India, Saudi Arabia deepen fintech ties with three-year pact for investment, startup expansion

India, Saudi Arabia sign three-year MoU to boost fintech investment and startup market access

India and Saudi Arabia have formalised a three-year partnership to deepen cooperation between their fintech, startup and investment ecosystems. The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment (MISA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai on September 9. The agreement is designed to link fintech companies and startups with investors, financial institutions and business partners across both markets, with the initial term set for three years and renewable by mutual consent.

“Saudi Arabia is building a globally connected investment and innovation ecosystem, and India is an important partner with significant strengths in technology, entrepreneurship and digital financial services,” said Dr Abdullah Ali Aldubaikhi, Assistant Minister for Business Development at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment. “Through this cooperation with IAMAI, we look forward to strengthening connections between our two ecosystems and creating practical opportunities for companies, startups and investors. The objective is to translate these connections into investment, market access, strategic partnerships and long-term collaboration between Saudi Arabia and India.”

The MoU was signed by Dr Abdullah Ali Aldubaikhi and Dr Subho Ray, President of IAMAI. Dr Ray framed the agreement as an institutional step beyond ad hoc engagements: “India and Saudi Arabia are among the world's most dynamic digital and entrepreneurial economies, and there is significant potential to create deeper connections between our companies, startups, investors and innovation ecosystems. This MoU gives us an institutional framework to move beyond individual engagements towards a sustained India–Saudi fintech and startup corridor. Our focus will be on creating tangible pathways for market access, investment, partnerships and business expansion for high-potential companies from both countries.”

Under the framework, the two organisations will pursue a range of practical measures to facilitate cross-border expansion and capital flows. Planned activities include:

• Business introductions and investor-startup matchmaking to connect early-stage and growth-stage fintech firms with potential backers and partners.
• Market-access programmes aimed at identifying high-potential companies seeking to scale in the partner market.
• Delegations, workshops and roundtables to build networks and share regulatory and commercial insight across jurisdictions.
• Use of major international fintech and startup platforms to maintain sustained engagement beyond individual events.
• Knowledge-sharing initiatives and research programmes focused on digital finance, fintech and emerging technologies.

The agreement comes as both governments look to deepen broader economic ties and expand cooperation in technology and investment. By institutionalising matchmaking and market-access initiatives, IAMAI and MISA aim to reduce friction for startups seeking regional scale and to channel institutional capital into promising fintech verticals.

Practical next steps cited by the signatories include structuring India–Saudi fintech and startup delegations and running investor and business matchmaking exercises to identify companies suitable for cross-border expansion. If executed, the collaboration could create clearer pathways for startups to secure capital, access customers and form strategic partnerships in two sizeable and complementary markets.

With the MoU in force for an initial three-year period, the partnership sets a timetable for early pilots and measurable linkages; its renewal will depend on the success of those initial programmes and the depth of investor-startup traction achieved over the coming years.