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ALJ Finance and Ant join forces to grow Saudi MSMEs

From left, Dr. Khalid Alsharif, CEO, ALJ Finance; Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, chairman, ALJ; Leiming Chen, SVP and chief sustainability officer, Ant International; and Clara Shi, CEO, WorldFirst.
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Updated 11 November 2025
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ALJ Finance and Ant join forces to grow Saudi MSMEs

Updated 11 November 2025

Abdul Latif Jameel Finance, a leader in innovative financing solutions and services that is regulated by the Saudi Central Bank, and Ant International, a global digital payment, digitization and financial technology provider, have signed an MoU to jointly explore opportunities in the financial technology sector in Saudi Arabia. Through this collaboration, ALJ Finance and Ant International will help grow and strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises in the Kingdom with advanced digital services.

Both parties plan to collaborate on a diversified range of innovative digital financial services to Saudi businesses and consumers. These include:

  • Exploring how WorldFirst, Ant International’s all-in-one digital cross-border payment and treasury account service, can leverage its technology to support ALJ Finance’s digitization strategy for its diverse financial and consumer businesses.
  • Collaborating on advanced cross-border payment solutions, leveraging Alipay+, Ant International’s global mobile wallet gateway, to support local and international expansion of customers in ALJ Finance’s robust merchant network in Saudi Arabia.
  • Further partnering on opportunities in embedded finance, while leveraging Ant International’s digital technologies.

Dr. Khalid Alsharif, CEO of ALJ Finance, said: “Our collaboration with Ant International represents an important step toward realizing our vision of enabling innovative and more inclusive financial solutions in Saudi Arabia. As the fintech ecosystem continues to evolve, we remain committed to contributing to the advancement of the financial sector, in line with Vision 2030.”

Leiming Chen, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer of Ant International, said: “The MoU is another important step in Ant International’s journey to build cross-sector partnerships with regional industry leaders in supporting Saudi Arabia’s digital economy agenda.”

“WorldFirst and Ant International are honored to support the mission of Abdul Latif Jameel Finance to provide diversified financial and digital services for MSMEs in the Middle East, ” said Clara Shi, CEO of WorldFirst. “Joining our innovative fintech capabilities with Abdul Latif Jameel Finance’s expertise and ecosystem, we look forward to contributing to regional trade and commerce as Saudi Arabia embraces an exciting digital transformation.”

With headquarters in Singapore and main operations across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, Ant International provides global wallet gateway, global merchant payment services, unified global account services, and embedded finance services through its major brands Alipay+, Antom, WorldFirst, and Bettr. In 2025, Ant International opened its first Middle East office in Riyadh and will integrate Alipay+ with Saudi Arabia’s national payment scheme, mada, in 2026.

The MoU aims to better serve Saudi Arabia’s retail and MSME customers, leveraging a combination of ALJ Finance’s reach in the Kingdom and Ant International’s digital technologies.

Zayed National Museum Opens in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District

Updated 06 December 2025
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Zayed National Museum Opens in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District

Updated 06 December 2025

Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the United Arab Emirates and centerpiece of Saadiyat Cultural District, opened to the public Saturday.

The museum offers visitors a journey through the history of the UAE, from the earliest evidence of human habitation to the civilizations that shaped its culture and identity. It serves as a cultural bridge connecting the seven emirates, emphasizing their shared history and heritage.

The museum highlights the story of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, presenting his life as a lens through which to explore the values and aspirations that underpin the nation.

Zayed National Museum features more than 1,500 objects across six permanent galleries, combining archaeological artifacts, historic objects, audiovisual and sensory experiences, contemporary installations and reconstructions. The visitor journey begins at the 600-meter outdoor Al Masar Garden and continues through galleries dedicated to Sheikh Zayed’s life, the UAE’s natural landscapes and the history of human habitation, with archaeological discoveries spanning 300,000 years.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “As the national museum of the United Arab Emirates, Zayed National Museum tells the unfolding story of the land and its people. It demonstrates the unifying power of our history and our culture, providing a space where citizens, residents and visitors can see themselves reflected in the story of our people and our land. Bridging past, present and future, it will help shape how we understand the UAE’s evolving cultural narrative.”
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the museum’s opening marks a new chapter in the nation’s cultural legacy. It follows a landmark year that saw the openings of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi in Saadiyat Cultural District, as well as the reopening of Al Ain Museum.

Monthlong Opening Program
To mark the milestone, Zayed National Museum is hosting a program of performances, workshops and cultural activities through Dec. 31 under the theme “Deep Roots and Everlasting Legacy.”

The program includes traditional Razfa and Naashat dances; an immersive Gahwa experience designed with Bait Al Gahwa, accompanied by poetry, Taghrooda music, Nahma seafaring chants and the Nadba mountain call; poetry performances; and musical recitals. Hands-on workshops will explore traditional crafts and arts inspired by the museum’s collections. Tours and workshops require advance booking.

The museum’s retail shop, Al Nagwa Boutique, offers a curated selection of gifts and souvenirs. Dining options include Erth Restaurant, Al Ghaf Cafe and the Garden Cafes.
Tickets and annual memberships are available at www.zayednationalmuseum.ae.

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