Visa Marks 40 years of Innovation in Saudi Arabia
Visa builds on 40 years of innovation in Saudi Arabia with new Riyadh office and Innovation Center.
Saudi Arabia is undergoing a significant transformation, guided by the government’s Vision 2030 plans to increase non-cash transactions to 80% by 2030. This ambitious goal is more than just a numerical target; it's a strategic effort to enhance drive innovation in the Kingdom’s financial and payments sector and extend the benefits of digital commerce to more consumers and businesses. Saudi Arabia has become a leading adopter of contactless payments globally, with 98% of face-to-face transactions in the Kingdom conducted with the tap of a card or mobile phone – up from only 4% in 2017.
The high contactless penetration rate for in-store transactions¹ is unsurprising, given that Saudi Arabia boasts a young, tech-savvy population, with over 60% under the age of 30². From consumers to merchants, the Kingdom is paving the way for a cash-light future, meeting the growing demand for seamless, secure, and convenient experiences.
Four decades of innovation, and counting
As a global leader in payments, Visa has been a trusted innovation partner in Saudi Arabia for 40 years. Today, Visa embarks on another significant investment in the Kingdom – the opening of a state-of-the-art Innovation Center and a new office in the prestigious King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD).
These facilities are the latest reflection of Visa’s dedication to supporting Saudi Arabia’s nationwide digital transformation goals and its ambition to position the Kingdom as a global hub for fintech, with Saudi Vision 2030 seeking to foster the sector’s growth to contribute SAR 13.3 billion³ to the GDP by the end of the decade.
Collaborating for cross-sector digital innovation
Through its network of experts, robust technology capabilities, and value-added services, Visa facilitates faster, more secure payments across diverse geographies and industries – from fintech and big tech to governments.
The Riyadh Innovation Center – Visa's fifth globally⁴ – is a hub for creativity that is both collaborative and cutting-edge, enabling Visa and its partners to co-create consumer-centric solutions, deliver scalable innovation, and address the biggest opportunities available across virtual reality, biometrics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), with a focus on government solutions, smart cities, tourism, esports, and gaming⁵.
This comes at a particularly exciting time in Saudi, which recently hosted the first-ever Esports World Cup⁶ and was selected as the inaugural host of the newly launched Olympics Esports Games⁷ in 2025, placing it at the forefront of a quickly growing global industry.
Supporting regional excellence
With its modern Riyadh office, Visa has designed a new home for Visa’s payment experts and business development teams for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman⁸. Further, it supports a growing team and expanding operations, with plans for a significant headcount boost, and a mission to acquire senior talent across multiple departments, including technology, product development, and government relations⁹.
Visa has consistently invested in the development of Saudi Arabia’s digital ecosystem, enabling the digital transformation of commerce as well as growth in sectors such as data analytics, B2B payments, and beyond.
With its new office and Innovation Center in Riyadh, Visa will continue to strengthen its role as a growth driver in the GCC and contribute to Saudi’s vibrant and evolving payments landscape, helping uplift it to new heights of innovation.
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¹https://sa.visamiddleeast.com/en_SA/about-visa/newsroom/press-releases/prl-04082024.html 2024.
⁴Visa Riyadh IC FAQ & Press Release
⁵Visa Marks 40 Years in Saudi Arabia with Launch of New Innovation Center and Office to Power Digital Payments Growth V1 (003)MAINV
⁶https://www.arabnews.com/node/2568817/sport 2024.
⁸Visa Marks 40 Years in Saudi Arabia with Launch of New Innovation Center and Office to Power Digital Payments Growth V1 (003)MAINV
⁹Visa Marks 40 Years in Saudi Arabia with Launch of New Innovation Center and Office to Power Digital Payments Growth V1 (003)MAINV