Tabby, the shopping and financial services app for the MENA region, has agreed to acquire Tweeq, the Saudi-based digital wallet licensed by the Saudi Central Bank.
Announced at 24 Fintech, Saudi’s flagship fintech event, Tweeq will partner with Tabby following the acquisition, pending regulatory approval, to expand its services within Tabby’s ecosystem and consumer scale. By offering accessible savings and spending accounts, Tabby aims to contribute to building a more inclusive economy and promoting a cashless society.
Tweeq will continue to operate independently, and through future opportunities, Tabby could explore expanding its financial products suite to include digital spending accounts, cards, and money management tools in accordance with laws and regulations.
“Tweeq has made it its mission to meet the financial needs of Saudi Arabia by building the best mobile-first spending account,” said Hosam Arab, CEO and co-founder of Tabby. “With Tweeq joining forces with Tabby, we will unlock a whole new suite of financial products designed to empower our customers to do even more with their money when they spend, send or save.”
Looking to the future
Founded in 2020, Tweeq became one of the early electronic money institutions licensed to operate in Saudi Arabia, providing an alternative to traditional banking accounts. The fintech offers a spending account, enabling customers to spend, send, and manage their money, giving them more control over their finances.
Saeed Albuhairi, co-founder and CEO of Tweeq, said: “We are looking forward to merging Tweeq’s offerings into Tabby’s ecosystem so that we can cater to the financial needs of millions of users across the GCC, providing them with an innovative alternative to traditional banking.”
Tabby graduated from the SAMA regulatory sandbox and received its BNPL permit in July last year. The acquisition agreement reinforces the growing maturity and potential of Saudi Arabia’s fintech industry, spotlighting the region’s expanding financial technology sector and representing a breakthrough for the broader Middle Eastern fintech ecosystem. The transaction is subject to undergoing regulatory approvals and the required legal and administrative proceedings.
