Madkhol’s Ratibi+ Aims to Transform Employee Retention and Savings in Saudi Arabia

Madkhol Financial has taken the wraps off a new programme called “Ratibi+”, unveiled during this year’s Money 20/20 gathering – one of the industry’s heavyweight fintech stages. The CMA-licensed robo-advisory platform says the initiative blends savings with investment in a way that not only boosts employees’ retirement pots but also gives companies a fresh tool to hang on to key staff. In a climate where talent retention has become a bit of a faff for many employers, that timing feels spot on.

The idea is simple but smart: a slice of an employee’s salary is automatically channelled into an investment portfolio, while the employer chips in with a matching top-up. That extra sum isn’t handed over right away though; it’s tied to a vesting period based on the company’s policies. In practice, this translates into staff gradually building up additional financial security, and businesses gaining some leverage against high turnover.

Saad Al-Atiyan, Co-Founder and CEO at Madkhol, called the scheme “a genuine partnership between the company and its employees.” He added that linking pay with investment could redefine workplace relationships and nurture a culture of saving in line with the ambitions set out in Saudi Vision 2030. I reckon that’s a bold claim, but there’s logic in it considering the country’s broader push for financial literacy.

The backdrop makes the move even more relevant. In certain Saudi sectors, employee turnover has topped 30% annually, which leaves firms footing hefty bills for recruitment and training. Meanwhile, the national savings rate is just 6% of household income, well below the global average of around 20%. Ratibi+ aims to hit both birds with one stone – reducing staff churn while nudging employees towards a habit of long-term investing. And believe it or not, those two challenges are more tightly linked than many realise; people confident in their financial future tend to stick around longer.

Madkhol itself only came to life in 2022 but has quickly grown into one of the country’s top five robo-advisory platforms. With thousands of individual and corporate users already onboard, and assets under management climbing, the firm seems intent on keeping the momentum going. From what I’ve seen in the region, this kind of homegrown innovation resonates with the younger workforce who often tell me they want financial tools that don’t feel outdated or, well… boring.

At Arageek, we’ve spoken often about how fintech in MENA mirrors a broader cultural shift: startups aren’t just creating apps, they’re nudging behaviours. Ratibi+ is a case in point. If it works as planned, it could give Saudi employees more reason to stay loyal while lifting the country’s saving rate. Not a bad combo, even if we’ll need time before the long-term impact becomes clear. For now, many employers will be chuffed to bits just to have another way to steady their teams in a fast-changing market.

(And yes, I definately think it’s one to watch in the coming year.)

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