What Hala does

Hala is a Saudi Arabia-based digital financial platform serving micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), freelancers, and large corporates. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Riyadh, the company is fully licensed by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and operates as a Saudi closed joint stock company. The platform is an all-in-one financial operating system that combines digital business IBAN accounts, payment acceptance (via Soft POS on Android smartphones and dedicated POS hardware), expense management with corporate cards, Sharia-compliant POS financing up to SAR 2 million, Sadad bill payments, payroll management, and wallet-to-wallet transfers. It supports mada, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Gulf Networks, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay, with instant transaction settlement.

The underlying technology stack includes digital wallet infrastructure, Soft POS mobile point-of-sale software, dedicated POS hardware with integrated business accounts, and an expense management platform with accounting system integrations. Core differentiating features are real-time settlement, 24/7 fraud monitoring, and Sharia-compliant (Tawarruq) lending underwritten using on-platform POS sales history and SIMAH credit bureau data. The company is integrated with Tamara for Buy Now, Pay Later functionality and with multiple Saudi banks (Saudi French Bank, Arab National Bank) for fund transfer and wallet management.

Hala's business model is multi-stream. The primary revenue driver is transaction/processing fees, with rates varying by network: mada at 0.6-0.8% (capped at SAR 160), international networks (Visa/Mastercard) at approximately 2.25-2.50%, and Gulf Networks at 2% (capped at SAR 37.50). Recurring subscription revenue is generated from Soft POS (starting at SAR 52/user/month), POS devices (free with SAR 15,000+/month transaction volume, otherwise SAR 130/month), and Expense Management (free to SAR 299/user/month in three tiers). Additional streams include Sharia-compliant financing income, hardware replacement fees, and card/ATM fees. Go-to-market is primarily self-serve digital onboarding through the website and mobile app, supplemented by an enterprise sales motion for larger corporates. As of September 2025, Hala serves over 142,000 businesses, processes more than $8 billion in annual transactions, and has raised a $157 million Series B co-led by The Rise Fund (TPG) and Sanabil Investments.

Name

Hala

Legal name

شركة هلا للمدفوعات

Website

https://hala.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Hala is a SAMA-licensed digital financial platform in Saudi Arabia offering SMEs, freelancers, and corporates all-in-one business accounts, payment acceptance (Soft POS and terminals), expense management, and Sharia-compliant financing, serving 142,000+ businesses processing $8B annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Banking and Payments Platform

NAICS

Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Islamic SME & Commercial Banking (FSABAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

SME Lending Platforms & Embedded SME Credit (FSAKAGAJ), Shariah-compliant Financing Products (Murabaha, Ijara, Tawarruq, Istisna, Salam) (FSABAGAH)

Keywords

• Digital payment processing
• SME banking services
• Mobile point of sale
• Business expense management
• Merchant financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Transaction/Processing Fees: Hala charges merchants a percentage fee on each card transaction processed. Fee rates vary by card network: Mada at 0.6%–0.8% (capped at SAR 160), Visa/Mastercard at 2.50% (+ SAR 1 for transactions ≤ SAR 250), Gulf networks at 2% (capped at SAR 37.50), and American Express at 2.5% + SAR 0.5. Local bank transfers incur a SAR 5 fee. These fees constitute the primary revenue stream.
2. Monthly Subscriptions: Hala charges monthly subscription fees for its payment and expense management services. Soft POS starts at SAR 52 per user per month, POS device requires minimum monthly transactions of SAR 15,000 or a SAR 130 monthly fee per device, and expense management plans range from free (1 card) to SAR 99/user/month (up to 3 cards) and SAR 299/user/month (unlimited cards).
3. Financing Income: Hala provides Sharia-compliant financing (Tawarruq-based) to SMEs up to SAR 2 million, generating income through the profit margin embedded in the deferred payment structure. Repayment is via daily POS deductions or monthly bank transfers.
4. Hardware Sales: Hala provides POS devices; while the device itself may be offered free under subscription conditions, replacement device fees (SAR 400 for full device, SAR 200 for battery, SAR 65 for charger, SAR 75 for data chip) and equipment charges apply.
5. Card and ATM Fees: Fees for ATM withdrawals (SAR 2.5), mini statement (SAR 1.2), balance inquiry (SAR 1.2), international transaction fees (3%), and card replacement (SAR 35) generate ancillary revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hala provides a unified digital financial platform for SMEs, freelancers, and corporations in Saudi Arabia, combining business banking (IBAN accounts), payment acceptance (POS terminals and Soft POS), expense management, and Sharia-compliant financing. The platform enables instant transaction settlement and serves as an all-in-one financial operating system for small and medium businesses. Hala is fully licensed by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) as a payment service provider.

