mada is the new identity of the Saudi Payment Network (SPAN) and the advanced generation of the electronic payments in Saudi Arabia. it connects all automated teller machines (ATMs) and point-of-sale (POS) terminals throughout the country to a central payment switch that in turn re-routes the financial transactions between a merchant’s bank and the card issuer bank.

mada card is a debit card issued by local banks that allows a cardholder to access funds in their accounts. And it works in the same mechanism of regular ATMS cards with newer standards of security and added-value features.

mada can be used in all automated teller machines (ATMs) and point-of-sale (POS) terminals offered by local banks throughout the country. Additionally, it can also be used regionally and globally through connecting with other payment systems such as GCC Net, VISA, MasterCard, and American Express to provide mada cardholders with a wider acceptance locally and overseas

• Increased daily transaction limit on POS terminals from SAR 20,000 to SAR 60,000.
• Convenience to benefit from Naqd service to withdraw cash from merchants’ cash supply in outlets. Click here for more information on Naqd service.
• A seven-fold enhanced capacity in comparison to the previous generation.
• An unprecedented standard of enhanced transactions speed and performance.
• A wider reach of usage.
• Instant SMS notifications to cardholders on any cash withdrawals or POS transactions.

This service allows customers to request a cash amount of up to SAR 400 right at point of-sale terminals compatible with mada standards. There is no need to visit the ATM, the cash amount will be deducted directly from your personal bank account along with your purchase amount. 

All mada debit cards technically support this feature. Cardholders may need to activate the service by calling the issuer bank before using it through subscribed merchants whom are recognized by the "Naqd servie is available here" sticker.

atheer is a value-added service for mada that allows cardholders to make their purchase  payments in a safe, easy and fast manner simply by waving the card in front of the PoS terminal. mada cardholders can use this service for any single purchase amount  that is less than 100 SAR. Cardholders may be asked to enter their PIN occasionally for extra security.

atheer is available at merchant locations that have requested service activation from their banks.Merchants whom accept atheer can be known through the service sticker displayed at cashiers.

Your bank will either replace your current SPAN card or will issue a new card ( if you currently do not have a SPAN card) upon your request  

Yes. using of mada cards is permissible regionally within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) through GCCnet, and globally when the card is co-branded with other global payment systems such as “Visa”, “MasterCard”, “Cirrus”, “Plus”, and “Maestro”.

No. The bank will issue mada card when opening a new account and renewing  card free of charge in accordance to SAMA’s rules and regulations.

No. The service is completely free of charge for both merchants -on the cash part- and cardholders.

Yes, cash given away is only in Saudi Riyals.

No. Naqd service is only avilable to mada cards

.The maximum cash amount that can be claimed per day is SR 400 and the minimum is SR 1

No as long as the accumulated amount of cash received during the day is SR 400.

Yes. 

in the PoS receipt it will appear as the following:

Purchase amount: SR XX

Cashback amount: SR XX

Total amount: SR XX

You can get mada atheer card by contacting your bank either by requesting it or when you renew your mada payment card.

• Look for atheer symbol when paying for items up to the value of SAR 100
• Touch your atheer card against the symbol until the lights turn green
• A beep tone indicates successful payment. For extra security you may occasionally be asked to enter your PIN

Yes. Transactions through this service appear on bank statements of both merchants and cardholders

No. atheer service is free for cardholders and merchant can activate at no cost.

In cases where mada card is lost or stolen, contact your bank directly to report the incident and to have a new mada card issued for you.

No. making payments through POS erminals is completely free of charge on cardholders.

The commercial sector is supervised by the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, and complaints can be filed through the ministry’s website.

No. No limit is set on the frequency of using  your bank card as long as the accumulated amount of purchases equal or below SAR 60,000.

For Cardholders:

• A fast, safe, and convenient payment channel for low value purchases.

For Merchants:

• Serving customers in a faster manner.

• Reducing the amount of cash at the outlet.

• Reducing regular cash handling costs.

• Reducing the need to make small donations available.

• Encouraging cardholders to revisit merchants locations.

Yes. Bank statements for both merchant and cardholder will include indicate transactions conducted through this service.

Yes, the cardholder will be able to use this payment technology outside the kingdom subject to the payment systems rules governing the other country.

Yes. Cardholder will be responsible for purchase transactions done without the need to enter the PIN. It’s worth highlighting that the cardholder should receive an SMS message on his mobile for any transaction. Also, we always recommend that the cardholder inform his banks immediately once his card has been lost or stolen.

No, as merchant need to input the value amount into the terminal plus the card needs to be waved in a very close proximity to the reader for the transaction to be happen.

Cardholder must contact the bank immediately and report the lost or stolen card.

• Benefit from the increased daily purchase limit made by cards to SAR 60,000.
• Reduction of the costs associated with cash transactions in terms of time needed to count them, validate paper notes genuinty, and need to always have smaller bank notes available.
• Limit of risks and human errors related to processes of daily inventories and revenues, and accounting bookkeeping.
• Less burden on daily cash collections processes and the hazard to transit funds and deposit it with banks.
• A better position to monitor payment inflows coming into the business and the ability to track sales transactions through different kinds of statements provided by their bank.
• High tendency for sales volumes and values to increase with the growing number of debit cards in the community.
• Speed and convenience in completing purchase transactions in connection to around the clock help service to ensure quality of service.
• Benefit from banks exclusive offers and rewards programs.

No. It is illegal practice and in case occurred then it is a violation of the applicable rules and policies that entail the merchant to its consequences. 

Yes. The terminal will accept wither SPAN or mada debit cards 

Merchants perform the reconciliation activity to ultimately deposit the payments processed during the day into their bank accounts. This process is ideally performed daily when the sales cycle is done. 

It is a mutually signed document that defines the responsibilities of merchants and the bank detailing all elements in relation to the POS service being offered.

A merchant service provider (MSP) is a 3^rd party agent assigned by the merchants’ banks in accordance to SAMA procedures to provide a full suite of merchant services and support within the context of POS installation and on-going maintenance.

• Exemption from installation fees.
• Exemption from terminal fees.
• Exemption from monthly fees.
• Provision of maintenance and help desk around the clock.

MSC is calculated (if applicable) on the basis of the transaction value, For example:

Example (1): if a customer (cardholder) used his debit card to pay for goods worth SR 35, then the merchant may be entitled to pay his bank an amount of SR 0.28 only for the service. Customer won’t pay any other fees for using his card to pay.

Example (2): if a customer (cardholder) used his debit card to pay for goods worth SR 20,000, then the merchant may be entitled to pay his bank an amount of SR 40 only for the service. Customer won’t pay any other fees for using his card to pay.

If you already provide the  POS service you may contact your bank directly to upgrade  it with mada standards or to enquire on when the bank will approach you to do so. If you want to provide the service for the first time, you can choose to do so through any of the banks listed under the Merchants tab. 

Depending on your business sector,  your  bank will  tailor your POS device  to suit your  business needs through  different connectivity options (mobile (GPRS), dial-up, Internet Protocol (IP)) and a wide choice of POS models.

POS service has been offered by banks with specific fees. After all, this fees is subject to the commercial contract signed by both sides. The fees interchange model was recalculated to be in line with global best practices. As a result, acquiring banks are permitted to levy a maximum of 0.80% of purchase value for each transaction up to an Merchant Service Charge (MSC) of SAR 40 (maximum) applies.

Yes, atheer transaction can be canceled similar to all other mada transactions.

No. the terminal will only accept payment once in this scenario.