Lendo Secures $690 Million Facility Led by J.P. Morgan to Boost SME Financing in Saudi Arabia - Middle East Business News and Information
RIYADH — January 30, 2025 — Lendo, the leading debt crowdfunding platform in Saudi Arabia, has secured a USD 690 million (SAR 2.6 billion) warehouse facility led by J.P. Morgan. Supported by Fintech Saudi, this milestone underscores the growth in Saudi Arabia's fintech sector and the vast opportunity in SME financing in the economy.
The facility is expected to contribute to an increase in job creation in the Kingdom, demonstrating Lendo's commitment to domestic economic growth and employment.
'This landmark facility represents a transformative moment for Lendo and the Saudi fintech ecosystem,' said Osama Alraee, CEO and co-founder of Lendo. 'The strong backing from global financial institutions such as J.P. Morgan validates our innovative approach to SME financing and positions us to expand our impact in the Saudi market significantly. This facility will accelerate our mission of boosting SMEs growth while contributing to the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals.'
J.P. Morgan's facility will be strategically deployed to increase Lendo's lending capacity, introduce more innovative products, and expand Lendo's SME coverage in the Kingdom. The development aligns with Saudi Vision 2030's goal of increasing SME lending from 4% in 2018 to 20% by 2030.
George Deves, Co-Head of Northern European ABS at J.P. Morgan said, 'We are pleased to collaborate with Lendo on this landmark transaction. A strong and fast-growing SME sector is vital for the local economy and this financing will help support the strategic initiative to boost SME lending in Saudi Arabia.'
The facility also signals the growing confidence of international investors in Saudi Arabia's fintech sector and its regulatory framework.
Lendo has successfully raised two investment rounds to date. The company's last USD 28 million Series B investment round was led by Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). About Lendo
Lendo is Saudi Arabia's first crowdlending marketplace licensed and regulated by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) to connect qualified businesses seeking financing with investors seeking short-term returns.
Founded by Osama Alraee (CEO) and Mohamed Jawabri (COO) in 2019 after starting in SAMA's Regulatory Sandbox, Lendo has facilitated over SAR 2.5 billion (USD 667 million) in financing through more than 5,000 transactions, generating SAR 125 million (USD 33.3 million) in returns for investors. Backed by Sanabil Investments, Lendo provides secure, efficient, and Shariah-compliant financing solutions that support Saudi Arabia's growing SME sector, aligned with Vision 2030's economic diversification goals. For more information, visit https://lendo.sa/ or contact: marketing@lendo.sa
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
2 days ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Scenes of Sports Diplomacy in Trump's Gulf Tour
Mohamed Mahmoud Abdelwahab The visit of the President of the United States to the Gulf region in mid-May was not traditional; Trump is an exceptional figure, and the version of his second term differs greatly from the first, as he does not care much for diplomatic norms and their boundaries. How could he commit to them if even geographic boundaries do not constrain his economic and investment visions? Talking about annexing Canada to the United States reveals much about his political and economic propositions inside and outside the United States. And if Trump's statements often involve intimidating rhetoric and rough diplomacy, can he be imagined to believe in the importance of soft power in enhancing the state's image and its foreign relations? Does he realize that public diplomacy might contribute to improving political communication between leaders? And can his administration succeed in using the hosting of international sports events, such as the Club World Cup next June and the joint hosting of the 2026 World Cup, to improve relations with neighboring countries like Canada and Mexico? Despite all these questions, the evidence points to an exceptional diplomatic pattern that may evolve into a new school in international relations attributed to Trump , who is eager to achieve accomplishments credited to him. This is in addition to what the first five months of his second term have shown, whether in superiority diplomacy (as seen in his conversation with the President of South Africa at the White House), acquisition diplomacy (such as the mineral deal with Ukraine), and other features that characterize his handling of foreign policy files, although he has some ideas about developing sports and sports investment, and he has good relations with athletes. And due to Trump's