Big Bank Merger Points to Trouble at Heart of Saudi Economy
The crown prince’s grand transformation plan is under pressure and the financial industry is key to making it happen.
The financial industry was supposed to be the linchpin of “Vision 2030,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s masterplan to wean the economy off oil.
Photographer: Simon Dawson/BloombergWhen Saudi Arabia last saw a merger of two of its biggest banks, the oil price was recovering from a dramatic slump, the kingdom was in the midst of a deep recession and its debt exceeded the size of the economy.
That was in 1999, as Samba Financial Group joined forces with United Saudi Bank to create one of the largest banks in the country. Just over two decades later, Samba is once again at the center of consolidation as a year intended to showcase the progress of the kingdom’s transformation plan turns into one of the most testing in its recent history.