Pakistani fintech Abhi has officially launched its earned wage access (EWA) platform in Saudi Arabia, marking the startup’s second expansion in the Middle East after the UAE. The move comes more than a year after Abhi entered a $200 million partnership with Alraedah Digital Solutions to co-develop localized financial products tailored to workers in Saudi and employers.
Breaking the Monthly Salary Cycle
At its core, Abhi’s platform gives employees faster access to their salaries. Instead of waiting until month-end, workers can withdraw their earned wages within 30 seconds via a mobile app.
Funds can be sent directly to:
- Bank accounts
- Digital wallets
This model eliminates cash-flow stress for employees and provides flexibility in managing day-to-day expenses.
A Growing Fintech Story
Founded in 2021 by Omair Ansari and Ali Ladubhai, Abhi began in Pakistan before scaling to the UAE. The startup is backed by Y Combinator and has already processed hundreds of millions of dollars in loan value. Today, it serves more than 750,000 employees through partnerships with over 1,000 companies across its markets.
The Saudi rollout strengthens Abhi’s position as a regional leader in earned wage access and financial wellness tools.
How It Works in Saudi Arabia
Abhi operates on a B2B2C model. Employers integrate with Abhi’s system, enabling their workforce to access earned wages directly through the app.
Key features include:
- Integration with the Wage Protection System (WPS) – ensuring compliance with Saudi labor laws.
- Real-time monitoring – allowing employers to track transactions seamlessly.
- No subscription costs – employees pay only when they use the service.
The pricing model is simple:
- 30 SAR for transactions up to 1,000 SAR (slab-based)
- 40 SAR flat fee for larger withdrawals
This transparent fee structure ensures accessibility while maintaining sustainability for the business.
A Step Toward Vision 2030
Abhi’s Saudi expansion aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals of financial inclusion and digital transformation. Speaking on the company’s partnership with Alraedah, CEO Omair Ansari emphasized:
“This represents a transformative opportunity to democratize access to financial services while supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambitious goals under Vision 2030.”
Currently, the Saudi platform focuses solely on earned wage access. However, in other markets, Abhi also offers SME financing and payroll solutions—hinting at potential service expansion in the Kingdom in the future.
Competition Heats Up
Abhi isn’t the only player eyeing Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing financial services market. Earlier this year, Egypt’s NowPay, also a Y Combinator-backed startup, launched its own earned wage access solution in Saudi through a partnership with United International Holding, the group behind retailer eXtra and digital lender Tas’heel.
Looking Ahead
With over $50 million raised in debt and equity, Abhi is well-positioned to scale its services further across the region. For Saudi Arabia, its arrival brings another innovative fintech solution aimed at improving employee financial wellness and accelerating the country’s digital economy journey.