Tabby, the MENA region financial technology platform, has obtained two significant licenses from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). The consumer finance license and SME finance license mark an important step forward, allowing the company to provide more flexible payment solutions for larger purchases and support for small and medium-sized businesses operating on its platform.
With these approvals in place, customers across Saudi Arabia can now spread payments for bigger-ticket items over a longer period.
Eligible users will be able to finance purchases up to SAR 50,000 across as many as 12 monthly installments.
This builds directly on Tabby’s existing service, which already lets shoppers divide smaller buys into four interest-free payments.
The new longer-term plans are designed for amounts starting above SAR 2,000 and focus on higher-value categories such as education, travel, home furnishings, used vehicles, and short-term rentals.
The extended repayment options are already active with several major retailers, including Noon, Fitness Time, Almanea, IKEA, Almosafer, Almatar, and flynas.
They are currently being rolled out to an initial group of customers and will become available to all eligible users in the coming weeks.
Importantly, these plans follow Shariah-compliant principles through a Murabaha structure.
This means the total cost is agreed upon in advance and remains fixed throughout the term, with no compounding charges or late fees applied.
On the business side, the SME finance license enables Tabby to offer working capital solutions to retailers and merchants using its platform.
This funding can help partners manage cash flow and support growth, adding another layer of value to the ecosystem.
Hosam Arab, CEO and Co-Founder of Tabby, highlighted the customer-driven nature of the expansion.
He noted that the service already provides millions of users with greater control over their spending.
The new capabilities extend that same flexibility to more substantial life expenses, such as funding a course, outfitting a home, or planning a trip, directly addressing demand from existing customers.
Tabby is headquartered in Riyadh and operates across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait.
The company partners with over 65,000 global and regional brands, including SHEIN, Amazon, Adidas, Jarir, Samsung, and noon.
It serves more than 25 million registered users throughout the GCC region. Saudi Arabia represents its largest market, making these licenses particularly strategic for scaling operations and entering higher-value spending segments.
The approvals position Tabby to deliver regulated, longer-term financing solutions while maintaining its core focus on accessible, fee-free short-term payments. As the rollout progresses, more shoppers and businesses are expected to benefit from these enhanced tools, further strengthening Tabby’s role in the region’s evolving digital finance landscape.
