Innovative Fintech Solutions Award

Evaluation

90% automatic · 10% by the award committee

Minimum score to win

70 / 100

Measurement period

The last full financial year (2025); for impact measures, a comparison of the twelve months before implementation with the latest twelve months after it

Who can apply

• A fintech solution live for at least 12 months, whether a technology firm sells it to paying clients or a financial institution offers it to its own customers
• Operating under a licence, regulatory approval, sandbox admission or a licensed partner's licence where the activity requires it
• Solution offered in at least one Arab country
• No final material regulatory or judicial sanction against the nominee during the measurement period

Indicators and weights

1. Usage volume growth

   Percentage change in the number of transactions or requests processed through the solution between 2024 and 2025, a measure that applies both to a solution sold to clients and to one a financial institution offers its customers free of charge

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • ≥ 50 % 100
   • 20 – < 50 % 70
   • 0 – < 20 % 40
   • -100 – < 0 % 10

   Evidence

   Solution system report of transaction counts for both years, certified by internal audit or a chartered accountant

2. Active client growth

   Percentage change in active clients (paying institutions, or individuals with at least one transaction in the last 90 days of the year) between end-2024 and end-2025

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • ≥ 50 % 100
   • 20 – < 50 % 70
   • 0 – < 20 % 40
   • -100 – < 0 % 10

   Evidence

   Billing or solution database report for both dates using the same method, with the list of institutional clients

3. Client retention rate

   Share of clients active at the start of 2025 who were still active at its end, using the same definition

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • 90 – < 100 % 100
   • 75 – < 90 % 80
   • 60 – < 75 % 50
   • 0 – < 60 % 20

   Evidence

   Subscription system or solution database report for both dates

4. Verified client impact

   Average reduction in the time or cost of the targeted process, measured before and after implementation at three or more clients including the largest client by revenue (or, for a solution a financial institution offers its customers, across all its customers), in letters signed by the clients or reports from the institution's system

   15%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • 50 – < 100 % 100
   • 25 – < 50 % 80
   • 10 – < 25 % 50
   • 0 – < 10 % 20

   Evidence

   Signed letters from at least three clients with before and after figures, or the system report for a financial institution

5. Live markets

   Number of countries where the solution is live with at least one active client at end-2025

   10%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • ≥ 4 100
   • 2 – < 4 70
   • 1 – < 2 40

   Evidence

   A client contract or invoice, or a licence or official launch, in each country

6. Regulatory status

   The solution's highest regulatory status in its main market at the end of the period

   10%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • Full licence or final regulatory approval100
   • Admitted to or graduated from a regulatory sandbox70
   • Operating through a licensed partner50
   • Activity not requiring a licence, per a documented legal opinion50

   Evidence

   Licence, sandbox admission letter, partnership contract or legal opinion

7. Independent penetration test

   A penetration test of the solution by an independent firm within the last 12 months, with all critical and high findings closed

   10%
   Show points and evidenceHide

   Points

   • Test done and critical and high findings closed100
   • Not done or critical findings still open0

   Evidence

   Test report summary from the tester and a findings-closure certificate

Scored by the award committee

1. Novelty of the solution

   10%
   • The first solution of its kind in the Arab region, addressing a documented problem with a new technical approach or business model that has no equivalent alternative100
   • A substantial improvement on solutions available in the region, with a clear and demonstrable differentiator70
   • A globally proven model brought to a new market with limited adaptation40
   • No material difference from available solutions10

Each indicator gives 0 to 100 points; its share of the total is its weight. Ties are decided by the indicators listed first in the scorecard; payment or package never affects the score.

1. Done

   Nominations open

   26 October 2026 · 13:10

2. Upcoming

   Nominations close

   27 November 2026 · 01:10

3. Upcoming

   Judging starts

   27 November 2026 · 01:11

4. Upcoming

   Judging ends

   4 December 2026 · 13:00

5. Upcoming

   Results announced

   4 December 2026 · 13:10

Times are in Asia/Riyadh (UTC+03:00).