Emirates NBD partners with VFS Global in Kingdom

The agreement was signed by Emirates NDB’s Ghassan Najmeddin and VFS Global’s Sumanth Kapoor.
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Updated 18 May 2025
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Emirates NBD partners with VFS Global in Kingdom

Emirates NBD, a banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkiye region, has signed a partnership agreement with VFS Global — the world’s largest visa outsourcing and technology services specialist — to offer consumers across the Kingdom access to exclusive benefits.

The agreement was signed by Ghassan Najmeddin, head of retail banking and wealth management, Emirates NDB KSA, and Sumanth Kapoor, business head, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, VFS Global, in the presence of a selection of senior executives from both parties.

Emirates NBD will serve as VFS Global’s primary banking partner in the Kingdom and will leverage VFS Global’s expansive presence in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to operate touchpoints, providing customers payment opportunities along with ATM facilities, within VFS Global’s premises. The move underlines Emirates NBD’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia into becoming a leading travel, investment, tourism and financial services hub.

In line with Vision 2030, the agreement will accelerate the digital transformation of financial services in Saudi Arabia and the wider region, advancing the growth and development of the Kingdom’s financial services, travel and tourism sectors, thereby, providing Saudi citizens and residents with seamless access to quality offerings and experiences.

Naser Yousef, CEO, Emirates NBD KSA, said: “As travel becomes more accessible, our partnership with VFS Global aims to enhance banking, and travel experiences for Saudi nationals and residents, making their journeys more rewarding.”

Najmeddin said: “With more people in Saudi Arabia traveling abroad, we are committed to providing seamless integrated solutions. Our partnership with VFS Global enhances access to exclusive benefits, ensuring a superior experience for affluent customers.”

Kapoor added: “VFS Global is deepening its connections within Saudi Arabia, a key market for us and one where we have operated for over two decades. It has been our constant endeavor to bring our customers comfort, convenience, and benefits through every service we provide, and partnering with Emirates NBD, another key player in its own sector, allows us to innovate and enhance customer experiences while supporting Vision 2030 goals.”


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.