The Financial Academy

Name

The Financial Academy

Legal name

الأكاديمية المالية (The Financial Academy)

Website

https://fa.gov.sa

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training and Certification

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Banking, Credit & Lending (Underwriting, Credit Risk) (EDABAJAH), Financial Services (Non-Banking) (EDABALAK), Corporate Finance & Treasury (EDABAJAA)

Keywords

• Professional certification exams
• Financial sector training
• Competency frameworks
• Executive education programs
• E-learning platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh , Metro Boulevard- Aqeeq Dist

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Training Program Fees: Fees charged to individuals for enrollment in training programs. Programs range from free sponsored offerings to paid courses priced from SAR 529 to SAR 2,856.60. Fees are paid upfront and are non-refundable unless the program is cancelled by the academy.
2. Professional Examination Fees: Fees for professional certification exams administered directly or through partner institutions including CISI, CII, and others. Exam attempts are limited; re-scheduling carries additional charges. Fees are non-refundable upon confirmation.
3. Organization / Corporate Training Contracts: Custom and bulk training programs for organizations, with group discounts of 10-15% based on headcount. Organizations pay per participant; candidates can be registered up to 3 business days before program start.
4. Actuarial Accelerator Program Fees: Specialized actuarial skills acceleration program run jointly with the Insurance Authority, priced at SAR 178,000-187,000. Includes SOA and IFoA pathways with study materials and coaching sessions.
5. Executive Program Sponsorship: Fully sponsored executive programs (e.g., AI and Digital Disruption) where third-party organizations (such as Maven Insights) cover participant costs as part of strategic initiatives aligned with Vision2030.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Financial Academy is the Saudi national training and certification authority for the financial sector, delivering 317 specialized training programs and administering professional certification examinations across banking, capital market, insurance, and financing industries. It serves both individual professionals (self-serve enrollment for personal certification and upskilling) and organizations (custom corporate training with bulk enrollment), and operates the proprietary FAST e-learning platform, the Jadarat competency framework, and six physical exam centers across Saudi Arabia.

