Saudi Arabia stands at the forefront of a profound economic and social transformation, driven by the ambitious Vision 2030 agenda. At the heart of this vision is a commitment to diversify the Kingdom’s economy, foster innovation, and position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in digital excellence. Nowhere is this transformation more evident than in the financial services sector, where regulatory modernization, economic diversification, and a rapidly evolving customer landscape are converging to create unprecedented opportunities—and challenges.
Saudi Arabia’s financial sector is shaped by a distinctive blend of regulatory rigor, economic ambition, and cultural priorities. The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Capital Market Authority (CMA) have championed progressive regulations that encourage innovation while maintaining stability and trust. This regulatory support, combined with a young, tech-savvy population and a government committed to digitalization, has set the stage for rapid modernization across banking, insurance, and capital markets.
Vision 2030’s focus on economic diversification is accelerating the adoption of digital technologies, with financial institutions seeking to move beyond traditional banking models. The rise of fintech, the push for cashless payments, and the integration of smart city initiatives are all reshaping how financial services are delivered and experienced in the Kingdom.
Publicis Sapient is proud to be a trusted partner in Saudi Arabia’s digital business transformation. With a dedicated presence in Riyadh and a deep understanding of the local market, Publicis Sapient brings global expertise and proven methodologies to help KSA’s financial institutions realize their Vision 2030 ambitions.
Under the leadership of Ashwaq Al Shathri, Country Managing Director for Saudi Arabia, Publicis Sapient is accelerating business growth and building a vibrant community of digital innovators in the Kingdom. Ashwaq’s extensive experience in delivering transformational work across government, health, and private sectors positions Publicis Sapient to deliver immediate value to clients seeking to modernize, innovate, and compete on a global stage.
“Our unique SPEED—Strategy, Product, Experience, Engineering, and Data & AI—capabilities, combined with AI-driven solutions, enable us to meet the challenges of our customers in KSA who want to accelerate their transformation and create new experiences and innovative services,” says Ashwaq Al Shathri.
Publicis Sapient’s SPEED framework is at the core of its approach to digital business transformation:
AI and cloud technologies are at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s financial sector transformation. Publicis Sapient’s deep expertise in AI-driven solutions is helping banks and financial institutions automate compliance, personalize customer experiences, and streamline operations. The company’s recognition as a market leader in generative AI and its strategic collaboration with AWS underscore its ability to deliver enterprise-scale, cloud-native solutions that accelerate innovation.
By achieving AWS Financial Services Competency status, Publicis Sapient demonstrates its capability to drive large-scale data and AI-led digital transformation for financial institutions in KSA. This includes modernizing core banking processes, optimizing payment systems, and enabling seamless cloud migrations—all while ensuring compliance with local regulations and global best practices.
Publicis Sapient’s proven, repeatable approach to building digital banks and modernizing financial institutions is already delivering tangible results across the Middle East. By connecting strategy, human-centered design, operations, engineering, and data science, Publicis Sapient helps clients create new sources of growth and prosperity—often in a matter of months.
The company’s work with leading organizations in the region, including consulting on smart city initiatives and supporting major banks in their digital journeys, highlights its ability to turn ambition into reality. Through partnerships with regulators, fintechs, and technology providers, Publicis Sapient is helping to build a flexible, data-centric financial ecosystem that supports rapid value creation and sustainable growth.
As Saudi Arabia continues its journey toward Vision 2030, the financial sector will play a pivotal role in driving economic diversification and digital innovation. Publicis Sapient is committed to supporting this transformation—empowering banks, insurers, and capital market firms to modernize, diversify, and compete globally.
With a unique blend of local insight, global expertise, and cutting-edge SPEED capabilities, Publicis Sapient stands ready to help Saudi Arabia’s financial institutions lead the next wave of digital innovation. Together, we are shaping a future where technology, customer experience, and regulatory excellence converge to create lasting value for the Kingdom and its people.