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First Saudi Arabian Banking License Launched in DIFC

FILE PHOTO: People walk outside the Gate Building at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) November 28, 2011. REUTERS/Nikhil Monteiro
FILE PHOTO: People walk outside the Gate Building at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) November 28, 2011. REUTERS/Nikhil Monteiro
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First Saudi Arabian Banking License Launched in DIFC

FILE PHOTO: People walk outside the Gate Building at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) November 28, 2011. REUTERS/Nikhil Monteiro
FILE PHOTO: People walk outside the Gate Building at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) November 28, 2011. REUTERS/Nikhil Monteiro

Samba Financial Group on Wednesday became the first Saudi Arabian bank to be established in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

“DIFC’s legal and regulatory framework and infrastructure provides us with the ideal platform to grow, not just in the UAE, but across the region. Our presence reinforces Samba’s commitment to the UAE, is part of the Group’s strategic growth plans and will also allow us to enhance our client coverage in the region,” said Rania Nashar, Chief Executive Officer of Samba Financial Group.

Deputy CEO for Business at Samba Financial Group Shujaat Nadeem thanked concerned authorities for their support throughout the process of obtaining the license and said that the group looks forward to a long-term partnership with the Dubai Financial Services Authority and the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Nadeem also added that the group looks forward that the existing branch in the DIFC serves as an important addition to its presence in Dubai, and to significantly enhance its service capabilities, and reaffirm its commitment to the UAE and the region.

Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority said: “We would like to thank Samba Financial Group for being the first bank from Saudi Arabia to establish a presence in the DIFC to service UAE and the region. Being part of the region’s largest and comprehensive financial ecosystem of more than 2,500 companies, including 820 financial firms will be a catalyst for their growth.

Samba Financial Group is known in Saudi Arabia for transforming the financial services sector which aligns perfectly to DIFC’s vision to drive the future of finance. We are looking forward to helping them access the fast-growing markets across the region.”

Samba Financial Group will become the first Saudi Arabian bank to establish in DIFC. The group will use DIFC to build an international presence by enhancing client coverage with professional clients across the region. The expansion complements Samba Financial Group’s UAE full-service banking presence, which was established in 2008.

The DIFC’s robust legal and regulatory framework, alongside its highly developed and comprehensive financial ecosystem, continues to be a catalyst for growth in regional banking.

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Saudi Government Calls for Private Sector Involvement to Enhance Vision 2030 Reports

King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Government Calls for Private Sector Involvement to Enhance Vision 2030 Reports

King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi government has directed greater private sector involvement in shaping the content of Vision 2030 communications and reports, according to sources who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. The goal is to amplify the impact of the annual Vision 2030 reports by making them more comprehensive and directly relevant to the business community.

The Strategic Management Office in the Saudi Royal Court has invited private sector stakeholders to review the annual Vision 2030 report to raise awareness of governmental achievements. Businesses are encouraged to provide feedback to ensure that future reports are more impactful and valuable for their audience.

The initiative aims to gather feedback on whether the current report format effectively delivers information relevant to the business sector. It also seeks input on the balance between general achievements and sector-specific details, as well as insights on the report’s accessibility and usefulness to business audiences.

According to the sources, the government is also evaluating the level of transparency in the report, particularly in showcasing progress and achievements. Stakeholders are being asked to suggest areas of focus for future editions to make the reports more comprehensive and relevant to their needs.

Additional proposals include enhancing collaboration between the Vision 2030 communications team and Saudi chambers of commerce to better report on progress and achievements to the private sector. Furthermore, the government is exploring the inclusion of practical success stories from businesses that have played a role in achieving Vision 2030 goals.

Since its inception, Vision 2030 has worked to identify and address challenges facing businesses. Significant reforms have been implemented to remove barriers, ensuring the private sector can fulfill its vital role in driving economic growth.

Efforts have included reforms to streamline the business environment, enhance the quality and efficiency of government services, and digitize processes. Additionally, numerous programs, initiatives, funding platforms, and business incubators and accelerators have been launched to support the private sector.

The Vision 2030 annual report for 2023 highlighted strong program performance, with 87% of the year’s 1,064 initiatives either completed or on track. Among the 243 key performance indicators (KPIs) identified, 81% of third-level KPIs met their targets, while 105 exceeded future targets set for 2024–2025.

The report also noted that non-oil gross domestic product (GDP) reached SAR 1.889 trillion, compared to a baseline of SAR 1.519 trillion. The 2023 target was SAR 1.934 trillion, with the ultimate Vision 2030 target set at SAR 4.97 trillion.

Private sector contributions to GDP increased to 45%, meeting the 2023 target and surpassing the baseline of 40.3%. The long-term Vision 2030 target is 65%.