Tagged: SAMA

Mastercard and Loop to Launch Payment Solutions in Saudi Arabia

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) has partnered with Loop, a digital payments technology company licensed by SAMA, to empower businesses and consumers across the Kingdom with greater access to advanced credit card offerings and innovative payment solutions. The partnership will see Loop “expand its portfolio, enhance its… Read More

Saudi Central Bank SAMA Seeks Public Consultation on Amendments to Principles of Governance for Financial Institutions

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) seeks public consultation on draft amendments to the “Key Principles of Governance in Financial Institutions under the control and supervision of the Saudi Central Bank.” In this context, SAMA invites stakeholders to “provide suggestions and observations on the draft by… Read More

Saudi Arabia: Lending Platform Dnaneer Gets Crowdfunding License

Lending platform Dnaneer Financing Co, has reportedly received authorization from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) to operate a crowdfunding platform in Saudi Arabia. The authorization gives the company the go signal to offer debt-based crowdfunding solutions in the Kingdom, making it the eight fintech firm… Read More

Saudi Central Bank SAMA Releases Performance Report of Finance Firms Sector and Real Estate Refinance for H1 2023

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) issued its semi-annual performance report of the finance companies sector and real estate refinance for H1 2023. According to the report, most of the indicators in the finance companies sector “grew at varying rates in H1 2023.” The paid-up share… Read More

Saudi Arabia: SAMA Licenses Consumer Finance Firm, Approves Insurtech Rules, Shares Other Updates

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licensed “Loan” to provide consumer microfinance solutions through financial technology. With Loan, there are now six authorized companies “offering consumer microfinance solutions in Saudi Arabia.” This decision reflects SAMA‘s endeavor “to support the finance sector, increase efficiency of financial transactions,… Read More

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Announces Regulations for Payments, Payment Services

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announces the issuance of the Implementing Regulations for the Law of Payments and Payment Services “to support the objective of enhancing soundness and efficiency of the payment systems infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.” The relevant regulatory and supervisory frameworks enable SAMA… Read More

BNPL: Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Seeks Public Consultation on Rules for Regulating Buy Now Pay Later Fintechs

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) seeks public consultation on the draft “Rules for Regulating Buy Now Pay later (BNPL) Companies.” In the interest of transparency and wider participation, SAMA reportedly “invites stakeholders and public to provide suggestions and observations on the draft Rules by visiting… Read More

Saudi Arabia: SAMA Announces Licensing of Mani, a Debt Collection Firm

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced the licensing of Mani, a finance debt collection company to provide debt collection service for finance institutions. The license was granted to the company after completing all requirements stipulated in the “Rules of Licensing Finance Support Activities” issued by… Read More

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Announces Licensing of Finance Firms Focused on Debt-based Crowdfunding

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced the licensing of two finance companies that are “specialized in debt-based crowdfunding, namely: Forus and Tameed.” The licenses were “granted to the companies after successful testing of their solutions in SAMA’s Regulatory Sandbox; an experimental environment dedicated to innovative… Read More

Saudi Central Bank Launches Open Banking Lab

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced the launch of the Open Banking Lab according to the Open Banking Framework issued by SAMA November 2022. The Open Banking Lab aims “to enable innovation and accelerate the development of open banking services in the Kingdom as it… Read More

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Issues License to Manafa, a Finance Company

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) recently announced the licensing of Manafa – a finance company specialized in debt-based crowdfunding in the Kingdom. Manafa is “a closed joint-stock company with a capital of SAR 40 million.” The license was granted to the company “after a successful… Read More

Saudi Arabia: SAMA Announces Issuance of Open Banking Framework

SAMA announced the issuance of the Open Banking Framework as one of the key outputs of the Open Banking Program, which “includes a comprehensive set of legislation, regulatory guidelines and technical standards based on international best practices to enable banks and fintechs to provide open… Read More

Saudi Central Bank Issues Payment Licenses to Arab Sea Financial Company, Fatoraah

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announces the licensing of two payment financial technology companies, including: Arab Sea Financial Company and Fatoraah in order to provide Payment services for e-commerce. This brings the total number of payment companies licensed by SAMA “to 21 companies, in addition… Read More

Saudi Central Bank Grants Permit to Fintech Firms Lean Technologies, Mod5r

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) recently announced granting permit to a new batch of companies; Lean Technologies and Mod5r to “provide Open Banking Solutions; bringing the total number of permitted Fintech companies operating under its Regulatory Sandbox to 38.” This step completes “a series of… Read More

Positive Facilities or Ejabiah in Saudi Arabia Awards Core Banking System Contract to Islamic Software Provider Path Solutions

The newly formed financing firm in Saudi Arabia, Positive Facilities Co. Ltd. (Ejabiah), has reportedly entered an agreement with Path Solutions for the introduction of its interest-free Core banking platform. Ejabiah will be providing a unique 0% interest financing product, which is somewhat similar to… Read More

Saudi Arabia Grants Digital Banking License to STC Pay, a Virtual Payments Solution Provider

The Saudi cabinet has reportedly granted a digital banking permit to STC Pay, a virtual payments solution provider that’s a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Telecom. STC Pay will now be converted into a domestic virtual bank, with a capital of SAR 2.5 billion (appr…. Read More

Saudi Arabia based BNPL Fintech Finalizes $110M Series A Mega-Round led by Checkout.com

Saudi Arabia-based Tamara, a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service provider, recently confirmed that it finalized a $110 million Series A funding round led by Checkout.com. The funds raised will be used by Tamara to scale its professional team, expand into new markets in the… Read More

New Instant Payments System “Sarie” Launched in Saudi Arabia to Seamlessly Settle Local Digital Transactions

The reserve bank in Saudi Arabia has introduced an instant payments solution, called the “Sarie” system, in order to carry out low-value transactions within the country. The Saudi reserve bank (SAMA) noted that the new initiative will allow banking customers in the Kingdom to accept… Read More

Governor of Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority Emphasizes Importance of Fintech Innovation while Supporting Competitive Businesses

The Middle East focused Fintech Tour 20 officially began on November 29, 2020. The event will provide key insights on the evolving financial technology sector in Saudi Arabia and aims to bring together local and international industry professionals. Ahmed Alkholifey, Governor of the Saudi Central… Read More

Governor of Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority Says Central Bank Digital Currencies Seem Promising and are Worth Exploring

Dr. Ahmed Abdulkarim Alkholifey, the Governor of Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA), the nation’s reserve bank, says that central bank digital currencies or CBDCs seem to be promising and are worth further exploration. Dr. Ahmed’s comments came during a recent webinar held by the International… Read More

Send this to a friend