Tabby - WORLDEF

Tabby Secures Consumer and SME Finance Licenses in Saudi Arabia, Expanding Beyond BNPL

Saudi fintech unicorn Tabby has obtained consumer finance and SME finance licenses from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), enabling the company to offer longer-term financing options for consumers and working capital solutions for businesses. The move marks a significant step in Tabby’s evolution from a buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider into a broader digital financial services platform.

Tabby announced that the new licenses will allow eligible customers in Saudi Arabia to finance purchases exceeding SAR 2,000 ($533), with financing limits reaching up to SAR 50,000 and repayment terms of up to 12 months. The company’s extended financing plans are already available across selected merchant partners, including Noon, IKEA, Almosafer, flynas, Fitness Time, and Almanea.

New Licenses Open Higher-Value Financing Categories

The expanded financing capabilities enable Tabby to move beyond its traditional short-term BNPL model, which primarily covered lower-value retail purchases. The company can now support larger transactions in categories such as education, travel, healthcare, furniture, used vehicles, and short-term accommodation.

The financing products are structured under Shariah-compliant Murabaha agreements, with costs disclosed upfront and fixed throughout the repayment period. According to the company, customers will not face compounding charges or late fees.

The SME finance license also allows Tabby to provide working capital to merchants operating on its platform, particularly small and medium-sized e-commerce businesses that often struggle to access financing through traditional banking channels. By leveraging transaction and merchant data from its ecosystem, Tabby aims to offer more tailored financing solutions and improve credit assessment capabilities.

Tabby currently serves more than 25 million registered users and over 65,000 businesses across the GCC, with Saudi Arabia representing its largest market. The new regulatory approvals align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives of increasing financial inclusion, promoting fintech innovation, and expanding access to transparent credit solutions for consumers and businesses.

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Tabby’s UAE Wallet Licence Unlocks 3 Major Fintech Growth Opportunities

Middle East fintech leader Tabby has taken a major step toward becoming a full-scale financial platform after securing a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) licence from the Central Bank of the UAE.

The licence allows Tabby to hold customer funds and offer a broader range of financial services, marking a strategic shift beyond its core Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) model.

A shift from BNPL to full financial ecosystem

With this approval, Tabby will introduce new products including spending accounts, payment cards, and money management tools.

This move signals a clear transformation: from a payments solution into a comprehensive financial super app. Users who already rely on Tabby for flexible payments will soon be able to manage daily financial activities from spending to transfers within a single platform.

The company’s CEO, Hosam Arab, emphasized that the licence enables Tabby to “serve customers beyond credit” and redefine how users interact with money in everyday life.

Strengthening regulatory position in the GCC

The UAE licence significantly strengthens Tabby’s regulatory footprint across the Gulf region.

The company already holds a BNPL licence in Saudi Arabia and has expanded its capabilities through the acquisition of a licensed digital wallet there.

Now, with direct regulatory approvals in both key markets, Tabby is positioned to build and deploy financial services independently across the GCC, rather than relying on third-party infrastructure.

Why this matters for fintech and e-commerce

Tabby currently serves millions of users and partners with over 65,000 brands globally, including major retail and e-commerce players.

This development reflects a broader industry trend:
BNPL providers are evolving into full-service financial platforms to deepen user engagement and unlock new revenue streams.

For the UAE and wider MENA region, it also highlights the growing maturity of the fintech ecosystem, where regulators are enabling innovation while maintaining strong oversight.

Outlook

With its new licence, Tabby is expected to accelerate product innovation and intensify competition in the region’s digital finance space.

As consumer demand shifts toward integrated financial experiences, Tabby’s transition into a multi-product platform could reshape how users manage money, not just how they pay.

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Ubuy Launches Installment Shopping in Cross-Border E-Commerce with Tabby Partnership

Ubuy, the cross-border e-commerce platform operating in the Gulf region, has started offering the “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) model to users in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia through a new integration with the payment technology company Tabby. The new payment option has been activated on both the Ubuy UAE and Ubuy Saudi Arabia platforms.

With this integration, users will be able to purchase millions of international products available on the platform with installment payment options. Under the model offered by Tabby, purchases can be split into up to four installments. While no interest or additional fees are applied in three-installment plans, a small transaction fee may apply for four-installment plans. The payment process also moves very quickly; after selecting the Tabby option on the payment page, users can receive instant approval and complete their purchases, while the remaining payments are automatically scheduled by the system.

BNPL Solutions Are Rapidly Expanding

In recent years, BNPL solutions have been rapidly expanding in the Gulf countries. The increasing preference of young and digitally focused consumers for flexible payment options is encouraging e-commerce platforms to invest more in alternative financing models. According to market research, the BNPL market in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to reach a value of billions of dollars in the coming years.

Ubuy Aims to Expand Its User Base in the Gulf Market

Dhari AlAbdulhadi, the founder and CTO of Ubuy, stated that customer experience is at the center of the company’s growth strategy, noting that the Tabby integration increases users’ financial flexibility and makes international shopping more accessible. The company aims to expand its user base in the Gulf market by combining global product access with regional payment solutions.

Operating across categories such as electronics, fashion, beauty, and home & living, Ubuy enables consumers to access products from different parts of the world quickly and easily through its cross-border e-commerce model with its wide product range.