Alaan Exits Saudi Market Amid Regulatory Challenge, Halts Card Services

Editorial Team

Last updated 22-01-2026

3 min

Alaan will suspend Saudi card and payment services from 31 January 2026.

The exit is regulatory, driven by stricter SAMA rules on KYC, data, and banking ties.

The startup chose to pause rather than offer a “half‑baked” product.

Saudi Arabia remains tempting, but compliance demands “deep pockets and patience”.

The move highlights regulation as decisive as funding or product fit.

News of an Emirati fintech pulling back from Saudi Arabia has been doing the rounds, and it’s one of those stories that looks simple on the surface but has a bit more going on underneath. Alaan, the UAE-based startup focused on corporate cards and expense management, has confirmed it will suspend all card and payment services for its Saudi accounts starting 31 January 2026.

According to details shared publicly, this is a regulatory exit rather than anything political. Updates to Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) requirements – especially around banking partnerships, know-your-customer checks, and the need to store data locally – made it increasingly hard for the company to keep offering the same level of service. Rather than muddle through with something half-baked, Alaan chose to stop operations in the Kingdom altogether.

That decision might sting for some customers, but I reckon it’s a more honest move. Anyone who’s built or scaled a fintech in the region knows compliance is not just a box-ticking exercise; it can be a proper faff. On the flip side, Saudi Arabia remains one of the most attractive fintech markets anywhere, so walking away is no small call.

I remember chatting with founders at events we’ve covered on Arageek who said Saudi scale is tempting, but the regulatory groundwork needs deep pockets and long-term patience. Partnerships with local banks, meeting SAMA’s evolving KYC rules, and hosting data inside the country all demand serious investment. If any one piece slips, the whole experience can wobble, and users feel it straight away.

Alaan’s message has been clear that it prefers pausing rather than delivering a weaker product, which, honestly, feels spot on. Still, it’s hard not to feel a bit deflated when a regional startup retreats from such a key market. Believe it or not, these decisions are often less about ambition and more about timing.

For now, Alaan will continue operating in other markets, and the Saudi story serves as a reminder that regulation can be just as decisive as funding or product fit. Whether the company returns later under a different setup is anyone’s guess, but I’m definately curious to see how other fintechs navigating SAMA’s framework will respond in the months ahead.

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