Nayla Raises $17.9M Seed to Expand Sharia-Compliant Digital Financing for Saudi Micro-Enterprises

Nayla Secures $17.9M Seed Round

Nayla, a Saudi fintech licensed and supervised by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), has raised $17.9 million in Seed funding. The round was led by Idrisi Ventures, with participation from Suhail Ventures. The funding date is September 3, 2026.

What Nayla Does

Nayla provides Sharia-compliant digital financing ranging from SAR 10,000 to SAR 200,000 to micro-enterprises, sole proprietors, and freelancers across Saudi Arabia. The company was founded by Shaqran Alyahya and Khalid Naili in partnership with Sanabil Studio, the venture-building arm of Sanabil Investments.

Unlike traditional lenders that rely primarily on financial statements or collateral, Nayla underwrites borrowers using alternative data and a proprietary AI-powered credit-assessment engine. This approach enables collateral-free financing with repayment terms of up to 12 months.

Why It Matters

Micro-enterprises, sole proprietors, and freelancers often face significant barriers when seeking capital from conventional financial institutions. Nayla's model addresses this gap by combining Sharia-compliant products with technology-driven underwriting, potentially expanding access to credit for underserved segments of the Saudi market.

The company's regulatory status under SAMA provides a foundation for operating within the Kingdom's financial framework while pursuing digital-first lending.

Investors

• Lead investor: Idrisi Ventures
• Additional investor: Suhail Ventures

Stage and Use of Funds

The round is classified as Seed. While the company has not disclosed specific allocation plans, the capital is expected to support the growth of its digital financing operations and credit-assessment technology.

Acquisition Perspective

For acquirers and strategic partners, Nayla represents a licensed, technology-enabled lending platform in the Saudi market. Its SAMA supervision, Sharia-compliant product structure, and AI-driven underwriting engine are distinguishing assets. The partnership with Sanabil Studio also signals institutional backing within the Saudi venture ecosystem.

As digital financing continues to expand across the Middle East, Nayla's focus on micro-enterprises and freelancers positions it in a segment with substantial addressable demand. The Seed funding provides capital to scale operations and refine its credit models.

Key Facts

• Company: Nayla
• Sector: Saudi fintech, Sharia-compliant digital financing
• Stage: Seed
• Amount: $17.9 million
• Lead investor: Idrisi Ventures
• Other investors: Suhail Ventures
• Funding date: September 3, 2026
• Founders: Shaqran Alyahya and Khalid Naili
• Regulatory status: Licensed and supervised by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
• Loan range: SAR 10,000–200,000
• Repayment terms: Up to 12 months
• Underwriting: Alternative data and proprietary AI-powered credit-assessment engine
• Collateral: Collateral-free financing