Q: How does Azentio differentiate itself within Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding fintech landscape, especially as the market places more emphasis on Shariah-compliant technologies?

I’ve been coming to Saudi Arabia for years now, and the change is phenomenal.

The fintech ecosystem here has gone from early experimentation to full-scale acceleration. You can feel the momentum everywhere, from regulators to new digital banks and fintechs emerging every quarter.
What makes Azentio stand out is that we’ve built technology that speaks both languages, innovation and integrity.

Our platforms are natively Shariah-compliant, certified to AAOIFI standards, and built on a modular, cloud-ready stack. That means banks don’t have to compromise between speed and faith-based governance, they can have both.
And increasingly, the differentiator isn’t just what your technology does, it’s how intelligent it is. At Money20/20 Riyadh last month, every conversation circled back to AI. For us, AI is not just an efficiency tool, it’s a catalyst.

It compresses decision cycles, accelerates insights, and powers new experiences that align with the Kingdom’s digital-first vision.

Q: In what ways are Islamic finance principles embedded into Azentio’s fintech offerings, while still driving innovation, efficiency, and user-centric experiences?
Islamic finance isn’t a module we switch on; it’s built into the DNA of everything we do. Every product we deliver comes with pre-configured workflows for contracts like Murabaha, Ijarah, and Mudarabah, all fully mapped to AAOIFI standards.

That gives banks here the confidence that compliance is continuous and automated, not manual and reactive.

But more importantly, we’re pairing that with intelligence. Our platforms use AI to automate Shariah checks, streamline approvals, and personalize financing journeys.
A great example is our work with Sahb Finance, where we helped digitize 90% of financing operations.

That meant faster approvals, less paperwork, and a much smoother experience for SMEs, without losing an ounce of Shariah rigor.

This is what we mean by AI with context, it’s tuned to local needs, local regulations, and local expectations.

The GCC has its own rhythm, and we build for that reality.

Q: How is Azentio collaborating with SAMA and the CMA to ensure full regulatory alignment and support the Kingdom’s fintech ambitions?

Saudi Arabia has done something truly visionary; it’s created a regulatory environment that rewards innovation while safeguarding trust.

Both SAMA and the CMA deserve real credit for that.
We’ve worked closely with both regulators for years, particularly around eKYC, digital onboarding, Islamic core banking, and capital markets. We see them not just as regulators, but as partners in building the ecosystem.

Our role is to stay a step ahead of compliance changes, so our clients don’t have to worry about catching up.

Because AI and automation only deliver value when they operate within trusted, regulator-ready frameworks, and that’s something we take very seriously.
Q: What are Azentio’s strategic priorities for growth in Saudi Arabia, and how do emerging technologies like AI and blockchain shape your digital Islamic finance roadmap?

For us, Saudi Arabia represents the future of financial services, digital, open, and grounded in purpose. Our priorities here are simple: enable modernization, infuse intelligence, and build long-term trust.
AI is at the center of all three. As a catalyst, it’s helping banks launch products faster and make smarter, data-driven decisions.

With context, it’s being localized to Saudi regulatory, cultural, and customer expectations. And as AI that lasts, we’re building explainable, compliant, and sustainable systems that deliver real business outcomes long after the hype fades.

Blockchain is another area where we see huge promise, especially in bringing transparency to sukuk structures and waqf management. But ultimately, it’s about balance. We don’t chase technology for its own sake. We focus on making it practical, scalable, and aligned with Islamic finance values.

That’s what makes this market so exciting, Saudi Arabia isn’t just adopting fintech, it’s defining what responsible innovation looks like for the next decade.