The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) held a meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, with the CEOs of open banking companies. The meeting was attended by Nora Al-Bakr, the Deputy Governor for Financial Innovation, as well as the CEOs of open banking companies, several executive directors, and relevant department directors from SAMA.

This meeting is part of SAMA's efforts to enhance communication with open banking companies and to stay aligned with the evolving open banking ecosystem during this phase. This phase marks the transition of these companies from the Regulatory Sandbox to licensing, aiming to support the growth of the financial sector and foster innovation in Saudi Arabia.

The meeting aimed to review and discuss recent developments in Saudi Arabia’s open banking ecosystem. It also focused on enhancing compliance with operational and regulatory priorities and requirements in the upcoming phase, as well as supporting ongoing collaboration among the participating parties, thereby contributing to the development of open banking services. The meeting also included open dialogue, with participants sharing ideas and insights to develop and empower companies.

This meeting came as part of a series of regular meetings hosted by SAMA with the financial institutions under its supervision. The purpose of these meetings is to strengthen partnerships and share experiences, reflecting ongoing efforts to promote financial innovation within a regulatory framework that balances innovation in financial services with the protection of beneficiaries. ​​