Product overview

The Financial Academy is a Saudi government entity with an independent legal and administrative status that develops capabilities of human capital working in the financial sector. It operates as a unified platform offering training programs, professional examinations, and competency frameworks for the banking, financing, insurance, and capital market industries. The product portfolio includes: a core Training Programs platform offering specialized courses across strategy, compliance, credit, innovation, and risk management; Self-Learning Programs for flexible e-learning; a Professional Exams system in partnership with CISI, CII, and EUROMONEY; an Expert Hub Platform connecting specialized competencies; Organizational Programs for customized corporate training; Signature Programs with world-class expertise firms; the Jadarat Financial Skills Framework as a competency dictionary; Financial Sector Reports and Studies; an Actuarial Skills Acceleration Program; an Electronic Wallet System for payments; a Financial Awareness Platform; and Exam Testing Centers across Saudi Arabia. The academy serves individuals, organizations, and companies through its integrated digital platform at fa.gov.sa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Training Programs Specialized training programs covering various areas including strategy and planning, compliance and anti-financial crimes, credit, innovation and digital transformation, trading and investing, and other financial sector topics for individual professionals and corporate teams.
• Self-Learning Programs Self-paced e-learning programs that allow participants to learn anytime and anywhere, developing skills and enhancing knowledge according to their personal schedule, with pre- and post-assessments and final exams.
• Professional Exams Professional certification examinations conducted in cooperation with specialized local and international institutions including CISI, CII, and EUROMONEY, delivered at six physical exam centers across Saudi Arabia.
• Organizational Programs Customized corporate training programs designed according to partners' needs to enhance workforce performance and business growth, with group enrollment and 10–15% volume discounts.
• Signature Programs Executive and leadership programs delivered in collaboration with world-class expertise firms, targeting C-suite executives, senior managers, and board members of financial institutions.
• Actuarial Skills Acceleration Program A joint program between the Financial Academy and the Insurance Authority in cooperation with SOA and IFoA to develop national competencies in actuarial science, with study materials, coaching sessions, and exam fee support.
• Insurance Fundamentals Certification (IFCE) Program that qualifies participants to pass the mandatory Insurance Fundamentals Certificate Exam required by the Insurance Authority, including the exam fee in the program price.
• Exam Testing Centers Physical testing centers located across Saudi Arabia including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Abha, Jazan, and Hail for the delivery of professional certification examinations.
• Financial Awareness Platform A platform that brings together financial awareness initiatives for the community to improve general financial literacy.
• Preparation Program for Retail Banking Foundations Professional Exam Program that provides essential keys to understanding the retail banking environment and mastering modern solutions to pass the Retail Banking Fundamentals exam.
• Preparation Program For Credit Advisor Professional Exam Program providing practical knowledge and applied skills to enhance performance in passing the Credit Advisor Professional Exam.
• Preparation Program for Professional Exam of Trader (Registered Broker) Program preparing qualified professionals to practice financial brokerage in the Saudi capital market and pass the Registered Broker certification.
• Future of Finance: Leveraging Fintech Innovation Free interactive program exploring the transformative impact of fintech on financial services, covering blockchain, AI, and data analytics.
• Financial Sector Reports and Studies Comprehensive market reports, studies, and advanced analytics in human capital development in the financial sector, targeting researchers and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• 317 training programs across banking, capital market, insurance, and financing sectors
• +3 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Maven InsightscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Maven Insights partnered with TFA to launch a fully sponsored AI and Digital Disruption Executive Program targeting senior leaders. The four-day program (November 3-6, 2025) includes training at Imperial Executive Education and immersive site visits across the UK, aligned with Vision2030 strategic ambitions.
• Imperial Executive Education (Imperial College London)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Imperial Executive Education provides executive training for the AI and Digital Disruption program as part of TFA's premium executive education offerings. Program includes immersive site visits and hands-on activities.
• Krti HoldingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2024Krti Holding participated in a SAR 1.5 million funding round managed by Core Vision Investment to support a fintech app launch in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, as part of a financial technology program organized by The Financial Academy.
• Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCISI is an international professional body whose certifications are administered through TFA's exam centers. TFA handles registration, scheduling, and delivery of CISI professional exams in Saudi Arabia. No rescheduling to another center is available per CISI policy.
• Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCII professional insurance certifications are delivered through TFA's exam network in Saudi Arabia. CII exam policies (no rescheduling, no cancellation, 50% refund within timeline) are applied alongside TFA's own examination policies.
• EUROMONEYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUROMONEY provides professional development and certification programs delivered or facilitated through TFA, complementing TFA's portfolio of local and international professional credentials.
• Society of Actuaries (SOA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOA is a partner in TFA's Actuarial Skills Acceleration Program, providing the Associate (ASA) and Fellow (FSA) certification pathways. The program offers a structured 2-3 year associate track and additional 2-3 year fellowship track, with study materials, coaching, and exam fee support.
• Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFoA is a partner in TFA's Actuarial Skills Acceleration Program alongside the Insurance Authority. Provides the UK-based actuarial certification pathway with similar associate and fellowship milestones as SOA, with program duration dependent on individual progress.
• Insurance Authority (Saudi Arabia)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-initiator with TFA of the Actuarial Skills Acceleration Program, aimed at developing national talent in actuarial science to support Saudi Arabia's insurance sector growth and sustainability. Provides regulatory alignment and strategic oversight.
• Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)coreOthersSAMA is a strategic partner referenced in the Jadarat Financial Skills Framework as one of the four financial sectors covered by the competency framework (banking). TFA's programs support SAMA's regulatory mandate for workforce development.
• Capital Market Authority (CMA)coreOthersCMA is a strategic partner in the Jadarat framework covering the capital market sector. TFA administers CMA-aligned certification programs and capital market professional exams under CMA regulatory oversight.
• Insurance Authority (Regulator)coreOthersThe Insurance Authority is a regulatory partner in the Jadarat framework covering the insurance sector. TFA's insurance professional programs and IFCE certification align with Insurance Authority requirements for insurance sector practitioners.
• Financial Sector Development Program (FSDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSDP is a strategic partner in the Jadarat framework, supporting the development of human capital across Saudi Arabia's financial sector as part of Vision2030's financial sector development objectives.
• Capital Markets Development Partnership (CMDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMDP sponsors programs such as CMA Regulations and Rules Updates and Data Analysis Using Excel, providing strategic sponsorship to support capital market professional development. Multiple strategic and training partners are listed on program pages.
• Institute of Public Administration (Saudi Arabia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInstitute of Public Administration provides exam center space in Jeddah and Abha, hosting TFA's professional exam delivery operations in co-located facilities.
• Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApplied College at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University hosts the Dammam exam center for TFA's professional certification examinations.
• Saudi Vision2030flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTFA's programs, particularly the AI and Digital Disruption executive program with Maven Insights, are explicitly aligned with Vision2030's strategic ambition to transform Saudi Arabia's financial sector human capital. TFA is linked from the official Vision2030 portal (vision2030.gov.sa).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Euromoney Learning: Listed as a TFA partner, Euromoney Learning delivers international financial training programs and certifications. Comparable content and delivery model but operates globally with private-sector positioning rather than as a government-backed national training authority.
• GARP (Global Association of Risk Professionals): Issuer of the FRM and other globally recognized risk credentials; overlaps with TFA's risk and compliance training portfolio, particularly for banking sector professionals, but is global rather than national/regulator-mandated.
• CFA Institute: Global issuer of the CFA Program and related investment credentials; competes with TFA's capital market and investment-related certifications but serves a global, self-paced audience and does not specialize in Saudi regulatory requirements.
• Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI): UK-based professional body whose certifications are administered in Saudi Arabia through TFA's exam centers. Direct overlap on capital market credentials, but CISI is a UK-headquartered global issuer while TFA is a national delivery and certification authority.
• London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF): Long-established UK-based professional body offering financial services qualifications, certifications and learning. Comparable in offering globally recognized financial certifications and serving both individuals and corporate clients, but with broader international reach.

Direct peers

• National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM): SEBI-established Indian institution that administers mandatory certifications for securities market intermediaries. Closely comparable to TFA's CMA-aligned capital market certification exam role and competency framework function.
• Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF): IIBF is the RBI-supported professional body delivering mandatory and voluntary certifications, examinations and training for India's banking, insurance and finance workforce. Strong comparability on government-backed certification exams, exam center network, and standardized curriculum.
• Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF): BIBF is the GCC's closest direct peer: a Bahrain-based, central-bank-supported professional training and certification body serving the banking, insurance and capital markets workforce. Comparable mission (national financial sector human capital development), similar program/exam mix, and overlapping regulatory positioning make it the most analogous institution.

Regional players

• Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (and Saudi SOCPA-adjacent training bodies): AFRC and similar regional accounting/finance professional bodies serve as peer references for national-level professional credentialing infrastructure in financial services; while not a head-to-head competitor, they illustrate the structural model TFA operates within.

Emerging players

• Digital Training Solutions / local Saudi FinTech academies: SAMA's own FinTech training initiatives and emerging private Saudi edtech players (e.g., local FinTech bootcamps) represent early-stage competitive entrants that could erode TFA's share of voluntary, technology-oriented financial training programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheFA_Care
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thefaksa
• Facebookfacebook.com/thefaksa1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thefaksa
• Instagraminstagram.com/thefaksa
• TikToktiktok.com/@thefaksa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The Financial Academy