'Samsung Pay' Service Enabled in Saudi Arabia during Q4 2024, Says SAMA

The logo of Samsung is seen on a building during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 25, 2018. (Reuters)
The logo of Samsung is seen on a building during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 25, 2018. (Reuters)
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'Samsung Pay' Service Enabled in Saudi Arabia during Q4 2024, Says SAMA

The logo of Samsung is seen on a building during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 25, 2018. (Reuters)
The logo of Samsung is seen on a building during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 25, 2018. (Reuters)

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) said on Tuesday that it signed an agreement with Samsung to enable the launch of Samsung Pay in Saudi Arabia during Q4 of 2024.

The agreement was signed at the inaugural 24 Fintech conference in Riyadh.

The step reflects SAMA's ongoing efforts to improve digital payment in Saudi Arabia, in line with the objectives of the Financial Sector Development Program, a key initiative of Saudi Vision 2030, the bank said in a statement.

It also reflects SAMA's commitment to developing a robust digital payments infrastructure through the national payments system "mada", thus moving toward a less cash-dependent society by providing advanced digital payment solutions that align with international standards.

The Samsung Pay service aims to offer an advanced and secure payment experience, enabling users to easily store and manage their digital payment cards with the Samsung Wallet application.

The launch of the Samsung Pay service is part of a series of technical innovations that aim at meeting market needs and advancing Saudi Arabia's position as a global pioneer in FinTech.



Saudi Arabia Surges to 14th Position in Global AI Index, 1st in Arab World

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Surges to 14th Position in Global AI Index, 1st in Arab World

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia has achieved a significant milestone in the field of artificial intelligence, securing 14th place globally and the top spot in the Arab world in the Global AI Index for 2024, published by Tortoise Intelligence.

The remarkable 17-rank improvement among 83 countries underscores Saudi Arabia's rapid progress in AI adoption and development.

The Kingdom's continued leadership in the Government Strategy sub-pillar solidifies its position as a global AI leader.

Its seventh-place ranking in the Commercial Ecosystem sub-pillar further demonstrates its commitment to investing in AI technologies and fostering a thriving AI ecosystem.

The Global AI Index, a comprehensive assessment of AI capabilities across 83 countries, evaluates performance based on 122 indicators grouped into three pillars: Implementation, Innovation, and Investment. The pillars are further divided into seven sub-pillars: Talent, Infrastructure, Operating Environment, Research, Development, Government Strategy, and Commercial Ecosystem.

The achievement highlights the unwavering support provided by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

Under his guidance, SDAIA has been instrumental in advancing the field of data and AI, developing national capabilities, and fostering innovation. This strategic approach positions Saudi Arabia as a leading data-driven and AI-powered economy.