FAB Expands Temenos Partnership to Modernise Islamic Banking Operations in Saudi Arabia
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has expanded its long-standing relationship with banking technology provider Temenos through a new initiative in Saudi Arabia aimed at modernising its Islamic banking operations. The deployment is designed to upgrade FAB’s core banking, payments, and data infrastructure while supporting Shari’ah-compliant services across retail, SME, and corporate segments.
According to the announcement, the project will help align FAB’s Saudi operations with local regulatory requirements and strengthen governance across the bank’s presence in the kingdom. The new setup will run on cloud infrastructure within Saudi Arabia and will include Temenos Core Banking, Payments Hub, and Data Hub.
The bank said the technology upgrade is intended to support the delivery of Islamic banking services in a more efficient and compliant manner. The move also reflects FAB’s continued investment in its regional digital banking infrastructure as financial institutions in the Gulf increasingly prioritise modernisation, regulatory alignment, and cloud-based operations.
Technology Deployment Across Core Banking and Payments
The Saudi Arabia rollout is expected to provide FAB with a more integrated platform for managing banking processes and data across multiple customer segments. By implementing Temenos’ cloud-native solutions locally, the bank aims to improve operational flexibility while supporting applicable regulatory standards in the market.
FAB has been working with Temenos for more than a decade and currently operates multi-entity instances of Temenos Core Banking across 12 countries. The new Saudi deployment adds to that broader partnership and expands Temenos’ footprint in one of the region’s most competitive banking markets.
FAB said its decision to deepen the collaboration was influenced by Temenos’ banking technology capabilities, cloud architecture, and regional experience. The company also pointed to Temenos’ established presence in Saudi Arabia and its work with other Islamic banks as important factors in the expansion of the relationship.
Statements from FAB and Temenos
Fahad Aljuwaidi, CEO of FAB Saudi Arabia, said the bank’s efforts are aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and support the ongoing transformation of the financial sector. He said FAB is focused on strengthening governance, enhancing regulatory standards, and introducing innovative banking solutions in the kingdom.
Santhosh Rao, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Temenos, said the company is pleased to extend its collaboration with FAB in Saudi Arabia. He added that Temenos’ core banking technology will support FAB’s digital transformation and operational excellence in the market.
Industry Analysis
FAB’s expanded use of Temenos in Saudi Arabia highlights the increasing importance of modern banking infrastructure for Islamic finance providers. The move suggests that large regional banks are continuing to invest in cloud-enabled systems that can support compliance, governance, and scalability across multiple business lines.
It also reflects broader momentum in Saudi Arabia’s banking sector, where digital transformation and regulatory readiness remain central to growth strategies. For technology providers, the deal reinforces the role of core banking platforms in enabling Shari’ah-compliant offerings and meeting the operational needs of banks serving retail, SME, and corporate clients.
