Saudi Arabia 2007 1 Riyal note (perhaps the last?) - ٱلْمَمْلَكَة ٱلْعَرَبِيَّة ٱلسَّعُوْدِيَّة

In 2016, Saudi Arabia eliminated the 1 Riyal paper note for a 1 Riyal coin, so the sixth and latest issue of its national banknotes begins with the five Riyal note. The 1 Riyal note from the fifth issue, released in 2007, might remain the the country's final 1 Riyal paper note. Here is that fifth issue 1 Riyal note with rough translations below.



Perhaps foreshadowing its eventual replacement, the note features an image of the first Islamic coin, a dirham with center text of "لا اله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له" or "There is no God but Allah alone with no partner or associate." The legend reads "محمد رسول الله أرسله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله" or "Muhammud is the messenger of Allah, He sent him with the guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may cause it to prevail over all religion." A portrait of former King Abdullah, who died in early 2015, sits to the right of the coin. The Arabic words "Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority" مؤسسة النقد العربي السعودي dominate the top center of the bill and just below that, the Royal Decree for the issue of the banknotes displays in rather small eye-straining text, with the Decree's date of issuance to the far left, "١٣٧٩/٧/١" or Hijri 1379/7/1 or 1 Rajab 1379 or approximately December 30, 1959 Gregorian. The large Arabic letters to slightly right center bottom read "ريال واحد" or 1 Riyal. "١," the numeric representation of the denomination appears in top right and bottom left, and also just to the right of the water mark on the bill's left side and in a small green rectangle to the left of the watermark. On the bottom row, to the right of the largest "١," the year "١٤٢٨," 1428, or 2007 displays. Next to the right sits the signature of the Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority or "المحافظ" To extreme right, following the large Arabic denomination, the signature of the Minister of Finance or "وزير المالية" appears. The serial number displays in both Arabic and western formats, the latter in red font of gradually increasing size to extreme right.



The bill's reverse shows the Saudi Arabia Monetary Authority's headquarters, located in Riyadh. The emblem of the kingdom sits above the "E" of the words "One Riyal" at bottom right.

The size of Saudi Arabian notes corresponds to their denomination. Not surprisingly, the 1 Riyal note has the smallest dimensions of the fifth issue, and the largest note, the 500 Riyals, remains the largest.

Despite its low denomination, the note utilizes many security features, including the watermark, microprinting, an area that glows under fluorescent light (to the left of the headquarters), an inner band that shows the acronym "SAMA" repeatedly when lit from behind, and a tactile number (the largest "١" on the front has a raised texture).

As of this moment, 1 Saudi Arabian Riyal equals about 0.27 USD. As of 2016, these notes may still circulate with the new 1 Riyal coins (does anyone happen to know?). That same year, both 1 and 2 Riyal coins appeared and the 500 Riyal still represented the largest banknote denomination. Given this, the fifth issue just may be the final 1 Riyal note. Let the image of the coin on the front serve as a reminder.