Pakistani fintech Abhi has launched its earned wage access (EWA) service in Saudi Arabia, its second Middle Eastern market after the UAE. The expansion follows a $200 million, three-year partnership with Alraedah Digital Solutions to create localized financial products for the Kingdom.
Abhi’s platform enables employees to withdraw portions of their earned salary instantly—within 30 seconds—via a mobile app, bypassing the traditional monthly pay cycle. Funds are transferred directly to bank accounts or digital wallets. The service operates through a B2B2C model, with employers onboarding their companies and integrating with Saudi Arabia’s Wage Protection System (WPS). Employers also have access to real-time transaction monitoring.
In Saudi Arabia, Abhi offers two transaction-based pricing options: 30 SAR for withdrawals up to 1,000 SAR, or a flat 40 SAR fee, with no subscription charges. The platform charges employees only when they use the service.
Founded in 2021 by Omair Ansari and Ali Ladubhai, the Y Combinator-backed startup serves over 750,000 employees through partnerships with 1,000+ companies and has processed hundreds of millions of dollars in loan value. While Abhi offers SME financing and payroll services elsewhere, its Saudi operations are currently focused solely on EWA.
The launch comes as competition in the Kingdom’s EWA space heats up—Cairo-based NowPay, also a Y Combinator alumnus, entered Saudi Arabia earlier this year in partnership with United International Holding.
