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RCS business messaging in Saudi Arabia

Turn the SMS you already send to Saudi customers into branded, interactive messages in Arabic: a verified sender with your logo, rich cards, carousels and tap-to-reply buttons, with SMS from your registered sender name for phones that cannot receive RCS. BroadNet is licensed in every country where it operates.

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Arabic RCS message to a Saudi customer from a verified brand sender, with a rich card and suggested replies. Brand and content are sample data.

Short answer

Updated

OmniChannels.ai sends RCS business messages to Saudi numbers through BroadNet, a Google RBM partner with an office in Riyadh. Customers see your verified brand, Arabic or English rich cards, carousels and suggested replies. RCS reach on Saudi networks is subject to operator availability, confirmed during onboarding; everyone else receives the message as SMS from your CST-registered sender name.

Trusted infrastructureOfficial Meta Business Solution ProviderGoogle RBM partnerGSMA memberISO/IEC 27001:2022ISO/IEC 27018ISO 9001:2015ISO 22301SOC 2 Type IIGDPR compliant

What RCS gives brands in Saudi Arabia

RCS runs in the phone's default messaging app. Rich features show where the recipient's phone and network support them; everyone else gets SMS.

RCS in Saudi Arabia: what is ready and what is confirmed at onboarding

A practical summary, not legal advice. CST and operator positions change, so we confirm them for your traffic before launch.

ItemStatusDetails
Verified sender, rich cards, carousels, chipsAvailableAvailable on the platform and the API today, for brands approved through Google's RBM programme.
RCS reach on Saudi networksOn requestSubject to operator availability, confirmed during onboarding. We confirm which networks and handsets can receive your agent before you commit volumes.
SMS fallback sender nameAvailableRegistered under CST rules for STC, Mobily and Zain, one sender name per legal entity per use case, usually within 5 to 10 business days.
Promotional sending hoursAvailableCST's anti-spam regulations ban promotional messages from 22:00 to 09:00, and from 01:00 to 12:00 during Ramadan. Transactional messages run 24/7.
Consent and data protectionAvailablePromotional messages need verifiable opt-in captured in line with the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law, and every opt-out must be honoured.
Pricing—RCS pricing is on request: contact sales for a quote based on your use case and volumes. SMS fallback in Saudi Arabia is listed from US$0.016 per segment, excluding taxes.

How to launch RCS for customers in Saudi Arabia

Two approvals set the timeline: Google brand verification for the RCS agent and CST registration for the SMS fallback sender name. We run them in parallel.

  1. 1

    Choose use cases

    Start with messages that benefit most from rich content, such as appointment confirmations, delivery updates, OTPs or opted-in offers.

  2. 2

    Prepare documents and brand kit

    Commercial registration, authorization letter, Arabic and English display name, logo, brand colour, description and privacy policy link.

  3. 3

    Register and verify

    We submit your RBM agent for verification, confirm Saudi operator availability and register the fallback sender name under CST rules.

  4. 4

    Design in Arabic

    Build cards and chips in Arabic first, then write a short SMS fallback for each message, keeping to the 70-character Unicode segment.

  5. 5

    Test, then launch

    Send to internal numbers on STC, Mobily and Zain, check which channel each one received, and schedule promotions inside permitted hours.

Is RCS right for your Saudi traffic?

A good fit when

  • You send high volumes of SMS to Saudi numbers and want a branded, interactive upgrade for the phones that support it.
  • Your audience prefers Arabic and your messages benefit from images, choices and buttons.
  • You operate in a sector where impersonation is a risk, such as banking, healthcare or e-commerce, and want a verified sender.
  • You also message the UAE or other GCC markets and want one provider for RCS, SMS and WhatsApp.

Good to know before you start

  • RCS reach depends on operator availability, handsets and messaging apps in the Kingdom, confirmed during onboarding.
  • WhatsApp is a primary channel for many Saudi customers; RCS is strongest as an upgrade to SMS, not a replacement for WhatsApp.
  • Promotional sends must respect CST hours and opt-in rules on every channel, including the SMS fallback.
  • Google verification, operator review and sender name registration take time, so allow a lead time before campaigns such as Ramadan or White Friday.

Channel fallback, step by step

Send once through the platform or the API. If a step isn't delivered in time, the next channel takes over automatically, and every status comes back in one webhook format.

  1. 01

    WhatsApp

    Rich template with buttons, read receipts and replies in the inbox

  2. 02

    RCS

    Branded rich card where the handset and operator support RCS

  3. 03

    SMS

    Reaches every mobile phone over direct operator routes

  4. 04

    Voice

    A spoken code or message when text isn't getting through

Each step waits for a delivery receipt; the timeout is set per use caseOne delivery status per message comes back to your webhook

RCS in Saudi Arabia: common questions

Can I send RCS business messages in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. OmniChannels.ai sends RCS through BroadNet's Google RBM partnership. Whether each recipient receives RCS depends on operator availability, the handset and its messaging app, which we confirm for your agent during onboarding. Anyone who cannot receive RCS gets the message as SMS from your registered sender name.

Do I need a CST-registered sender name for RCS?

The RCS agent is verified through Google, but the SMS fallback needs a sender name registered under CST rules for STC, Mobily and Zain. Registration usually takes 5 to 10 business days with your commercial registration and an authorization letter, so we start it alongside the RCS agent.

Can RCS messages be fully in Arabic?

Yes. Titles, descriptions, buttons and suggested replies can all be in Arabic, and they display right to left. Write the SMS fallback in Arabic too, keeping in mind that Arabic SMS uses Unicode, which fits 70 characters in one segment.

When can I send promotional RCS in Saudi Arabia?

Treat promotional RCS like promotional SMS. CST's anti-spam regulations ban promotional messages from 22:00 to 09:00, and from 01:00 to 12:00 during Ramadan, and they apply to the SMS fallback. Transactional messages such as OTPs can be sent at any hour.

How much does RCS cost in Saudi Arabia?

RCS pricing in Saudi Arabia is on request, because it depends on the operator, the message type and your volumes: contact sales for RCS pricing. Messages that fall back to SMS are billed at the Saudi SMS rate, listed from US$0.016 per segment excluding VAT. Your quote confirms the rates, with invoicing in SAR or USD.

Will customers on iPhone receive RCS?

It depends on the iOS version, the operator and Apple's rollout, which differs by market. You do not need to know in advance: when a recipient cannot receive RCS, the platform sends the SMS version, and the delivery report shows which channel was used for each number.

Is RCS better than WhatsApp for Saudi customers?

They solve different problems. WhatsApp needs customers to opt in to your WhatsApp number and approved templates; RCS upgrades the SMS you already send to registered numbers. Many brands set a per-use-case order such as WhatsApp, then RCS, then SMS.

Sources

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Plan your Saudi RCS launch

Share your use cases, sender names and current SMS volumes in the Kingdom. We'll confirm operator availability, register your fallback sender name and design the Arabic messages with you.

Contact salesRequest a pricing breakdown