Saudi fintech lite secures $3.2m in pre-seed funding

Co-founders of lite Fahad Anteet, Mohamed Faheem, and Soliman Aldukhil.
Co-founders of lite Fahad Anteet, Mohamed Faheem, and Soliman Aldukhil.
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Updated 27 February 2025
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Saudi fintech lite secures $3.2m in pre-seed funding

Saudi fintech lite secures $3.2m in pre-seed funding

Saudi-based fintech startup lite has announced the successful closure of its pre-seed funding round, raising a total of $3.2 million. The round was led by Scene Holding, with participation from prominent angel investors, marking a significant milestone in lite’s journey to redefine the payments ecosystem for businesses in Saudi Arabia.

Established by three seasoned co-founders with vast experience in payments — Fahad Anteet, Mohamed Faheem, and Soliman Aldukhil — lite is on a mission to become the leading payment solutions provider in the Saudi market, offering businesses a full-fledged suite of financial services to meet all their payment needs. With a strong focus on innovation, scalability, and localization, lite is committed to driving financial inclusion and enhancing the efficiency of payment ecosystems in the Kingdom. This is in line with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of accelerating digital transformation and promoting a less-cash society.

Currently, lite is in the process of obtaining an electronic money institution license from the Saudi Central Bank, which will enable the company to fully operate and deliver its comprehensive suite of payment solutions to businesses across the Kingdom.

“We are deeply grateful to our investors for their trust in our vision and to the Saudi Central Bank, Fintech Saudi, and key ecosystem enablers for their support in fostering fintech innovation. This funding marks a major step forward in our mission to provide businesses with seamless, secure, and scalable payment solutions tailored to the Saudi market,” said Anteet, CEO of lite. “As we work toward obtaining our EMI license, we remain committed to innovation, compliance, and localization — empowering businesses and accelerating the shift toward a digital, less-cash economy in alignment with Vision 2030.”

“We are thrilled to support lite on its journey to reshape the payments ecosystem in Saudi Arabia,” said Sultan Ghaznawi, chairman and managing director, Scene Holding “The founding team’s expertise, vision, and commitment to innovation align perfectly with our investment philosophy at Scene Holding. We believe lite has the potential to drive meaningful impact in the fintech sector, empowering businesses and contributing to the Kingdom’s digital transformation goals.”


With new regional HQs in Riyadh, Amadeus deepens commitment to Saudi tourism

 With new regional HQs in Riyadh, Amadeus deepens commitment to Saudi tourism
Updated 12 November 2025
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With new regional HQs in Riyadh, Amadeus deepens commitment to Saudi tourism

 With new regional HQs in Riyadh, Amadeus deepens commitment to Saudi tourism

Reflecting its support for Saudi Arabia’s transformative Vision 2030, Amadeus, a leading global travel technology provider, has opened its regional headquarters in Riyadh. This strategic move marks a new chapter in Amadeus’ journey to empower the Kingdom’s rapidly evolving travel and tourism ecosystem.

The RHQ will serve as a hub of innovation and collaboration, with its central base in Riyadh. Designed to attract top-tier talent and foster cutting-edge solutions, the headquarters will play a pivotal role in advancing the technology in key areas such as modernization of airlines and airports, smart hospitality technologies, travel agency digitization, and supporting key milestones like the Kingdom’s giga-projects.

Amadeus is also working with the Kingdom to attract more visitors to the country, aiming to positioning Saudi Arabia as a premier global destination for both leisure and business travelers.

“This partnership is more than just business — it’s a shared vision,” a statement said. “Amadeus takes pride in contributing to Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global hub for technology and tourism, supporting the Kingdom’s goals of economic diversification, digital transformation, and human capital development.”

Amadeus is investing not only in infrastructure but also in supporting the country’s development goals by applying its global expertise to meet local and regional needs.

Maher Koubaa, EVP travel unit and managing director EMEA at Amadeus, said: “Our growing presence in Saudi Arabia reflects the rapid expansion of the region’s tourism industry and we’re excited to contribute to the Kingdom’s vision with our cutting-edge technology. By partnering closely with local stakeholders and investing in innovative solutions, we are working together to drive the digital transformation of travel. Our goal is to empower airlines, airports and travel partners to deliver seamless, personalized experiences for every traveler — all supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a world-class destination and a global leader in tourism.” 

Abdullah Alhagbani, chief partnerships and regulatory affairs officer at Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “Amadeus has been a key player in Saudi Arabia since 2004, and a trusted tourism partner since the Kingdom opened its doors to international visitors in 2019. For over 21 years, Amadeus has helped shape the growth of our tourism ecosystem, empowering over 1,087 companies, from airlines and airports to hotels, travel agencies and sellers, and digital platforms. And now, bringing over 35 years of global expertise to the heart of Saudi Arabia, Amadeus further strengthens this partnership as we welcome their regional headquarters in Riyadh.

“This new chapter for Amadeus in Saudi Arabia is a vote of confidence in what’s next, reinforcing our shared ambition to shape a more connected, innovative, and human-centered future of travel. With Amadeus’ global expertise and advanced technology, the partnership will help accelerate Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation and elevate the visitor experience.”