Despite nearly 100% smartphone penetration and a growing awareness of digital platforms, Saudi Arabian officials are concerned by the lack of financial education and the accessibility of financial wellness advice.

Founded in 2022, fintech startup MALY aims to plug this gap, providing users with a financial wellness platform that helps cultivate better money habits, plugging crucial gaps in Saudi Arabia’s struggling consumer savings sector. Mo Ibrahim, MALY’s co-founder and CEO, described the current climate in the KSA:

“Various estimates cite up to 70% of the Saudi population as having no savings […] despite the reality of immense economic challenges. People need help in building healthier relationships with their finances, and fintechs can provide the necessary tools and platforms to enable individual financial wellness”.

Ibrahim says fintech growth in Saudi Arabia will also be aided by the country’s National Fintech Strategy (SNFS). The initiative aims to drive fintech innovation, increase the number of startups in the Kingdom to 230, and grow digital transactions by 70% by 2025.

Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East

MALY is uniquely positioned to help the KSA achieve its fintech vision. The company’s cutting-edge platform leverages data science and machine learning. According to CEO Mo Ibrahim, MALY is an essential toolbox that helps to automate and manage personal savings and investments while offering debt management tools and investment techniques.

As well as its current suite of financial tools, MALY is also planning an AI-powered Financial Stress Tracker, which will leverage Open Banking to identify patterns indicating financial stress while providing customers with personalized advice and education programs to help them manage their finances.