黑料社区

ALJ Finance and Ant join forces to grow Saudi MSMEs

From left, Dr. Khalid Alsharif, CEO, ALJ Finance; Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, chairman, ALJ; Leiming Chen, SVP and chief sustainability officer, Ant International; and Clara Shi, CEO, WorldFirst.
From left, Dr. Khalid Alsharif, CEO, ALJ Finance; Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, chairman, ALJ; Leiming Chen, SVP and chief sustainability officer, Ant International; and Clara Shi, CEO, WorldFirst.
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Updated 6 min 53 sec ago

ALJ Finance and Ant join forces to grow Saudi MSMEs

ALJ Finance and Ant join forces to grow Saudi MSMEs

Abdul Latif Jameel Finance, a leader in innovative financing solutions and services that is regulated by the Saudi Central Bank, and Ant International, a global digital payment, digitization and financial technology provider, have signed an MoU to jointly explore opportunities in the financial technology sector in 黑料社区. Through this collaboration, ALJ Finance and Ant International will help grow and strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises in the Kingdom with advanced digital services.

Both parties plan to collaborate on a diversified range of innovative digital financial services to Saudi businesses and consumers. These include:

  • Exploring how WorldFirst, Ant International鈥檚 all-in-one digital cross-border payment and treasury account service, can leverage its technology to support ALJ Finance鈥檚 digitization strategy for its diverse financial and consumer businesses.
  • Collaborating on advanced cross-border payment solutions, leveraging Alipay+, Ant International鈥檚 global mobile wallet gateway, to support local and international expansion of customers in ALJ Finance鈥檚 robust merchant network in 黑料社区.
  • Further partnering on opportunities in embedded finance, while leveraging Ant International鈥檚 digital technologies.

Dr. Khalid Alsharif, CEO of ALJ Finance, said: 鈥淥ur collaboration with Ant International represents an important step toward realizing our vision of enabling innovative and more inclusive financial solutions in 黑料社区. As the fintech ecosystem continues to evolve, we remain committed to contributing to the advancement of the financial sector, in line with Vision 2030.鈥

Leiming Chen, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer of Ant International, said: 鈥淭he MoU is another important step in Ant International鈥檚 journey to build cross-sector partnerships with regional industry leaders in supporting 黑料社区鈥檚 digital economy agenda.鈥

鈥淲orldFirst and Ant International are honored to support the mission of Abdul Latif Jameel Finance to provide diversified financial and digital services for MSMEs in the Middle East, 鈥 said Clara Shi, CEO of WorldFirst. 鈥淛oining our innovative fintech capabilities with Abdul Latif Jameel Finance鈥檚 expertise and ecosystem, we look forward to contributing to regional trade and commerce as 黑料社区 embraces an exciting digital transformation.鈥

With headquarters in Singapore and main operations across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, Ant International provides global wallet gateway, global merchant payment services, unified global account services, and embedded finance services through its major brands Alipay+, Antom, WorldFirst, and Bettr. In 2025, Ant International opened its first Middle East office in Riyadh and will integrate Alipay+ with 黑料社区鈥檚 national payment scheme, mada, in 2026.

The MoU aims to better serve 黑料社区鈥檚 retail and MSME customers, leveraging a combination of ALJ Finance鈥檚 reach in the Kingdom and Ant International鈥檚 digital technologies.


Tawuniya sponsors Ingate Global Insurance Conference and Exhibition in Riyadh

Tawuniya sponsors Ingate Global Insurance Conference and Exhibition in Riyadh
Updated 10 November 2025

Tawuniya sponsors Ingate Global Insurance Conference and Exhibition in Riyadh

Tawuniya sponsors Ingate Global Insurance Conference and Exhibition in Riyadh

Tawuniya, the largest insurance company in the Middle East and North Africa region, is participating as a strategic sponsor in the first edition of the Ingate Global Insurance Conference and Exhibition, from Nov. 10 to 12 in Riyadh. Organized by 黑料社区鈥檚 Insurance Authority, the event is being held under the patronage of Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, minister of finance and chairman of the Financial Sector Development Program Committee.

This participation comes at a pivotal stage in Tawuniya鈥檚 journey, as the company continues to roll out strategic initiatives aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and aimed at strengthening its leadership in the local and regional insurance sector. The Ingate Global Insurance Conference and Exhibition offers a unique platform to showcase its achievements and pioneering projects to a select group of industry leaders and decision-makers, as well as to exchange insights and experiences on the future of the insurance industry in the Kingdom and the region.

Dr. Othman Alkassabi, CEO at Tawuniya Insurance Company, said: 鈥淥ur participation in this global event represents an extension of the company鈥檚 pioneering role in developing the insurance sector, and embodies our commitment to innovation, integration, and sustainability. We are proud to be part of this historic event organized by the Insurance Authority, and we see it as a strategic platform to showcase our future vision and exchange experiences with industry partners around the world.鈥

鈥淭hrough its participation in this important event, Tawuniya seeks to enhance its international presence and engage with regulatory bodies, insurance and reinsurance companies, investors, and technology leaders, with the aim of transforming visions into practical initiatives that foster innovation and support the sustainable growth of the insurance sector,鈥 he added.

The Ingate Global Insurance Conference and Exhibition has become a key platform for advancing the insurance sector鈥檚 efficiency, competitiveness, and public confidence. It also contributes to aligning the sector with national priorities, including economic diversification, digital transformation, developing national competencies, and enhancing cooperation between the public and private sectors.

Tawuniya鈥檚 participation this year reflects its focus on sustainable growth and sector leadership, as the company continues to modernize its services in line with Vision 2030. The conference provides an opportunity to spotlight its latest initiatives, from innovation-led product development to the expansion of savings insurance programs, designed to deepen insurance penetration and drive value across the Kingdom.

The conference agenda aligns closely with Saudi Vision 2030 and Tawuniya鈥檚 strategic directions, covering digital transformation and innovation, governance and regulation, regulatory technologies, customer attraction, investment opportunities, talent development and sustainable insurance.

Tawuniya鈥檚 2025 strategy aims to reshape the insurance experience in the Kingdom through innovative services that align with Saudi values and culture and enhance customer trust and loyalty. The company is also developing digital solutions and interactive experiences tailored to various segments of society, while considering the cultural diversity across the Kingdom鈥檚 regions.

Tawuniya continues to enhance its digital infrastructure, relying on real-time data analytics to deliver personalized and effective customer engagement, ensuring a seamless experience that reflects customer aspirations and increases customer satisfaction.

As part of its expansion and growth strategies, Tawuniya is designing innovative insurance products targeting digital segments and small and medium-sized enterprises, which are among the most important drivers of the national economy. This is achieved through specialized teams and in collaboration with sales and marketing departments to ensure that solutions are aligned with customers鈥 needs.

At the same time, the company is building a more integrated service ecosystem through partnerships with modern technology providers. In line with its sustainability ambitions, Tawuniya is embedding responsible business practices across its operations to maximize social and environmental value.