Thailand vs Saudi Arabia · Real-time payment systems compared
| Capability | PromptPay | Sarie |
|---|---|---|
| QR Code Payments | ✓ | — |
| Wallet Support | — | — |
| 24/7 Availability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-Border | ✓ | — |
| ISO 20022 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Request to Pay | — | — |
| Open API | ◐ | ◐ |
| Alias/Proxy | ✓ | ✓ |
Thailand's national e-payment system, a core part of the government's National e-Payment Master Plan. PromptPay links bank accounts to mobile numbers or national citizen IDs for instant P2P transfers, and includes a standardised QR code system for merchant payments. Operated by NITMX under Bank of Thailand oversight, it connects all major banks with zero fees for transfers under THB 5,000. PromptPay has cross-border QR linkages with Singapore's PayNow, Malaysia's DuitNow, and other ASEAN systems.
Saudi Arabia's instant payment system launched by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) as part of the Vision 2030 digital transformation agenda. sarie (meaning "fast" in Arabic) enables 24/7 real-time transfers between banks and fintech providers via IBAN or mobile number, with settlement in seconds. Built on ISO 20022 messaging, it supports P2P, P2M, and bulk payments. The system is a key enabler of Saudi Arabia's goal to increase non-cash transactions to 70% by 2030.