Saudi Investment Bank Sells Stake in Amex Saudi for $381M

Saudi Investment Bank is cashing out of its 50% stake in American Express Saudi Arabia, agreeing to sell the holding to American Express Middle East in a deal worth about USD 381.36 million, or SAR 1.43 billion. It is a sizeable move, and not just on paper. The bank says the sale is meant to support and strengthen its financial position while bringing its investment portfolio more in line with its wider strategy.

The transaction is expected to deliver an estimated gain of USD 211.14 million, equivalent to SAR 792.4 million, based on the stake’s book value of roughly USD 170 million as of 30 November 2025. There is also a deferred amount still to come, linked to SAIB’s share of distributable profits generated from the signing date until the transfer is completed. That part will be calculated under the shareholders’ agreement signed on 25 September 2018 between SAIB and American Express Middle East.

In simple terms, SAIB is turning a long-held investment in a specialised payments and financing business into cash. That usually gives a bank more room to breathe. It can shore up the balance sheet, redirect capital, and decide where the next bets should go. For readers at Arageek who follow how institutions in the region are repositioning themselves, this is the bit that feels spot on: the sale says as much about capital discipline as it does about the asset itself.

American Express Middle East, meanwhile, will take full ownership of the Saudi business once the transfer is completed. So this is not only an exit for SAIB, but also a consolidation move for the buyer. And believe it or not, these ownership clean-ups can matter a lot more than the flashy headline number, especially in financial services where governance and control are not a bit of a faff but a real strategic lever.

SAIB said the main purchase price will be paid in cash, with the final deferred consideration depending on distributable profits recorded by American Express Saudi Arabia before closing. The bank has also said it will announce any material updates, including the completion date, in line with regulatory requirements.

I reckon this kind of deal will get attention beyond banking circles in Saudi Arabia. It shows how established financial groups are reassessing where their money works hardest, and sometimes the smarter play is not to hold on forever but to crystallise value when the timing looks right. I have seen founders across MENA talk about capital as if it must always stay tied up in the same story; well, sometimes the real lesson is knowing when to move on and redeploy it. That is not very glamouros, maybe, but it often matters more.

For now, the market will be watching two things: when the share transfer officially closes, and how much the deferred consideration adds to the final tally. On the flip side, the message already looks clear enough — SAIB is freeing up capital, American Express Middle East is tightening its grip on the Saudi unit, and the Kingdom’s financial sector keeps showing it is not standing still, you know?

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