Saudi Arabia’s financial services sector operates within one of the most structured and closely regulated environments in the region. Regulatory oversight from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and compliance with the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) framework have elevated governance, cyber resilience and reporting integrity to board-level priorities.

BDO Saudi Arabia supports banks, insurance companies, FinTech firms and credit bureaus through integrated audit, tax and advisory services designed to strengthen regulatory compliance, enhance digital resilience and support sustainable growth.

Regulatory and Cybersecurity Compliance

Compliance with the SAMA Cybersecurity Framework and NCA mandates is mandatory for regulated financial institutions. We assist organisations in assessing readiness, strengthening control environments and enhancing governance reporting to regulators and boards.

• SAMA Cybersecurity Framework gap assessments and advisory
• NCA compliance reviews and cyber governance enhancement
• Technology risk and internal control assurance
• Board and Audit Committee reporting support

FinTech and Regulatory Sandbox Advisory

Saudi Arabia’s regulatory sandbox environment presents significant opportunities for FinTech innovation. However, participation requires disciplined governance, risk assessment and compliance structuring.

• Regulatory readiness assessments for sandbox applications
• Risk management framework design for emerging FinTech models
• Governance and compliance structuring for digital platforms

AI Integration and Fraud Risk Management

The integration of artificial intelligence into fraud detection, transaction monitoring and regulatory reporting introduces both opportunity and regulatory complexity. Financial institutions must ensure that AI systems operate within strong governance and control frameworks.

• AI governance and control environment assessments
• Fraud detection system oversight and risk assurance
• Data integrity and reporting control reviews

Audit, Tax and Capital Markets Support

We provide comprehensive audit and tax services tailored to regulated financial institutions and capital market participants, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and tax legislation while supporting transparency and investor confidence.

• Statutory audit for banks and financial institutions
• Tax advisory and compliance for regulated entities
• Capital markets transaction support
• Regulatory reporting assurance

Who We Support

• Banks and retail finance institutions
• Insurance and reinsurance companies
• FinTech and digital payment platforms
• Credit bureaus and financial data providers
• Tadawul-listed financial services entities

When Should You Seek Support?

• Preparing for SAMA or NCA compliance review
• Launching new digital financial products
• Entering regulatory sandbox programmes
• Implementing AI-driven fraud detection systems
• Strengthening governance and internal controls

Contact Our Financial Services Team

To discuss regulatory compliance, FinTech advisory or cyber risk assurance in Saudi Arabia, please contact our advisory team to submit a request for proposal.