The Saudi British Bank
SAB
- Company typePublic
- Founded1925
- HeadquartersRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Saudi British Bank does
Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), formerly The Saudi British Bank (SABB), is a Riyadh-headquartered, publicly listed Saudi joint stock company (Saudi exchange ticker: SAB) operating as a universal bank with a 100-year operating heritage dating to 1925. The bank serves four core customer segments — Personal (retail), SME, Corporate, and Private Banking — through both Shariah-compliant (Islamic) and conventional product lines, with paid-in capital of SAR 20,547,945,220 and a workforce in the 5,001–10,000 range.
The product and platform architecture spans more than 60 named offerings. Retail includes current and savings accounts, Premier/Advance/General tiers, personal and home finance (up to SAR 4M, 30-year tenure), credit and debit cards (ICSAB+, Miles, Cashback, AQSAT installment, Virtual Debit, multi-currency Umlaty), and wealth management. SME includes Islamic finance solutions, Kafalah and SIDF-guaranteed working-capital and CAPEX financing, payroll and POS financing, and the SME Academy education program. Corporate banking delivers Global Payments Solutions (liquidity, collection, payment management, merchant acceptance), Global Trade Solutions (imports, exports, guarantees, structured trade, supply chain), credit facilities, and markets/treasury services. Distribution combines a nationwide branch and ATM footprint with specialty formats (SME Banking Centers, handicap branches, voice-guidance ATMs, SAB Stores) and digital channels (SAB Mobile on iOS/Android, SAB Online, SAB Phone, SAB iCorp for corporates, SAB Connect B2B, SAB 360°), with international reach via the HSBC partnership (HSBCnet, Global View, Global Transfer).
The revenue model is a standard bank NII-plus-fee structure: interest income from financing products (Murabaha and conventional), fee and commission income from cards, trade finance, guarantees, and remittances, plus recurring fees from wealth management and investment products (SAB Invest). Go-to-market is sales-led with universal coverage across retail, SME, and corporate segments, supplemented by mass-market brand campaigns around the 2025 centennial. The bank is regulated by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and grew materially through the October 2018 merger with Alawwal Bank, which was followed by the rebranding to Saudi Awwal Bank.
The Saudi British Bank firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Saudi British Bank
- Legal name
- Saudi Awwal Bank
- Website
- https://sabb.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1925
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- SAB
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Saudi British Bank industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail and Commercial Banking
- NAICS
- Commercial Banking (522110)
- SIC
- National Commercial Banks (6021)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Islamic SME & Commercial Banking (FSABAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Islamic Retail Banking (FSABAGAA), Islamic Corporate Banking (FSABAGAC), Islamic Private Banking & Wealth (FSABAGAD), Islamic Transaction Banking (Cash Management & Treasury Services) (FSABAGAF), Islamic Investment Banking & Capital Markets Services (FSABAGAG)
Keywords
Where The Saudi British Bank is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Riyadh
- HQ country
- Saudi Arabia
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Saudi British Bank business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Interest Income: Traditional banking interest revenue from financing products including personal finance, home finance, and business lending. The bank offers both conventional and Islamic (Shariah-compliant) financing products generating Murabaha and other Islamic finance income.
- Fee and Commission Income: Fees from account services, credit cards, trade finance, guarantees, letters of credit, remittance services, and wealth management services.
- Trade Finance Services: Revenue from import/export services, documentary credits, guarantees, and structured trade solutions for corporate customers.
- Wealth Management: Fees and revenue from wealth management solutions, investment products, and financial advisory services for high-net-worth customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Personal Finance - Indicative calculation available with rates varying by nationality and employment sector |
| Subscription | Monthly | Home Finance - Property financing with flexible tenure and down payment options |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Credit Cards - Multiple card options with rewards and installment features |
| Subscription | Monthly | SME Banking - Specialized financing and services for small and medium enterprises |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Saudi British Bank product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Saudi British Bank (SAB / Saudi Awwal Bank) is a Saudi-listed universal bank offering Sharia-compliant (Islamic) and conventional banking products across Personal, SME, Corporate, and Private Banking segments. Its core offerings include current and savings accounts, credit and debit cards, personal and home finance, working capital and CAPEX financing, trade finance, treasury and liquidity management, wealth management, and securities trading, delivered through branches, ATMs, mobile, online, and phone banking channels.
Product overview
The Saudi British Bank (SAB / Saudi Awwal Bank) operates as a universal bank offering a comprehensive suite of banking products across Personal, SME, Corporate, and Private Banking segments. The bank combines traditional branch banking with digital channels including SAB Online, SAB Mobile, SAB Phone, and SAB 360°. Personal banking includes Islamic Current Accounts, Saving and Investment products, Credit Cards (ICSAB, Miles, Cashback, AQSAT installment cards), Personal Finance, and Home Finance. SME services encompass Islamic Finance Solutions, Working Capital Financing, CAPEX Financing, Payroll Financing, Kafalah Programme support, and SME Academy. Corporate banking provides Global Payments Solutions (GPS) for liquidity and payment management, Global Trade Solutions including Islamic Trade and Letters of Credit, Corporate Credit Facilities, and Markets Services for foreign exchange and hedging. The bank also offers SAB Invest for securities trading and integrated HSBC infrastructure through HSBCnet and Global View & Global Transfer for cross-border banking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SAB Invest: Investment services and online investment platform offering equities trading and investment products
- SAB Mobile
- SAB Online
- SAB iCorp
- ICSAB+
- SAB 360°
Products and services
- Personal Finance
- Home Finance Products
- SAB Credit Card
- ICSAB+ Rewards Program
- Wealth Management Solutions
- SAB Invest
- Global Payments Solutions (GPS)
- Global Trade Solutions
- SAB iCorp
- Working Capital Financing
- Kafalah Programme for SME
- Islamic Current Bank Account
- Premier Account
- SAB Global View and Global Transfer
- SME Academy
- Credit Facilities
- SAB AMEX Corporate Payment Solutions
- Markets Services
Quantifiable outcome
- International acceptance at over 29 million outlets worldwide for credit cards
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Saudi British Bank
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Saudi British Bank technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature8 records
The Saudi British Bank partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- HSBCcoreHSBC provides international banking infrastructure and connectivity through HSBCnet platform, enabling SAB customers to access Global View, Global Transfer, and international banking services. This partnership gives SAB customers access to HSBC's global network and cross-border banking capabilities.
