MCB Bank and Bank Al Jazira (Fawri) launch international money transfers to Pakistan

Sami Hamad Al-Rajhi, Head of Banking Services Group at Fawri, Bank Al Jazira and Muhammad Naeem Saigol, Division Head-TBD, MCB Bank, pose with senior officials of after signing agreement for transfer of remittance.
Updated 31 December 2018
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MCB Bank and Bank Al Jazira (Fawri) launch international money transfers to Pakistan

  • Pakistanis in KSA can now send remittances back home through more than 1,350 MCB Bank's branches
  • Fawri is one of the fastest growing money transfer services in Saudi Arabia, with Pakistan being one of the largest remittance recipient corridors
KARACHI: The MCB Bank, one of Pakistan’s largest and most innovative banks, has entered into an agreement with leading Saudi financial institution Bank Al Jazira (Fawri) for the facilitation of remittances to beneficiaries in Pakistan.
 
Through the strategic partnership, MCB Bank will further facilitate overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia to transfer remittances to Pakistan which can be received through more than 1,350 MCB Bank branches nationwide.
 
The agreement was signed by Sami Hamad Al-Rajhi, Head of Banking Services Group at Fawri, Bank Al Jazira and Muhammad Naeem Saigol, Division Head - TBD, MCB Bank, in the presence of Mr. Hassan Saleem, Fawri MTO Manager & Business Projects at Bank Al Jazira and Mr. Ziad Aftab Ejaz, Department Head - Home Remittances at MCB Bank at MCB Tower, Karachi.
 
Speaking about the agreement, Al-Rajhi said, “Fawri is one of the fastest growing money transfer services in Saudi Arabia, with Pakistan being one of our largest remittance recipient corridors. Fawri is very excited to enter into an arrangement with MCB Bank Pakistan and together both the organizations will work together to make the remittance process streamlined at both the sender’s and receiver’s end.”
 
Speaking about the agreement, Saigol said, “MCB Bank is known for its customer-centric approach and makes every possible effort to exceed customer expectations through superior services and solutions. This new partnership with Bank Al Jazira,through their dedicated remittances division Fawri, will allow us to further diversify and expand our remittance services to the Pakistani community in the Middle East. This further strengthens MCB Bank’s commitment towards inclusive banking and channeling of remittances though the formal banking network.”
 
Fawri Money Transfer Services are an integral part of Bank Al Jazira’s Banking Service Division and provide international transfer services via different methods and local transfers within Saudi Arabia. Fawri partners with leading banks across the globe through a network of over 200 countries to facilitate remittances between the expatriate community living in Saudi Arabia with their countries of origin and other nations.

Saudi POS spending jumps 28% in final week of Jan: SAMA

Updated 06 February 2026
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Saudi POS spending jumps 28% in final week of Jan: SAMA

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale spending climbed sharply in the final week of January, rising nearly 28 percent from the previous week as consumer outlays increased across almost all sectors. 

POS transactions reached SR16 billion ($4.27 billion) in the week ending Jan. 31, up 27.8 percent week on week, according to the Saudi Central Bank. Transaction volumes rose 16.5 percent to 248.8 million, reflecting stronger retail and service activity. 

Spending on jewelry saw the biggest uptick at 55.5 percent to SR613.69 million, followed by laundry services which saw a 44.4 percent increase to SR62.83 million. 

Expenditure on personal care rose 29.1 percent, while outlays on books and stationery increased 5.1 percent. Hotel spending climbed 7.4 percent to SR377.1 million. 

Further gains were recorded across other categories. Spending in pharmacies and medical supplies rose 33.4 percent to SR259.19 million, while medical services increased 13.7 percent to SR515.44 million. 

Food and beverage spending surged 38.6 percent to SR2.6 billion, accounting for the largest share of total POS value. Restaurants and cafes followed with a 20.4 percent increase to SR1.81 billion. Apparel and clothing spending rose 35.4 percent to SR1.33 billion, representing the third-largest share during the week. 

The Kingdom’s key urban centers mirrored the national surge. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 22 percent rise to SR5.44 billion from SR4.46 billion the previous week. The number of transactions in the capital reached 78.6 million, up 13.8 percent week on week. 

In Jeddah, transaction values increased 23.7 percent to SR2.16 billion, while Dammam reported a 22.2 percent rise to SR783.06 million. 

POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer spending trends and the ongoing growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia.  

The data also highlights the expanding reach of POS infrastructure, extending beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives.  

The growth of digital payment technologies aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, promoting electronic transactions and contributing to the Kingdom’s broader digital economy.