Includes a list of U.S. banks operating in the market; indicates whether Ex-Im Bank offers any country-specific programs.
Last Published: 1/23/2020

According to the Saudi Arabia Monetary Authority (SAMA, the Kingdom’s central bank), the following foreign banks are licensed to do business in the Kingdom: Gulf International Bank(GIB), Emirates NBD, National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), Muscat Bank, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, J.P. Morgan Chase N.A, National Bank Of Pakistan (NBP), T.C.ZIRAAT BANKASI A.S., Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Qatar National Bank, Bank of Tokyo – Mitsubishi UFJ (Licensed - has not started yet), First Abu Dhabi Bank (Licensed - has not started yet). 
According to the SAMA website, the State Bank of India’s bank business has been stopped upon the bank’s request of license cancellation.

According to a July issue of the Gulf Business News, the Saudi Cabinet approved the license for Commercial Bank of Iraq to open a branch in the Kingdom; however, as of this writing, there is no mention of this approval on the SAMA website.

According to Reuters, Citigroup (C.N) is considering seeking a full banking license in the Kingdom, and Mashreq, Dubai’s third-largest bank by assets, has applied for a banking license. 

Project Financing

Project Finance Institutions
The U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM):  According to the 2018 EXIM Country Limitation Schedule (www.exim.gov/tools-for-exporters/country-limitation-schedule), EXIM provides both public and private-sector financial support for the bank’s maximum terms of over 7 years.  EXIM has provided trade finance support for chemical projects, energy projects, electricity generation, and water.  For additional information on EXIM, please visit: www.exim.gov.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC, a member of the World Bank Group):  IFC’s strategy in Saudi Arabia focuses on promoting selective business and supporting the country’s financial markets (particularly housing finance, insurance, and leasing), infrastructure development, and lending to SMEs as ways to support job creation and economic growth.  For additional information, please visit:  www.ifc.org.

Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF):  provides financial assistance in the form of medium and long-term loans to investors in industry development.  It also offers technical, administrative, financial and marketing advice to borrowers.   The Wall Street Journal reported in July 2018 that the Saudi Arabian government is in the final stages of creating a 50 billion Saudi riyal ($13.3 billion) fund for developing partnerships with foreign companies which will be known as the International Partnership Fund to be run by the SIDF. For additional information, please visit: www.sidf.gov.sa/en/Pages/default.

Saudi Agricultural Bank:  a public credit institution, specializing in providing finance for various agricultural activities in all regions of the Kingdom. Its mission is to assist in the development of the agricultural sector and the enhancement of its production efficiency by introducing up-to-date, state of the art, scientific and technical methods through soft interest-free loans to farmers to enable them secure industry prerequisites, such as machinery, irrigation pumps, agricultural equipment, livestock and poultry keeping and fish farming equipment.

Saudi Credit Bank:  provides interest-free loans to small enterprises, and employers to encourage them to run their own businesses independently.  The bank operates twenty-six branches throughout Saudi Arabia.
Public Investment Fund (PIF):  The Public Investment Fund funded numerous projects in important sectors of the Saudi Arabian economy, including petroleum refineries, petrochemical industries, pipelines and storage, transportation, energy, minerals, water desalination and infrastructural facilities. It has also participated in the capital funding of a number of bilateral and Pan Arab corporations.  The Wall Street Journal reported in July 2018 that the PIF is also working with Softbank’s Vision Fund to bring tech startups to Saudi Arabia to set up operations.

Islamic Development Bank:  fosters the economic development and social progress of member countries and Muslim communities. It participates in equity capital and grants loans for productive projects and enterprises, besides providing financial assistance to member countries in other forms for economic and social development.

Saudi Fund for Development:  offers foreign development assistance, including financing for Saudi exports to qualified companies. 
  
Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC): provides Export Credit guarantees on exports to member states and to companies owned/partly owned by member states. In addition, the corporation provides investment insurance and guarantees against country risks to member states.

Regional Organizations
Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development: an autonomous regional Pan-Arab development finance organization.  Members include all member states of the League of Arab Nations.
Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization:   a Pan-Arab organization for the encouragement of industrial and mining investments.

Arab Monetary Fund:  a 21-member regional Arab organization that aims to improve the balance of payments of member states and promote Arab monetary cooperation as well as trade among member states. The organization also advises member countries on policies with respect to their foreign investments.
Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation:  promote and facilitate inter-Arab investments and trade.

 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.