SME Bank, Aramco Taleed, and Manafa Introduce SAR1.5 Billion SME Financing Solutions

SME Bank, Aramco Taleed and Manafa roll out SAR1.5 billion SME financing package

SME Bank, in partnership with Aramco Taleed and fintech Manafa, launched a SAR1.5 billion (approximately $400 million) financing programme for small and medium-sized enterprises operating within Aramco's supply chain and Saudi Arabia's industrial sector. Unveiled at an event in Dhahran on June 18, 2026, the initiative targets SMEs involved in project execution, manufacturing and service provision, offering expedited, Sharia-compliant financing intended to ease liquidity constraints and accelerate operational scale-up over the next five years.

"This joint effort with Aramco Taleed and Manafa marks a significant advancement in simplifying SMEs' access to digital funding," said Ibrahim Al-Rashid, CEO of SME Bank. He emphasised the bank's role in easing access to appropriate capital, offering guarantees, resolving operational hurdles and boosting efficiency to promote sustainability and competitiveness.

Programme details and product mix

The financing accessible through the Aramco network is projected to total roughly SAR1.5 billion over five years, with simplified application procedures, reduced paperwork and Sharia-compliant repayment terms extending up to 12 months. Offered instruments include working capital loans, invoice discounting, salary funding and purchase order financing. The collaboration also expands the product suite to incorporate supply chain finance, revolving credit lines, term loans and e-commerce loans designed for SMEs across the Aramco ecosystem.

• Total committed financing: SAR1.5 billion (~$400 million) over five years
• Repayment: Sharia-compliant terms up to 12 months
• Key instruments: working capital loans, invoice discounting, salary funding, purchase order financing
• Additional products: supply chain finance, revolving credit lines, term loans, e-commerce loans

Context and origins

The partnership builds on a strategic alliance between SME Bank and Manafa that began in 2023 to strengthen innovative funding channels and broaden SME access to non-traditional capital. SME Bank highlighted its early adoption of alternative financing through its Agency Financing Program, delivered in cooperation with fintech partners. That programme has disbursed over SAR1 billion across more than 720 funding deals, a track record the bank says underlines the growing importance of alternative finance in supporting business resilience and expansion.

Jamil Al Bagawi, Aramco's Senior Vice President for Diversified Industries, framed the initiative as a continuation of Aramco Taleed's efforts to provide tailored solutions for local SMEs. "The partnership seeks to help SMEs linked to Aramco's ecosystem secure funding that meets their operational requirements," he said, noting the potential for these tools to help SMEs run activities smoothly and meet obligations on projects, manufacturing and services.

Abdulaziz Al-Adwani, CEO of Manafa, described the rollout as a step toward a smoother digital financing experience. "Through these digital funding solutions, the firm offers a smooth process allowing SMEs to quickly obtain customized financing, aiding them in surmounting financial difficulties and supporting their enduring, sustainable expansion," he said.

Outlook

The SAR1.5 billion initiative aims to accelerate SME access to working capital and supply-chain liquidity within the Aramco network, with expectations that quicker, streamlined funding will reduce delays in project delivery and strengthen supplier stability. With a decade of targeted product offerings and a record of over SAR1 billion deployed via alternative finance already, SME Bank, Aramco Taleed and Manafa position this programme as a catalyst for SME operational continuity and growth across Saudi Arabia's industrial value chain.