The World Savings and Retail Banking Institute published a recap of a high-level study visit to Saudi Arabia’s Social Development Bank in Riyadh, held 2–5 February 2026, convening more than 40 senior representatives to exchange approaches on “Bridging Innovation & Inclusion: Fintech, AI and Social Finance”. The programme was opened by Social Development Bank Chief Executive Officer Eng. Sultan Al-Hamidi and World Savings and Retail Banking Institute Chief Executive Officer Peter Simon. Sessions focused on the Social Development Bank’s integrated empowerment model for entrepreneurs, SMEs, women, youth, productive families and freelancers, spanning social financing products, savings initiatives and digital solutions. The visit highlighted digitisation and AI-enabled services including gamification tools, digital eligibility engines for freelance financing and chatbot applications, alongside branch transformation work such as the JADAH 30 concept. Delegates also engaged with the Saudi Central Bank on policy and supervisory initiatives including the Regulatory Sandbox, open banking frameworks, innovation hubs, digital payments and national financial literacy strategies, and visited The Garage innovation hub plus either AlBilad Bank or Alinma Bank to examine innovation, Islamic banking and digital transformation practices.

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