Saudi Central Bank Licenses New Payment Financial Tech Company

Saudi Central Bank logo
Saudi Central Bank logo
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Saudi Central Bank Licenses New Payment Financial Tech Company

Saudi Central Bank logo
Saudi Central Bank logo

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licensed a new payment financial technology company, "Moyasar Financial Company" to provide E-commerce payment services.

With Moyasar, the total number of payment companies licensed by SAMA reaches 16 companies, in addition to nine companies that were granted an "in-principle approval."

Moyasar provides e-payment solutions that significantly match the current needs of the client's online store.

The new license comes from SAMA's role to promote the development of the financial technology sector by allowing the entry of new players and products.

It aims to attract a value-adding new segment of investors and companies to strengthen and contribute to the sector's growth through compliance with SAMA's regulatory requirements.

SAMA plays a role in enhancing financial stability and supporting opportunities for growth and economic development in Saudi Arabia to achieve the goals of Vision 2030.

SAMA reaffirms its commitment to support and facilitate the development of payments companies and the financial technology sector, encourage innovation in financial services, and increase efficiency in financial transactions, which contributes to enhancing financial inclusion in the Kingdom.

Moyasar stated that its e-payment solutions are designed to offer: rich and flexible features, become usable and intuitive, provide in detail reporting to allow an instant and deep understanding of how the business runs, facilitate seamless integration with a large number of back-office systems, and ensure a high level of security and privacy protection.



Norway Wealth Fund Divests from Israel's Bezeq over West Bank Settlements

FILE PHOTO: A view of new buildings around the Israeli settlement Talmon B near the Palestinian town of Mazraa Al-Qibleyeh near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, November 20, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of new buildings around the Israeli settlement Talmon B near the Palestinian town of Mazraa Al-Qibleyeh near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, November 20, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman/File Photo
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Norway Wealth Fund Divests from Israel's Bezeq over West Bank Settlements

FILE PHOTO: A view of new buildings around the Israeli settlement Talmon B near the Palestinian town of Mazraa Al-Qibleyeh near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, November 20, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of new buildings around the Israeli settlement Talmon B near the Palestinian town of Mazraa Al-Qibleyeh near Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, November 20, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman/File Photo

Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, has sold all of its shares in Israel's Bezeq as it provides telecoms services to the Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, it said late on Tuesday.
The decision comes after the fund's ethics watchdog, the Council on Ethics, adopted a new, tougher interpretation of ethics standards for businesses that aid Israel's operations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Reuters reported.
Bezeq is Israel's largest telecoms group.
"The company, through its physical presence and provision of telecom services to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, is helping to facilitate the maintenance and expansion of these settlements, which are illegal under international law," the Council on Ethics said in its recommendation to divest.
"By doing so the company is itself contributing to the violation of international law," it added.
The watchdog said it noted that the company had said it was also providing telecoms services to Palestinian areas in the West Bank, but that did not outweigh the fact that it was also providing services to Israeli settlements.
The watchdog makes recommendations to the board of the Norwegian central bank, which has the final say on divestments.
The fund has now sold all its stock in the company.