Nayla Finance Raises $17.9 Million to Expand Micro Financing in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia-based lendtech Nayla Finance has raised $17.9 million in a pre-Series A funding round to expand financing for micro businesses and entrepreneurs across the Kingdom.

The round combines equity and debt financing. Idrisi Ventures led the equity investment, with participation from Suhail Ventures and other strategic investors, while Blominvest led the debt facility.

The latest funding brings Nayla Finance’s total capital raised to nearly $22 million since its founding in 2024, highlighting growing investor interest in digital lending solutions targeting underserved small businesses in Saudi Arabia.

Funding to Expand Micro Business Financing

Nayla Finance plans to use the new capital to increase its lending capacity and expand its financing portfolio.

The debt component will support additional lending to micro businesses, while the equity funding will help the company expand into adjacent customer segments, enhance its proprietary credit intelligence platform and strengthen partnerships across Saudi Arabia’s SME ecosystem.

The company provides financing of up to SAR 200,000, or approximately $53,650, to micro businesses and entrepreneurs. Financing can be provided for terms of up to 12 months.

Alternative Credit Assessment Drives Nayla’s Model

A key part of Nayla Finance’s strategy is its proprietary credit assessment technology.

The platform uses alternative data to evaluate borrowers who may have difficulty obtaining financing through traditional financial institutions. This approach allows Nayla to target segments of the market that remain underserved by conventional lending models.

Since launching operations, the company says it has received thousands of financing applications and originated tens of millions of Saudi Riyals in financing.

Saudi Arabia’s SME Financing Opportunity

The funding comes as digital lending continues to develop across Saudi Arabia, with fintech companies increasingly using technology and alternative data to improve access to financial services.

Micro businesses and entrepreneurs can face challenges when seeking traditional credit because conventional underwriting models often rely heavily on established financial histories and collateral.

Digital lenders can potentially address part of this gap by using alternative information, automated underwriting and technology-driven credit assessment.

For Nayla Finance, expanding its proprietary credit intelligence platform could therefore become an important part of its growth strategy as it reaches more businesses across the Kingdom.

Nayla Finance Builds on Earlier Seed Funding

Nayla Finance was founded in 2024 by CEO Shaqran Alyahya and Chief Risk Officer Khalid Naili.

The company’s latest funding follows its initial seed round in 2024, when Sanabil Studio, the venture-building division of Sanabil Investments that helped create Nayla, committed $4 million.

With nearly $22 million now secured, the company has significantly increased its funding base within two years of its founding.

What the Funding Means for Saudi Fintech

The Nayla Finance raise highlights a broader trend in Saudi fintech: increasing investment in digital financial products designed for small businesses and underserved borrowers.

As alternative lending platforms mature, the ability to combine technology, responsible underwriting and access to institutional capital will become increasingly important.

Nayla’s next phase will depend on how effectively it can scale its lending portfolio while maintaining disciplined credit risk management.

The bigger question is whether Saudi Arabia’s growing fintech ecosystem can make digital financing a mainstream source of capital for the Kingdom’s micro businesses and entrepreneurs.

What do you think will drive the next wave of fintech growth in Saudi Arabia — digital lending, payments or embedded finance?

Nayla secures $17.9m to grow micro financing in Saudi Arabia

Alternative Lendingdigital lendingfintechfintech fundingMicro FinancingNayla FinanceSaudi ArabiaSaudi FintechSME financingStartup Funding