Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The highly anticipated Money20/20 Middle East officially opened Sept. 15 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, Malham, marking a landmark moment for the region’s growing fintech ecosystem. Billed as the largest and most influential fintech gathering ever held in the Middle East, the event has brought together over 450 global and regional fintech brands and more than 1,050 investors, turning Riyadh into the global capital of financial innovation for the week.
Hosted under the patronage of Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Financial Sector Development Program Committee, the opening ceremony set the tone for an event focused on innovation, inclusion, and international collaboration. In his keynote, Aljadaan emphasized Saudi Arabia’s ambitious drive to become a global fintech hub as part of Vision 2030.
“Saudi Arabia’s capital market is among the fastest-growing worldwide, with a total value surpassing SAR 2.4 trillion by the end of Q2 2025,” he said. Digital payments have surged from 18% in 2016 to 79% by the end of last year, and the number of active fintech firms has doubled, reaching 280 companies by mid-2025.
Ayman M. Al-Sayari, Governor of the Saudi Central Bank, highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration in building resilient and inclusive financial systems. “No financial system can thrive in isolation,” he remarked, stressing that fintech innovation, from AI to human-centered design, is reshaping the financial services landscape. He noted that the number of fintech companies in Saudi Arabia has tripled since 2022, with more growth expected in the years ahead.
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Adding to the momentum, SAMA announced the launch of Google Play enabled by MADA, a significant milestone for the Kingdom’s national payments ecosystem. Additionally, Alipay+ enablement for 2026 was confirmed, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s cross-border payment connectivity and supporting its integration with global financial networks.
Day one also saw major corporate announcements. Tamara, Riyadh’s homegrown fintech unicorn, revealed that it had secured a new asset-backed facility of up to $2.4 billion, underscoring investor confidence in the region’s fintech champions.
The Capital Market Authority (CMA) spotlighted a wave of regulatory and technological reforms, including the deployment of AI algorithms that have drastically reduced false positives in compliance systems. The CMA also introduced the Kingdom’s first omnibus system to widen asset management access for smaller clients and unveiled historic pension reforms aimed at strengthening retirement security. Saudi Arabia’s asset management industry, already more than double its size of five years ago, is projected to reach SAR 2
trillion by 2030.
In addition, the Kingdom is preparing to roll out a flexible funds framework and build an offshore licensing regime. These are all moves that aim to boost Saudi Arabia’s position as a global financial player.
The opening day also featured the unveiling of Tarmeez Capital’s new brand identity, signaling its ambition to offer faster, high-quality financing solutions through sukuk issuance.
Event organizer Tahaluf’s Executive Vice President Annabelle Mander said, “From AI-driven matchmaking to strategic partnerships, Money20/20 Middle East is delivering real business outcomes for our partners and attendees. Our founding partners and sponsors are driving the region’s fintech evolution, and this event is where new ideas, collaborations, and opportunities come to life. We look forward to seeing the impact of these connections across the Middle East and beyond.”
Money20/20 Middle East is backed by leading institutions including AlRajhi Bank, Riyad Bank, STC Bank, Saudi National Bank, Tamara, Visa, and Vision Bank as founding partners, with additional support from major players like MasterCard, Banque Saudi Fransi, Neo Leap, and Saudi Tadawul Group.
With its theme “Where Money Does Business,” this year’s agenda will explore AI in finance,
evolving regulatory landscapes, inclusive innovation, and capital strategies.
For more information visit www.money2020middleeast.com