lack of conviction in the value of traditional tools for implementing his foreign policies and his preference to rely on advisors and influential economic figures — who accompanied him on his first foreign tour, along with the presence of the FIFA president in two stops of the tour — it is important to pause at some scenes of sports diplomacy during his visit to Gulf countries, as football and sports investment are among the most prominent images of public diplomacy. Especially considering that, despite the presence of the FIFA president among the delegation of investors and CEOs accompanying Trump, and Infantino's pride in participating in a tour full of historic agreements, he faced sharp criticism from members of the FIFA Congress — especially the Europeans — for being late to the Congress meeting in Paraguay, considering his visits to Riyadh and Doha as coming at the expense of official obligations and favoring his personal ambitions. Thus, even sports are not free from political calculations at the level of federations. Scene One: During his participation in the Saudi-American Investment Forum, in the session titled 'The Road to 2034… Partnerships and Progress Towards the World Cup in Saudi Arabia', Infantino affirmed in his speech that Saudi Arabia is one of the world's leading investors in football and that its hosting of the World Cup is a pivotal moment in the history of the world's most popular game. He added that football represents a massive economy, with its related global GDP estimated at about $270 billion annually. Scene Two: The Emir of Qatar presented Trump with the official ball of the 2022 World Cup, enhancing the role of sports diplomacy in strengthening ties between peoples and countries and showing the position of football in the political and diplomatic arena. Qatar has a successful model in sponsoring European competitions, and Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League title supports that investment which began years ago. Scene Three: The conversation that took place in Abu Dhabi between Trump and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of City Group, which addressed the preparations for the opening of the New York City stadium before the 2028 Olympics. Trump showed clear interest in the conversation, which highlights how sports diplomacy contributes to supporting countries' infrastructure, noting that City Group, backed by the Mubadala investment fund, has interests in European and Latin American countries. These scenes reflect the development of the relationship between sport and investment. It is no longer limited to club acquisitions, but now includes integrated systems involving teams, stadiums, and brand names. The Russian model in Chelsea, followed by the entry of Chinese investors and the Arab investment that began with Mohamed Al-Fayed entering the field of investing in English clubs — all these moves developed rapidly. Sports investment has become more complex and interconnected both locally and internationally. In conclusion, Trump's visit to Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi draws new features of the intersection between sports, economy, and politics, and affirms the importance of sports diplomacy, which is gaining increasing interest from world leaders as an effective tool to present soft power and strengthen ties between countries beyond the traditional constraints of politics. Gulf countries are among the most prominent models in employing sports to enhance their foreign interests. read more Analysis- Turkey Has 0 Regional Allies... Why? Analysis: Russia, Turkey... Libya in Return For Syria? Analysis: Who Will Gain Trump's Peace Plan Fruits? Analysis: Will Turkey's Erdogan Resort to Snap Election? Analysis: What Are Turkey's Aspirations in Iraq? Opinion & Analysis Analysis: Mercenaries In Libya... Who Should Be Blamed? Opinion & Analysis Analysis- How 'Libya Nightmare' Takes Erdogan to Algiers Opinion & Analysis Analysis: What Happens After Brexit? Opinion & Analysis Analysis: Strategic Significance of Libya's Sirte, Jufra! News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
Tahya Masr
3 days ago
- Tahya Masr
Nasdaq Dubai Welcomes Mashreq's USD 500 Million Sukuk Listing
