Office Compatibility Issues

How to Add the Saudi Riyal Currency Symbol in Microsoft Office

Emma Brown Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to locate and insert the official Saudi Riyal currency symbol into Microsoft Office documents and spreadsheets.

How to Add the Saudi Riyal Currency Symbol to Microsoft Office

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting financial documents and data arrays in Excel with the official Saudi Arabian currency symbol.
Observed behavior: The newly issued Saudi Riyal symbol is not natively available in standard Office formatting options because full support depends on global Unicode updates and system font availability.

Before you start

Ensure your Microsoft Office suite and operating system fonts are fully updated, as new currency symbols rely on the latest Unicode standard releases to display correctly.

Solution 1Recommended

Apply a Custom Currency Format in Excel

Since native symbol support may be pending, you can manually define a custom number format in Excel to display the Saudi Riyal abbreviation next to your financial figures.

Until the newly issued symbol is fully supported via a Unicode update, defining a custom rule is the most reliable way to display Saudi currency uniformly across your spreadsheets.

Select Data

Highlight the cells in your Excel worksheet that contain the financial data you want to format.

Open Format Cells

Right-click the selected cells and choose 'Format Cells', or press Ctrl+1 on your keyboard.

Define Custom Rule

Navigate to the 'Number' tab and click on 'Custom' in the Category list. In the 'Type' box, enter [$SAR] #,##0.00 or your preferred Arabic equivalent, then click 'OK'.

Consistent Formatting: Using a custom format ensures your numbers are still treated as math values, allowing you to perform calculations without errors.

Solution 2

Insert the Symbol as Standard Text

For standard Word documents or isolated instances, you can manually type the abbreviation or use available Arabic script characters.

Solution 3

Submit Feedback for Native Support

The newly issued Saudi Riyal sign requires an official Unicode update from Microsoft. You can submit a request to expedite this addition.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Format Financial Documents Easily with WPS Office

Waiting for Unicode and font updates in Microsoft Office can disrupt your financial reporting. Switch to WPS Office, a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative that makes managing custom spreadsheets and documents completely hassle-free.

1. Download WPS Office: Install the free WPS Office suite on your preferred operating system.
2. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing financial documents without losing formatting.
3. Apply Custom Formats: Right-click your data, select 'Format Cells', and easily add your custom Saudi Riyal abbreviation.

Seamlessly open, edit, and save Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and Word (.docx) files.Easily apply custom currency formatting and formulas to your financial records.Lightweight installation with a familiar, easy-to-use tabbed interface.Completely free to download and use with excellent cross-platform support.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the new Saudi Riyal symbol missing from my Excel currency dropdown?

The official Saudi Riyal symbol was recently issued and requires a global update to the Unicode standard. Once Unicode and your operating system fonts fully integrate it, Office applications will natively include it in the dropdown menu.

Can I copy and paste the Saudi Riyal symbol into my Word document?

Yes, if you find the official character online, you can copy and paste it. However, it may appear as a blank square or question mark if your currently selected font does not yet contain the glyph for that specific Unicode character.

How do I represent the Saudi Riyal before the software update is available?

The most effective temporary solution is to use the standard ISO abbreviation 'SAR' or the Arabic text 'ر.س' in your custom Excel number formats or standard text documents.

Does updating Microsoft Office guarantee I will get the new currency symbol?

Not immediately. The symbol's availability is a combination of Microsoft Office updates and the underlying operating system updating its default fonts to incorporate the newest Unicode character database.

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