Zain KSA to expand 5G on back of SR1.6bn Al-Rajhi deal

Waleed Al-Mogbel, CEO and managing director of Al-Rajhi Bank, and Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Deghaither, Zain KSA’s CEO, at the signing ceremony.
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Updated 28 May 2024
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Zain KSA to expand 5G on back of SR1.6bn Al-Rajhi deal

Zain KSA, a provider of communications and digital services in Saudi Arabia, announced the signing of a supplier financing agreement worth SR1.625 billion ($433.3 million) with Al-Rajhi Bank to invest in expanding its 5G network and strengthening its infrastructure to support the business sector. This competitively rated financing solution will enable Zain KSA to expand its investments in its 5G network nationwide and enrich its portfolio with innovative digital solutions and applications targeting its individual and business users, ensuring they enjoy a top-notch digital experience.

Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Deghaither, Zain KSA’s CEO, said: “At Zain KSA, we adopt an integrated strategy, balancing between achieving our core goals of empowering our individual and business customers and providing them with cutting-edge technologies and digital solutions, along with maximizing value for our shareholders and investors. Simultaneously, our strategy supports our astute leadership’s ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 and its goal of achieving a nationwide sustainable digital transformation, marking the beginning of a new era of digital innovation across the Kingdom.

“Today, this competitively rated supplier financing agreement between Zain KSA and the nationally renowned Al-Rajhi Bank underscores our joint efforts to foster an enriched and inclusive digital experience across the Kingdom, mirroring Zain KSA’s strategy to provide exceptional customer experience and innovative services, including distinguished spiritual tourism services for pilgrims.”

Meanwhile, Waleed Al-Mogbel, CEO and managing director of Al-Rajhi Bank, said: “Our partnership with Zain KSA, the longstanding Saudi telecom leader, will open up new horizons for the development of the Kingdom’s telecommunications and digital services sector. At Al-Rajhi Bank, we are glad to be a key partner supporting Zain KSA’s ambitious goals and strategic plans for nationwide digital empowerment.”

Through targeted investments, Zain KSA aims to cement its role as a national champion, powering up the Kingdom’s digital capabilities and infrastructure. This translates to broader access to cutting-edge technology and digital services for everyone — individuals, businesses, and institutions — paving the way for a vibrant society and a thriving, knowledge-based economy.


25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

Updated 27 December 2025
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25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond. 

The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.

Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts. 

The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies. 

The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment. 

The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development. 

The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored. 

It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track. 

In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.

As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs. 

This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.

The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts. 

The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.