- Kafalah ProgrammecoreSAB participates in the Kafalah Programme, a Saudi government initiative that provides guarantee coverage for SME financing. This enables SAB to offer SME loans with reduced collateral requirements, supporting small business growth in alignment with Vision 2030.
- SIDF (Saudi Industrial Development Fund)coreSAB offers Working Capital Financing with SIDF Guarantee, enabling SMEs to access funding with government-backed guarantees for industrial and development projects.
- Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)coreRegulatory oversight and licensing by Saudi Central Bank. The bank is licensed pursuant to Council of Ministers Resolution No. 198 and Royal Decree No. M/4, regulated and supervised by SAMA.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Saudi British Bank competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Riyad Bank: Major Saudi universal bank offering retail, SME, and corporate banking. Comparable in scale and product mix; both compete for the same Saudi customer segments and corporate financing mandates.
- Bank AlJazira: Saudi bank with retail, SME, and corporate banking. Comparable in scale and digital transformation journey; both compete for Saudi retail and SME deposit/financing share.
- Arab National Bank: Saudi joint-stock bank offering retail, SME, and corporate banking. Comparable mid-tier universal bank competing for similar Saudi customer segments and treasury/trade finance mandates.
- Banque Saudi Fransi: Saudi universal bank with a foreign strategic shareholder (Credit Agricole). Comparable across retail, corporate, and private banking, with similar international banking capabilities — direct competitor for HNW and corporate clients.
- Al Rajhi Bank: Saudi Arabia's largest Islamic bank and the dominant retail/SME player. Direct peer across Islamic retail, SME, and corporate banking, with significantly larger scale; both compete head-to-head for Saudi consumer and SME deposits and financing.
- Alinma Bank: Saudi Shariah-compliant bank focused on retail, SME, and corporate banking. Direct peer in Islamic banking with strong SME and government-linked client focus — competing for the same Islamic customer pool as SAB's Shariah products.
- Saudi National Bank (SNB): Formed from the merger of NCB and Samba in 2021, SNB is Saudi Arabia's largest bank by assets. Directly comparable universal banking model across retail, SME, corporate, and private banking with similar product breadth.
Broad incumbents
- Qatar National Bank (QNB): Largest Middle East and African bank by assets. Comparable universal banking model with strong corporate and HNW offerings; broader incumbent operating across MEA with similar product breadth and regional positioning.
- Emirates NBD: UAE-headquartered universal bank with significant GCC footprint. Comparable Islamic and conventional banking product set, including wealth management and corporate banking — broader incumbent competing for cross-border GCC corporate and HNW clients.
Others
- HSBC: Former strategic shareholder and current infrastructure partner of SAB. Comparable in universal banking capabilities, especially international/cross-border; relevant as both a competitor for corporate banking clients in Saudi Arabia and as the provider of Global View/Global Transfer/HSBCnet capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Saudi British Bank social profiles
Digital presenceThe Saudi British Bank financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Saudi British Bank leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Saudi British Bank funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Saudi British Bank M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Saudi British Bank
What does The Saudi British Bank do?
The Saudi British Bank (SAB / Saudi Awwal Bank) is a Saudi-listed universal bank offering Sharia-compliant (Islamic) and conventional banking products across Personal, SME, Corporate, and Private Banking segments. Its core offerings include current and savings accounts, credit and debit cards, personal and home finance, working capital and CAPEX financing, trade finance, treasury and liquidity management, wealth management, and securities trading, delivered through branches, ATMs, mobile, online, and phone banking channels.
Is The Saudi British Bank a public or private company?
The Saudi British Bank is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was The Saudi British Bank founded?
The Saudi British Bank was founded in 1925. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is The Saudi British Bank based?
The Saudi British Bank is headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the Middle East region.
How does The Saudi British Bank make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Interest Income is the primary driver. The others are fee and Commission Income, trade Finance Services and wealth Management.
Who are The Saudi British Bank's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Riyad Bank, Bank AlJazira, Arab National Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Al Rajhi Bank, Alinma Bank and Saudi National Bank (SNB). Broad incumbents are Qatar National Bank (QNB) and Emirates NBD. HSBC is listed as an others.
Does The Saudi British Bank have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Saudi British Bank.
What industry is The Saudi British Bank in?
The Saudi British Bank's product category is Retail and Commercial Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABAGAB, Islamic SME & Commercial Banking, with a secondary code of FSABAGAA, Islamic Retail Banking. Its NAICS code is 522110 and its SIC code is 6021.