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Service Track

Regulatory Licensing

Specialized advisory for obtaining SAMA and CMA licenses — from initial readiness assessment through official approval and ongoing compliance management.

Regulatory Bodies
Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
Capital Market Authority (CMA)
Ministry of Commerce
ZATCA
Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
Capital Market Authority (CMA)
Ministry of Commerce
ZATCA
7+
License types we specialize in
120+
Regulatory files completed
12+
Years in Saudi regulatory environment
85%
First-submission approval rate

Licenses we specialize in

We cover the full spectrum of financial and digital licenses in Saudi Arabia — from concept to official approval.

01
Electronic Money Institution (EMI)

For companies offering payment, deposit and transfer services via digital platforms under SAMA's technical requirements.

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
02
Payment Services License

Qualifying companies for digital payment and processing licenses including legal structure, technical and capital requirements.

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
03
BNPL License

Advisory for digital installment companies seeking SAMA licensing — credit model, compliance policies and regulatory requirements.

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
04
Money Transfer License

Qualifying local and international money transfer companies to meet SAMA requirements including AML controls.

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
05
Financing Services License

Advisory for consumer, real estate and industrial financing companies seeking SAMA or CMA licensing.

SAMA / CMA
06
Insurtech License

Qualifying digital insurance technology companies to enter SAMA's regulatory environment with proper capital and governance structure.

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
07
Open Banking / PSP License

Advisory for companies building open banking platforms or financial data connectivity services under SAMA's new framework.

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)

Our Licensing Methodology

1

Regulatory Readiness Assessment

Diagnose the company's current position against regulatory requirements and identify material gaps.

2

Application File Preparation

Build the complete regulatory package — legal and financial documents, compliance policies and operational plans.

3

Submission & Follow-up

Submit to the regulator and professionally handle all queries and observations during the review phase.

4

Ongoing Compliance

Build the internal compliance system post-license to ensure continuity and successful periodic renewal.

What the engagement covers

Scope of Work

  • Regulatory readiness assessment
  • Identify the correct licensing path
  • Legal and regulatory documentation
  • AML/KYC compliance policies
  • Financial plan and feasibility studies
  • Regulator follow-up through approval

Expected Deliverables

  • Regulatory readiness assessment report
  • Complete application package
  • AML/KYC compliance policy manual
  • Operational and procedural plan
  • Regulatory risk management framework
  • Post-license compliance roadmap

Case Study: Digital Payments License

Obtaining a Payment Services license from SAMA

Financial Technology (Fintech) · Saudi Startup

The Challenge

A fintech startup with a technically ready digital payment platform but lacking regulatory expertise and the required documentation for a SAMA application — under significant investor pressure to launch.

What We Delivered

  • Full regulatory readiness assessment
  • Complete SAMA application package
  • AML and KYC policy manual
  • Legal structure and management contracts
  • Regulator query response management
Result: Company received SAMA preliminary approval in the first round with no resubmission required — launching 6 months ahead of competitors.

Common Questions

It varies by license type and file quality. Generally: payment licenses take 6–12 months, financing licenses 8–18 months. Our ability to reduce this timeline depends on file quality and speed of responding to regulator observations.
Yes — and this is the right approach. SAMA accepts licensing applications before product launch and may request an MVP. Starting early allows the product to be designed in regulatory compliance from day one.
Yes. We work with international companies seeking to enter the Saudi market — helping design the appropriate legal structure, whether a standalone Saudi entity or a local partnership, in line with SAMA and foreign investment regulations.
Rejections are rarely final — they typically come with detailed observations. Our work significantly reduces this risk, but if it occurs we analyze the observations, fully rebuild the file addressing each point, and resubmit. Our second-round success rate exceeds 95%.

Services that complement licensing

Ready to start your licensing journey?

Our team is ready to assess your regulatory position and identify the optimal path to your license.