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Middle East Fintech & Payments

14 verified facts tracked for this market — each with its source, reporting period and evidence tier. Tier 1 = primary institutions (central banks, statistical offices); tier 2 = disclosed industry panels.

MetricValueGeoPeriodTierSource
Saudi fintech regulatory sandbox entrants permitted to operate in 2018 cohort7fintechs permitted to operateSaudi Arabia2018 cohortT1sama.gov.sa
Saudi Arabia average unit cost of payments reduction11%Saudi Arabia2021-2023T1sama.gov.sa
Saudi Arabia digital payment adoption change75.7246348679077 / 73.454579640307% of population age 15+ made or received a digital payment, 2024 / 2021Saudi Arabia (MENA narrower geography)2021-2024T1data.worldbank.org
Saudi Arabia national POS estate increase72%Saudi Arabia2021-2023T1sama.gov.sa
Saudi Instant Payments System sarie transaction volume growth176 to 437million transactionsSaudi Arabia2021-2023T1sama.gov.sa
Saudi finance and insurance establishments using AI technologies52.9% in 2025; 44.7% in 2024% of establishments in financial and insSaudi Arabia2024-2025T1stats.gov.sa
Adults using a mobile phone or the internet to pay bills, Jordan2.12138544555093% of population age 15+JO2017T1data.worldbank.org
Average cost of sending remittances to Morocco (inbound)4.17percentMA2023T1data.worldbank.org
Companies licensed by SAMA under non-bank financial institution licenses15licensed companiesSaudi Arabia2020T1sama.gov.sa
Debit-card share of Saudi e-commerce payment methods50percent of e-commerce usersSaudi Arabia2023T1sama.gov.sa
Digitally enabled account, adults age 15+, Egypt28.24percentEG2024T1data.worldbank.org
Saudi Arabia adults who made or received a digital payment75.7246348679077% of population age 15+, World Bank Global FindexSaudi Arabia (MENA narrower geography)2024T1data.worldbank.org
Saudi Arabia total payment transactions volume17.2billion transactionsSaudi Arabia2023T1sama.gov.sa
Saudi establishments using the internet for electronic banking services79.1% of establishments, 2025Saudi Arabia2025T1stats.gov.sa

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