Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH —To encourage the use of coins and promote the culture of saving among children, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education launched an awareness campaign titled “Know its value”.

Roving exhibitions have been organized in a number of primary and intermediate boys’ and girls’ schools in various regions of the Kingdom to raise awareness among students about coins and urge them to use coins in their daily dealings. The caravan started its journey this month from Riyadh.

The activities include distribution of awareness portfolios to schoolboys and girls, special leather wallets for coins and piggy banks.

SAMA said it intends to instill among students the habit of asking for change after shopping.

SAMA said it decided to replace the one-riyal note with the one-riyal coin. Yet it planned to keep dealing with riyal note until it is withdrawn gradually according to a prefixed time-plan.

It said all sixth issues of the new coins are available at SAMA and in all banks branches throughout the Kingdom. In case it is difficult to obtain new coins, a complaint can be filed at the Consumer Protection Department via (samacare.sa) or through the toll-free number 8001256666.