Product overview

Hala is a unified fintech platform serving SMEs, freelancers, and corporations in Saudi Arabia with a comprehensive suite of financial services. The core platform consists of digital bank accounts (Business, Freelancer, Corporate, and Multi-User accounts) that provide IBAN functionality, instant settlement, and payment acceptance capabilities. Payment acceptance is delivered through two main channels: dedicated Payment Terminal hardware devices with advanced features, and Soft POS mobile application enabling Android smartphones to function as POS terminals. Additional modules include Expense Management with corporate cards and accounting integration, POS Financing providing Sharia-compliant working capital up to 2 million SAR, Sadad bill payments, and Payroll Management. The platform supports multiple payment networks including mada, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Gulf Networks, plus digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, with a Buy Now Pay Later integration through Tamara. Hala processes over $8 billion in annual transactions across 142,000+ businesses and is licensed by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Account (حساب المنشآت) Digital business bank account for SMEs providing IBAN accounts, instant settlement, and comprehensive financial management in a single platform for small and medium enterprises in Saudi Arabia.
• Freelancer Account (حساب العمل الحر) Digital bank account designed for freelancers and self-employed individuals in Saudi Arabia, enabling them to receive business payments, issue invoices, and manage their finances separately from personal accounts.
• Corporate Account (حساب الشركات) Business account solution for larger companies with multi-user access, payroll management, and advanced financial management features for corporate use in Saudi Arabia.
• Multi-User Account (حساب متعدد المستخدمين) Business account with multi-user access and role-based permissions enabling team collaboration on financial management, designed for businesses with multiple employees handling finances.
• Soft POS (نقاط البيع الهاتفية) Mobile point-of-sale software that converts Android smartphones into contactless payment terminals accepting Mada, Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, with instant settlement to the merchant's Hala IBAN account. Subscription starts at SAR 52 per user per month.
• Payment Terminal (جهاز نقاط البيع) Dedicated POS hardware device with dual LED screen, high-definition display, fast thermal printer, and 30-hour battery life, bundled with a business IBAN account. Supports chip, PIN, contactless, and digital wallet payments with instant settlement. Free with SAR 15,000+ monthly transactions or SAR 130/month per device.
• Expense Management (إدارة النفقات) Corporate expense management solution for businesses featuring virtual and physical corporate cards, spending controls, automated approval workflows, accounting system integration, real-time expense tracking, and CSV report export. Plans range from free (1 card) to SAR 299/user/month (unlimited cards with international USD payments).
• Hala Debit Card (بطاقات فيزا ومدى) Business debit card linked to the Hala account for making payments and ATM withdrawals, supporting both Visa and mada networks with ATM withdrawal fee of SAR 2.5 and international transaction fee of 3%.
• Corporate Cards (بطاقات المصروفات) Employee and business expense cards with configurable spending limits, real-time transaction monitoring, and integration with the expense management platform.
• POS Financing (تمويل نقاط البيع) Sharia-compliant (Tawarruq-based) working capital financing for SMEs up to SAR 2 million, underwritten based on POS sales history. Repayment is via daily POS deduction or monthly bank transfer over 3, 6, 9, or 12 month periods, with financing decisions in under 3 days and immediate fund transfer upon approval.
• Sadad (سداد) Bill payment service for settling utility bills and government payments through the Saudi Sadad national payment system, integrated into the Hala business account.
• Payroll Management (إدارة الرواتب) Employee salary payment and payroll management service for businesses, enabling automated salary disbursement from the Hala business account to employee accounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $8 billion in annual transactions processed across 142,000+ businesses as of September 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Paymennt.comminorOthers · 1 February 2023Hala acquired UAE-based Paymennt.com, a payments service provider, in February 2023. The acquisition was aimed at enhancing Hala's product offerings by enabling online and omnichannel payments for SMEs in the region, expanding Hala's footprint beyond Saudi Arabia into the UAE market.
