Riyadh – September 28, 2026 -- Aljazira Bank has signed an agreement with Thunes to overhaul its international remittance infrastructure, giving the Saudi lender real-time access to billions of bank accounts and mobile wallets worldwide.
Saudi Arabia ranks among the highest cross-border payment markets globally
Research by Thunes and Juniper Research found that 56% of Saudi residents sent money internationally in the past year, placing the Kingdom among the world's most active cross-border payment markets. The deal comes as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a digital finance hub under its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.
Thunes' Direct Global Network will expand Aljazira's payment corridors
Through Thunes' Direct Global Network, Aljazira Bank's retail customers will gain optimised cross-border payment rails across high-volume corridors in Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. The bank will broaden its payment catalogue with new endpoints and destinations, aiming to speed up account transfers and improve transparency for remittance customers.
Bank executive says the deal targets faster, wallet-based transfers
Fahad Almutairi, Head of Retail Digital Banking and Payments at Aljazira Bank, said the bank is prioritizing customer access and faster account transfers across key international corridors as mobile wallet usage grows internationally.
Thunes deepens ties with Saudi Arabia's regulated banking sector
The agreement extends Thunes' existing relationships with established, regulated financial institutions in Saudi Arabia, according to the company. Ahmad Yaacoub, VP MENA and Country Head for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Thunes, said the partnership supports the Kingdom's migrant workforce by enabling faster remittance transfers home.