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New $213 Million Venture Capital Fund Launches in Saudi Arabia

The 24 Fintech conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Photo by Turki al-Ogaili)
The 24 Fintech conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Photo by Turki al-Ogaili)
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New $213 Million Venture Capital Fund Launches in Saudi Arabia

The 24 Fintech conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Photo by Turki al-Ogaili)
The 24 Fintech conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Photo by Turki al-Ogaili)

The full scale of Saudi Arabia’s potential as a global hub for financial technology came to the fore on day two of the first-ever 24 Fintech in Riyadh with the announcement of a SAR800 million (US$213 million) venture capital fund to build and launch fintech companies and innovative financial solutions in the Kingdom.
24 Fintech is an annual summit and exhibition hosted by the Financial Sector Development Program, Saudi Central Bank, the Capital Market Authority, and Insurance Authority, and co-organized by Fintech Saudi and Tahaluf.
It is set to become the flagship event for the Kingdom, cementing its status as a global fintech hub and shaping the future of the financial ecosystem.
At a panel discussion on the growth plan for Saudi Arabia’s fintech sector, Faisal Sharif, General Director of the Financial Sector Development Program, noted that Saudi Arabia is a major regional economy.
He outlined the Kingdom’s efforts to improve its financial system and boost both local and international investment in the sector.
Sharif revealed that key initiatives are in place to reach 525 tech companies by 2030. He noted that digital transactions, which previously accounted for 18%, surged to 70% last year, attributing this success to regulatory advancements.
Yazeed Al-Nafjan, deputy governor for Financial Innovation at the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, highlighted that the significant push toward fintech modernization in Saudi Arabia has been driven by strategic investments in financial infrastructure over the past decade.
These investments have enabled the Kingdom to adopt a more progressive stance on emerging financial technologies to enhance sector efficiency and modernization.
“We have invested in building a financial infrastructure that allows us to be more progressive and proactive,” said Al-Nafjan.
The official also revealed that more digital banks are expected to launch soon.
His comments emphasized the importance of partnering with innovators to harness the opportunities presented by fintech technologies, which are crucial in improving sectoral efficiency.

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Gold Extends Slide to 1-week Low on Curbed Safety Demand, Stronger Dollar

A view shows an ingot of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
A view shows an ingot of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Gold Extends Slide to 1-week Low on Curbed Safety Demand, Stronger Dollar

A view shows an ingot of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
A view shows an ingot of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Gold prices extended declines on Tuesday, hitting a more than one-week low, pressured by a jump in US dollar and easing safe-haven demand after reports of a possible Lebanon-Israel ceasefire.

Spot gold was down 0.4% at $2,614.56 per ounce as of 0845 GMT, after hitting its lowest since Nov. 18 earlier in the session. US gold futures edged 0.1% lower to $2,614.80, Reuters reported.

The precious metal fell 3.2% on Monday, its deepest one-day decline in more than five months, on news that Israel looked set to approve a US plan for a ceasefire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah, with further pressure from Trump's nomination of Scott Bessent as the US Treasury secretary.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said it had noted that Trump's circle was speaking about a potential peace plan for Ukraine.

"This has reduced the geopolitical risk premium, leading to a decline in gold prices," said Soni Kumari, a commodity strategist at ANZ, adding that a stronger US dollar is also weighing on investor appetite for gold. The dollar was up by 0.3%, after US President-elect Donald Trump vowed tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, reducing gold's appeal for holders of other currencies.

"So now the focus will shift back to, what Fed is going to do in December meeting," Kumari said. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari, typically on the hawkish end of the US central bank's policy spectrum, said he is open to cutting rates again next month.

Traders will also keep a close eye on US consumer confidence data and the minutes from the Fed's November meeting later in the day.

"I expect gold to trade in a narrow range in the short term, with a slight upward drift," Matt Simpson, a senior analyst at City Index said.

Spot silver slipped by 0.1% to $2,614.80 per ounce, platinum shed 1.1% to $928.40 and palladium was down 0.2% to $971.10.