• TamaracoreTechnology or IntegrationHala has integrated Tamara's Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solution into its POS devices, enabling merchants to offer customers flexible payment options of 2, 3, or 4 installments. Merchants receive the full sale amount immediately in their Hala account while customers pay in installments through Tamara.
• Mada (مدى)coreTechnology or IntegrationHala processes Mada contactless and card transactions through the Saudi Payments Network. Mada is the national debit card scheme operated by the Saudi Payments Company, enabling Hala to accept local card payments at competitive rates.
• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationHala processes Visa credit and debit card transactions globally, enabling merchants to accept international card payments. Visa's global network infrastructure underpins Hala's cross-border payment acceptance capabilities.
• Saudi Credit Bureau (SIMAH / سمة)minorOthersHala shares merchant transaction data with SIMAH (Saudi Credit Bureau) to report credit behavior and obtain credit scores for merchants. This partnership supports Hala's financing decisions and risk assessment for SME lending.
• HalaBagminorOthersHalaBag is integrated with Saudia's 'Hajj Without Baggage' service as part of Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives, though this is a separate service offering from Hala's core fintech operations. The connection involves Hala's baggage management system integrated with the Nusuk platform.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• stc bank (formerly STC Pay): Saudi fintech backed by Saudi Telecom Company, licensed by SAMA, offering digital wallets, payment acceptance, and SME financial services. Most direct Saudi competitor to Hala in the SME digital-banking and payments space.
• Geidea: Saudi-based payment service provider offering POS terminals, Soft POS, and online payment gateways to SMEs across Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. Directly competes with Hala in payment acceptance and merchant acquiring.
• Tamara: Saudi-born BNPL provider integrated with Hala's POS devices and competing for SME merchant relationships in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. Both a partner (via BNPL integration) and a competitor for SME share of wallet.
• Moyasar: Saudi payment gateway and online checkout provider serving SMEs and merchants. Competes with Hala in payment acceptance, particularly for omnichannel and e-commerce payment flows following the Paymennt.com acquisition.
• PayTabs: MENA-based payment processor and merchant acquirer offering POS, online payments, and SME financial infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt. Comparable business model targeting the same regional SME segment.
• Tap Payments: MENA payment solutions provider offering unified payment infrastructure, online checkout, and POS solutions across GCC and wider MENA. Competes with Hala in regional merchant acquiring and payment processing.

Emerging players

• Tabby: UAE-headquartered BNPL and consumer-finance platform expanding into merchant payment solutions. Adjacent competitor in the broader Saudi SME financial-services space, particularly around consumer-payment-driven merchant tools.
• Lean Technologies: Saudi-based open-banking and financial-data infrastructure provider serving fintechs and SMEs in MENA. Complementary to Hala (potential integration partner) but also represents a competing layer of SME financial enablement.

Regional players

• Mamo: UAE-based fintech offering business accounts, corporate cards, and payment solutions to SMEs. Operates the same digital-first SME banking playbook as Hala but in the UAE market, making it a strong regional comparable.

Broad incumbents

• Al Rajhi Bank: Saudi Arabia's largest bank, increasingly offering digital SME banking, payment acceptance, and merchant financing products. The dominant incumbent whose potential move into Hala's niche represents the principal competitive threat.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Halasaudia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/halalahksa
• Instagraminstagram.com/hala.payment
• Facebookfacebook.com/Hala.Saudia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors15 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hala