Money20/20 Middle East 2026: Thunes on Saudi Arabia's Rise as a Regional Fintech Hub

Quick Summary

With Money20/20 held in the Kingdom for the second time, Thunes' Ahmad Yaacoub says Saudi Arabia is becoming a regional fintech hub. Speaking at Money20/20 Middle East 2026, he explains how Thunes helps local banks, digital wallets and digital MTOs move cross-border remittances away from cash and onto digital channels, with access to 100+ e-wallets and real-time payments to bank accounts in 140+ countries.

Why is Thunes at Money20/20 Middle East?

For Ahmad Yaacoub, MENA VP at Thunes, there is no doubt that Saudi Arabia is becoming a regional fintech hub, and Money20/20 returning to the country for a second time marks the Kingdom's rise as a fintech destination. Taking part is a natural extension of Thunes' presence in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia, and the event is the place to:

• Meet local and regional partners
• Reach the key decision makers Thunes wants to help scale their cross-border remittance solutions

What does Thunes offer banks and wallets in Saudi Arabia?

Thunes has been presenting its proposition in the market for the last four or five years. It works with local banks, digital wallets and digital MTOs to enable cross-border remittances through digital channels, moving away from traditional cash transfers. Its network gives them:

• Access to 100+ e-wallets around the world
• Direct access to real-time local payment methods into bank accounts in 140+ countries

That shift to digital, Yaacoub notes, is by default aligned with the Kingdom's vision of moving to a cashless society.

FF NEWS TAKE:

Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest remittance-sending markets, so the move from cash counters to wallets and real-time bank payouts matters at real scale. Yaacoub's pitch is about plumbing rather than apps: by giving local banks and wallets direct reach into 140+ countries, Thunes lets them compete with cash on speed, which is exactly the kind of quiet infrastructure progress the Kingdom's cashless ambitions depend on.