When Abdullah Najashi walked into a room of over 300 guests on October 22 — a gathering that included members of the Saudi royal family, family offices, CEOs and global investors — he wasn’t there to make a pitch.
He was there to announce a milestone already achieved. His company, Seha Invest, had launched the largest healthcare private credit fund in the MENA region, closing at SAR2bn ($533m). At only 27 years old, Najashi has achieved what few in global fintech have — building an institutional-scale fund in one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. “It’s a huge privilege to be acknowledged as the youngest fintech firm founder in the world,” he comments, yet, for him, this record-breaking launch is less about personal triumph and more about solving a long-standing gap in the region’s healthcare financing ecosystem. “Seha Invest is positioning itself to become the leader in financial solutions for the healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia,” he says.
Addressing the healthcare funding gap
Healthcare infrastructure, equipment, and pharmaceutical manufacturing require capital-intensive, long-term financing. Traditional models in the region, however, often fail to recognise the unique revenue cycles and regulatory demands of the healthcare industry. “While Gulf states have invested heavily in hospitals and medical infrastructure, the financing mechanisms to sustain this growth have lagged behind,” Najashi explains. That’s where Seha Invest comes in. Established as the first fintech company in the MENA region dedicated exclusively to the healthcare sector, it aims to fill the financing gap that conventional lenders have long overlooked. By leveraging technology and deep sector expertise, Seha Invest provides tailored credit solutions for hospitals, medical factories, and pharmaceutical firms, offering financing designed to align with the cash flow realities and compliance requirements of the healthcare industry.
The private credit fund represents a major leap forward. Its structure allows for targeted deployment of capital into hospital expansion, equipment financing, and working capital for healthcare manufacturers. Najashi notes that “traditional financing often overlooks the complexities of healthcare operations,” adding that Seha Invest’s approach brings “precision and understanding” to an underserved sector.
Institutional scale meets retail access
Najashi’s strategy goes beyond institutional capital. Recognising that true impact comes from financial inclusion, Seha Invest launched Sukuk Seha — the first crowdfunding platform dedicated to healthcare in the MENA region. This platform democratises access to healthcare investments by enabling retail and mid-tier investors to participate in funding opportunities through Shariah-compliant instruments. “Sukuk Seha is becoming an attractive target for investors who are looking to diversify their portfolio investments,” Najashi says. Thousands of investors have registered since the platform’s launch in late 2025, marking a turning point in how ordinary investors engage with the healthcare economy. Sukuk Seha’s rapid growth mirrors broader trends in Saudi Arabia’s SAR600bn sukuk market, one of the largest globally and a cornerstone of the kingdom’s leadership in Islamic finance.
This two-tiered strategy — institutional funding via the private credit fund and mass participation through Sukuk Seha — creates what Najashi calls “a robust, transparent, and accessible financial ecosystem.” It allows investors of all sizes to contribute to Vision 2030’s healthcare transformation while earning competitive, ethical returns.
Aligning with Vision 2030 and Saudi’s Fintech Ambitions
Seha Invest’s emergence comes at a time when Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is pushing hard toward digital transformation and economic diversification. The fintech sector is a critical pillar in this transition, with the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Capital Market Authority (CMA) driving initiatives to expand digital payments, open banking, insurtech, and crowdfunding. According to Najashi, “fintech will play a defining role in achieving the Saudi Arabi’s goals — enabling inclusion, building efficiency, and creating a cashless economy.” Programmes such as Fintech Saudi are accelerating this momentum by supporting startups and attracting investment, positioning the Saudi Arabia as a regional fintech powerhouse.
Seha Invest embodies this strategy. By merging fintech and healthcare, it turns a traditionally conservative industry into a digitally enabled, investor-friendly ecosystem. The company is already working on solutions that streamline hospital financing, improve liquidity for healthcare providers, and make capital more accessible to private medical projects that align with national priorities. Industry experts note that fintech’s growing integration with healthcare — from digital payments and health wallets to micro-insurance and installment-based financing — is transforming access to care across the Middle East. “Fintech bridges financial and healthcare systems, promoting inclusion, reducing administrative burdens, and empowering patients,” Najashi explains.
Redefining Saudi Arabia’s healthcare financing model
Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector, projected to exceed SAR200bn by 2030, is central to national transformation. As public and private operators scale to meet rising demand, access to specialised financing will determine how quickly new hospitals, clinics, and pharmaceutical facilities come online. Najashi sees Seha Invest’s role as catalytic. “We are building a financial bridge between capital and care,” he says. “Every healthcare provider should have access to smart, flexible, Shariah-compliant financing that supports growth and innovation.” By offering healthcare-specific credit lines and digital sukuk options, Seha Invest is enabling investors to directly back the kingdom’s healthcare expansion — from new hospitals to pharmaceutical manufacturing and AI-driven medical services. This approach aligns closely with the broader government vision of strengthening public-private partnerships and driving local production in strategic sectors.
The next chapter: Scale, technology, and global reach
Seha Invest’s next step is scale — both regional and technological. The company plans to expand its digital infrastructure, deepen its AI analytics for credit scoring, and explore partnerships across the GCC and North Africa. “Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a global fintech hub,” Najashi says, “and we want to make Seha Invest a model for how fintech can drive national impact while creating value for investors.” As Vision 2030’s healthcare ambitions accelerate, Seha Invest’s mix of institutional credibility, technological innovation, and youth-led vision positions it uniquely. It is not just another fintech startup — it is a specialised financial institution reshaping how the Middle East funds its healthcare future.
At its core, Seha Invest’s $533m fund is more than a financing vehicle. It is a statement of confidence — in Saudi Arabia’s transformation agenda, in the power of fintech to drive real-world outcomes, and in a new generation of Saudi entrepreneurs ready to lead. As Najashi puts it, “We’re just getting started. What we’re building at Seha Invest isn’t just for today’s market — it’s for the healthcare economy of the next 20 years.”