Mastercard, SABB partner for cross-border payments

Mastercard and the Saudi British Bank (SABB) have announced a collaboration to offer customers a faster, simpler, and more secure way to make international payments.
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Updated 25 December 2019
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Mastercard, SABB partner for cross-border payments

Mastercard and the Saudi British Bank (SABB) have announced a collaboration to offer customers a faster, simpler, and more secure way to make international payments. Through Mastercard Send for Cross-Border, a push-payments platform that allows for real-time fund transfers, SABB customers will soon be able to send money to more than 100 countries and reach around 90 percent of the world’s population.

Mastercard Send for Cross-Border caters to the needs of both individuals and businesses. SABB customers will now be able to make transfers to all card and non-card destinations, including bank accounts, mobile and digital wallets and ATMs, allowing for secure delivery of funds both domestically and internationally.

J.K. Khalil, general manager, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Mastercard, said: “The ability to make cross-border payments has never been more important, especially as Saudi Arabia works toward its vision of becoming a global model of excellence and connects its digital economy to the world. The ability to make fast, frictionless cross-border transfers is crucial in driving digitization in the country as we aim to further support the growth of the digital economy in line with Vision 2030.”

“At Mastercard, we are focused on offering choice and convenience to customers, enabling all payments to be simple, seamless and secure. This partnership with SABB is another milestone in our innovation journey with one of the region’s leading financial institutions,” Khalil added. 

As the global economy becomes increasingly more interconnected and human migration increases, the opportunity in the cross-border payments sector will only grow. The launch meets a need for more effective international money transfer services with advanced safety and reliability elements, while enhancing real-time payments features.

Naif Al-Abdulkareem, deputy managing director retail, SABB, said: “This step is part of the bank’s ongoing efforts to provide customers with best-in-class digital payment services, which are instant, secure and innovative with a competitive commercial offer. This would also positively contribute toward SABB’s vision of becoming the leading digital bank in the Kingdom.”

“SABB has successfully launched the first corridor through Mastercard Send for Cross-Border and will be working to introduce others gradually,” Al-Abdulkareem added.

Mastercard, a technology company in the global payments industry, connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories.


LuLu marks Founding Day with ‘Made in Saudi’ campaign

Updated 25 February 2026
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LuLu marks Founding Day with ‘Made in Saudi’ campaign

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources honored LuLu Hypermarket in recognition of its pivotal role as the exclusive retail partner of the “Najoud Bikhairna 2026” initiative, commending its continued efforts in supporting and empowering national industries while showcasing the quality and competitiveness of locally manufactured products.

The initiative, led by the ministry in partnership with the Saudi Export Development Authority, represented by the Made in Saudi program, stands as a pioneering model of public-private sector collaboration in activating community-driven initiatives with sustainable impact. Through this program, more than 280,000 Saudi-made products were distributed to 10,000 families across various regions of the Kingdom during the holy month of Ramadan, reinforcing the presence of national products and strengthening the values of social solidarity among individuals and institutions alike.
The ministry’s recognition of LuLu Hypermarket coincided with the official launch of its Saudi Founding Day celebrations at the Dharat Laban branch in Riyadh, marked by the unveiling of a comprehensive promotional campaign dedicated to Saudi-made products. On this occasion, a wide range of special offers was introduced on local products, available across all LuLu Hypermarket branches throughout the Kingdom.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mohammed bin Dayel, general supervisor of the Made in Saudi program at the Saudi Export Development Authority, and Mohamed Haris, director of LuLu Saudi Arabia, alongside members of LuLu’s executive management team. The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the specially designed Founding Day gateway.
Following the inauguration, guests toured several dedicated zones and exhibitions highlighting national products. The tour commenced at the grocery and “Made in Saudi” consumer goods sections, showcasing the diversity and quality of local brands. It also included the “Made in Saudi” dates pavilion, presenting a premium selection of the finest locally sourced dates in celebration of one of the Kingdom’s most iconic national symbols.
The visit continued to the fruits and vegetables section under the theme “From Our Land,” featuring an exceptional assortment of Saudi agricultural products, reflecting the richness and excellence of the local agricultural sector. Guests also explored the LuLu private label corner, which features products exclusively manufactured within the Kingdom for LuLu, reaffirming the company’s commitment to supporting local manufacturing.
The tour concluded with a presentation of “Made in Saudi” products within the chilled and frozen categories, underscoring the rapid growth and qualitative advancement of the Kingdom’s food manufacturing sector, and further reinforcing the strong market position and competitiveness of Saudi products.