow by type

      Local transfer (Saudi IBAN)

1. Select the partner and their local IBAN payment method.
2. Enter the amount in SAR.
3. Add a reference (optional) — invoice number or PO for your records.
4. Review the beneficiary name, IBAN, amount, and any fee.
5. Authorize — complete the OTP or biometric step.
6. Done — you'll see a confirmation with the transaction details.

⚡ Timing: Transfers up to SAR 20,000 are instant. Above SAR 20,000, transfers are processed via SARIE and settle on the next working day (T+1). Transfers made outside business hours or on weekends/public holidays may be processed on the next business day.

❗ Exchange Rate Disclaimer: During SWIFT transfers, a disclaimer is displayed on the review screen regarding potential exchange rate differences. Bank names are also shown on transfer details.

1. Select the partner and their SWIFT payment method.
2. Enter the amount and confirm the currency.
3. Review the exchange rate if the currency differs from SAR.
4. Add a reference (optional).
5. Review all details: beneficiary, account/IBAN, SWIFT/BIC, country, currency, fee allocation (SHA/OUR/BEN), and total cost.
6. Authorize and confirm.

🕐 Timing: SWIFT transfers typically take 1–3 business days, depending on the destination country, receiving bank, and any intermediary banks in the route.

Internal SiFi transfer (instant, free)

1. Select the partner and their SiFi payment method.
2. Enter the amount in SAR.
3. Add a reference (optional).
4. Review the recipient's SiFi business account and amount.
5. Authorize and confirm — the transfer is delivered instantly.

⚡ Free and instant. The recipient sees the funds in their SiFi account immediately.

After you send

The payment appears in Payments with its current status. See Payment statuses explained for what each status means.

Every transfer is automatically linked to the partner's profile. To view a partner's full payment history, open their profile and go to the Transactions tab.

Tips for successful transfers

• Double-check the beneficiary name. The most common reason for failed transfers is a name mismatch between SiFi and the bank's records.
• Use the correct IBAN format. Saudi IBANs start with "SA" followed by 22 characters (24 total).
• Complete the partner profile. Partners with full profiles (address, contact info) have fewer transfer issues, especially for international payments.
• Choose the right fee option for SWIFT. If your supplier expects the exact invoice amount, select OUR so they aren't surprised by deductions.

Common questions

Can I cancel a transfer after sending it?
Once authorized, transfers cannot be cancelled from SiFi. Contact SiFi support immediately if you need to recall a payment.

Can I send a transfer from the mobile app?
Local transfers can be sent from the mobile app. SWIFT and SiFi transfers are currently web-only, with mobile support coming soon.

Paying from a bill instead?
If you're working from a bill or invoice, SiFi can read it and draft the payment for you. See Pay from an invoice.

See also: Approvals & payment policies | Payment methods

Need more help? Contact support@sifi.sa.