10 SAMA- and CMA-licensed financing options — find the one that fits your business
From working capital to invoice finance to crowdfunding, the Saudi market offers a wide range of SME financing options. This page is your short guide to each type: when to use it, top providers, and typical terms.
Operating liquidity with flexible repayment
Instant cash against your outstanding invoices
Financing based on your actual daily sales
Financing for equipment and vehicles for your business
Financing backed by the Social Development Bank's guarantee
Concessional government loans for factories and industrial projects
Shariah-compliant financing for businesses
Financing to open new branches or enter new markets
Financing from multiple investors without giving up ownership
Raise capital from investors for a share of your company
The Saudi market offers 10+ SME financing types: working capital for operating liquidity, invoice financing for outstanding receivables, POS financing based on daily sales, asset financing for equipment, Kafalah (up to 80% government guarantee), SIDF for concessional industrial-project financing, Islamic finance (Murabaha, Ijarah, Tawarruq), expansion financing, debt crowdfunding (Lendo, Raqamyah), and equity crowdfunding.
Start from the question: why do you need financing? — For short-term operating liquidity: working capital. For outstanding invoices from major clients: invoice financing. For equipment or vehicles: asset financing. For geographic expansion or new branches: expansion financing. For bank-loan collateral support: Kafalah. Al Rajhi and SNB accept Kafalah; Forus, Lendo, Raqamyah specialize in SME loans.
Yes — debt crowdfunding platforms like Lendo, Raqamyah, and Forus are CMA-licensed. Equity crowdfunding platforms are also licensed. These platforms are faster than banks and accept companies with at least 6 months of operation.
Kafalah is a Saudi government program (under the Social Development Bank) that guarantees up to 80% of your loan value to the lender. This reduces lender risk and boosts approval odds, especially for early-stage SMEs. Guaranteed financing reaches SAR 10M. Kafalah is requested directly from the bank (Al Rajhi, SNB, Alinma, Albilad).
Yes — through Diro you submit one application that reaches 33+ SAMA- and CMA-licensed lenders (banks, finance companies, crowdfunding platforms). You receive multiple offers in a single day and compare rate, monthly installment, and term before picking the best fit.
