Saudi banks’ outstanding loans reached SR 3.2 trillion ($849.7 billion) in June 2025, representing a 15.8 percent increase compared to the same month of 2024, according to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).
Corporate borrowing was the main driver of expansion, accounting for 76 percent of total growth. Business loans stood at SR 1.8 trillion, while loans to individuals reached SR 1.4 trillion. The retail share, however, slipped from nearly 50 percent in 2024 to about 44 percent this year.
Real Estate Leads
Business lending surged 22.5 percent year-on-year, with several sectors showing remarkable growth:
- Real estate: SR 384 billion, nearly 22 percent of corporate loans, up 39 percent YoY.
- Wholesale and retail trade: SR 213.1 billion (11.9 percent share), rising 8.4 percent YoY.
- Electricity, gas, and water supply: SR 199.3 billion (11.15 percent share).
- Manufacturing: SR 192.25 billion (10.8 percent share).
Fastest-growing sectors included real estate and transportation/storage (39.9 percent each), health and social work (35.4 percent, SR 26.9 billion), and financial and insurance activities (34 percent, SR 167.5 billion).
Vision 2030, Lending Demand
The surge in credit highlights banks’ central role in funding Vision 2030 projects, including:
- Giga-projects such as NEOM
- Infrastructure and transport networks
- Housing initiatives
- Healthcare and social services
Real estate financing, in particular, reflects rising homeownership goals, urban expansion, and regulatory reforms improving transparency and efficiency.
Digital Transformation, Fintech Growth
SAMA’s digitalization push has accelerated fintech adoption:
- Electronic payments accounted for 79 percent of retail transactions in 2024, up from 70 percent in 2023.
- The number of licensed fintech firms rose from 224 in mid-2024 to 261 by year-end, and further to 317 by mid-2025.
- Of these, 86 companies secured funding worth $4.66 billion in venture capital, according to Tracxn.
The government’s Financial Sector Development Program aims to expand the fintech base to 525 firms and 18,000 jobs by 2030, cementing Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional hub for financial innovation.
Record-Breaking Bank Profits
The lending boom translated into the strongest earnings in Saudi banking history, with combined Q2 2025 profits exceeding SR 23 billion. Notable results included:
- Saudi National Bank: SR 6.1 billion profit (+17.3%).
- Al Rajhi Bank: SR 6.15 billion profit (+31%).
- Saudi Awwal Bank: SR 2.13 billion profit (+9.5%).
- Banque Saudi Fransi: SR 1.30 billion profit (+21%).
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