Nasdaq Dubai welcomed Mashreq's (''Mashreq'' or ''the Bank'') debut listing on the exchange with the admission of a USD 500 million Sukuk issued by Mashreq Al Islami Sukuk Company Ltd . The Trust Certificates, due in 2030, were issued under Mashreq's USD 2.5 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Programme and are being admitted as a secondary listing following strong demand in the primary market. This marks an important milestone for Mashreq as it expands its access to international capital markets and strengthens its presence in the Islamic finance space. It also reflects Nasdaq Dubai's continued role in connecting regional issuers with a global investor base through a well-regulated and diversified platform. Senior officials from Mashreq, including Ahmed Abdelaal, Group Chief Executive Officer; Joel Van Dusen, Group Head of Corporate & Investment Banking; and Salman Hadi, Group Head of Treasury & Global Markets, attended the market opening ceremony at Nasdaq Dubai to celebrate the listing. The bell was rung by Ahmed Abdelaal in the presence of Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market (DFM). Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of Mashreq, commented: "This Sukuk listing marks an important step in Mashreq's commitment to strengthening the global Islamic finance landscape. It is a clear demonstration of Mashreq's long-term commitment to Islamic finance, the deepening of cross-border capital flows, and the UAE's continued emergence as a global nexus for ethical and Sharia-compliant financing. Through this programme, we are proud to reinforce investor trust and contribute meaningfully to the maturing of Islamic capital markets . Ahmed Abdelaal, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mashreq said: 'Our debut listing on Nasdaq Dubai marks a new chapter in Mashreq's capital markets journey. This Sukuk issuance not only attracted strong investor interest, but also affirms our disciplined approach to funding, even in a complex macro environment. As we continue to diversify our capital structure through Sharia-compliant channels, we remain committed to delivering strong fundamentals, market transparency, and sustainable value for all stakeholders. Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai and Dubai Financial Market (DFM), said: 'This listing reflects Mashreq's growing ambitions in the Islamic finance sector and underscores our role as a leading marketplace that connects regional issuers with global investors. As Dubai continues to strengthen its capital markets infrastructure, we remain committed to providing an efficient and transparent platform that supports diverse financing needs and promotes sustainable growth across the financial ecosystem. This landmark Sukuk issuance marked Mashreq's successful return to the international debt capital markets. It was also the first public issuance from the CEEMEA region since the announcement of U.S. tariffs in April 2025, which had triggered heightened volatility across global markets. The success of this transaction renewed market participants' confidence, and was followed by a string of issuances, thereby helping to reopen the market for regional issuers. The transaction attracted significant investor interest, resulting in an orderbook of USD 2.9 billion, nearly six times oversubscribed. The final pricing was tightened to UST +105 basis points with a fixed profit rate of 5.03% per annum, reflecting the strength and quality of the orderbook and strong investor confidence in Mashreq's credit fundamentals. With broad participation from over 90 global investors across the Middle East, Europe and Asia, the issuance reaffirms Mashreq's leadership in Islamic finance and reinforces Dubai's growing stature as a global hub for Sharia-compliant capital markets. With this listing, the total value of Sukuk listed on Nasdaq Dubai has reached USD 97.2 billion, further strengthening the exchange's position as one of the world's largest centres for Islamic fixed income. The overall value of debt securities listed on Nasdaq Dubai now stands at over USD 140 billion, across 163 issuances. These figures reflect the depth and maturity of the UAE's capital markets, as well as the growing appeal of Dubai as a gateway for regional and international investment.
Mid East Info
3 days ago
- Mid East Info
As part of national initiatives to enhance pilgrim's experiences, ROSHN Group Collaborates with the Ministry of Defense to Enrich the Hajj Experience
ROSHN Group, Saudi Arabia's leading multi-asset real estate developer and a PIF company, is proud to serve as a Main Sponsor of the 1446H Hajj Season Support Program, under the supervision of the Ministry of Defense's General Directorate for Safety Services. The program aims to serve more than 50,000 pilgrims, including Ministry personnel, guest pilgrims from within the Kingdom and abroad, and the families of martyrs and active-duty soldiers. ROSHN Group's contribution involves providing vital supplies and support services across the holy sites, helping ensure a dignified, safe, and comfortable pilgrimage for all. This collaboration reflects the Group's commitment to national initiatives and community well-being. It aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly the Pilgrims Experience Program, which seeks to enrich the spiritual journey of every pilgrim while enhancing the Kingdom's standards of hospitality and care.
