STC’s balance transfer has a rule that catches people out more than any other: you must keep at least 25 SAR remaining in your account after the transfer completes — not just enough to cover the amount you’re sending.
Quick answer
Dial *133*[recipient number]*[amount]# — for example, *133*055XXXXXXX*10# sends 10 SAR.
The 25 SAR rule, worked through
To send 10 SAR, you don’t just need 10 SAR — you need the 10 SAR transfer, plus the 1 SAR fee, plus 25 SAR left over afterward. That’s 36 SAR minimum in your account before you start. Dial *166# first to check your balance against this total before attempting the transfer.
Amounts must be multiples of 5
Only 5, 10, 15, or 20 SAR are accepted per transaction — nothing in between. Need to send more than 20? You’ll need multiple separate transfers, each with its own 1 SAR fee.
Who can receive
Both sender and recipient must be active STC Sawa (prepaid) accounts — postpaid STC lines, and other operators entirely, are excluded.
Check your balance in detail first: see checking your STC balance.
Verified against STC’s official support guidance, August 2026.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1
Check your balance first
Dial *166# to verify you have sufficient balance. Remember: you need the transfer amount + 1 SAR fee + minimum 25 SAR remaining.
- 2
Dial the transfer code
Type *133* followed by the recipient's full STC number, then * then the amount (5, 10, 15, or 20 SAR), ending with #. Press Call.
- 3
Confirm the transfer
Follow the confirmation prompt. Both you and the recipient receive an SMS confirming the transfer amount and updated balances.
Alternative Methods
Dial *133*Number*Amount# from your phone dialer.
MySTC App > Manage > Balance Transfer
Troubleshooting
"Amount must be in multiples of 5" error
STC only allows transfers in multiples of 5: either 5, 10, 15, or 20 SAR. You cannot transfer odd amounts like 7 or 12 SAR.
"Recipient not eligible" error
The recipient must be on an active STC Sawa (prepaid) account. Verify they are on STC and not Mobily or Zain. Postpaid STC customers cannot receive balance transfers.
Look Up More USSD Codes
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer STC balance to Mobily or Zain?
No, only between STC Sawa prepaid accounts.
Why does my transfer fail with "insufficient balance" even though I have enough to send?
You must keep 25 SAR remaining after the transfer — for a 10 SAR transfer you need 36 SAR total (10 + 1 fee + 25 minimum remaining).
Can I transfer more than 20 SAR at once?
No, the maximum per transaction is 20 SAR — send larger amounts as multiple separate transfers.
What amounts are accepted?
Only multiples of 5: 5, 10, 15, or 20 SAR.
Can postpaid STC customers receive transfers?
No, this service is for Sawa prepaid accounts only, on both the sending and receiving side.