At just 27 years old, founder Abdullah Najashi is making waves in the region’s financial landscape with the launch of a landmark fund. Seha Invest, his fintech firm, has successfully closed the largest healthcare private credit fund in the MENA region at SAR 2 billion ($533 million), positioning itself as a pivotal player in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving healthcare sector.
The announcement was made at a gathering that included members of the Saudi royal family, prominent CEOs, and global investors, marking a significant milestone for both Najashi and the regional fintech ecosystem. “It’s a huge privilege to be acknowledged as the youngest fintech firm founder in the world,” Najashi stated, emphasizing that the achievement is more about solving a systemic challenge than personal accolades. “Seha Invest is positioning itself to become the leader in financial solutions for the healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia.”
Addressing a Critical Gap in Healthcare Finance
The MENA healthcare industry, characterized by its need for capital-intensive and long-term financing, has traditionally been underserved by conventional lenders. Traditional models often struggle to accommodate the unique revenue cycles and regulatory complexities of hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and medical equipment providers.
“While Gulf states have invested heavily in hospitals and medical infrastructure, the financing mechanisms to sustain this growth have lagged behind,” Najashi explained. Seha Invest was established to fill this void. As the first fintech company in MENA dedicated exclusively to healthcare, it provides bespoke credit solutions that align with the industry’s specific cash flow and compliance requirements.
The new private credit fund will deploy capital for hospital expansion, equipment financing, and working capital, bringing what Najashi calls “precision and understanding” to a sector often misunderstood by traditional financiers.
A Dual Strategy for Institutional and Retail Investors
Seha Invest’s strategy extends beyond large-scale institutional capital. To democratize access to healthcare investment, the company launched Sukuk Seha, the first crowdfunding platform in the region focused on the healthcare sector.
This platform allows 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 commented.
This two-pronged approach—combining an institutional fund with a retail crowdfunding platform—creates a comprehensive financial ecosystem. It allows investors of all sizes to contribute to and benefit from the growth of the healthcare sector, a key pillar of Saudi Arabia’s national vision.
Powering Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030
Seha Invest’s mission is deeply aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which prioritizes economic diversification and digital transformation. The fintech sector is central to this agenda, with regulators like the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Capital Market Authority (CMA) actively fostering innovation in digital payments, open banking, and crowdfunding.
“Fintech will play a defining role in achieving the Saudi Arabi’s goals — enabling inclusion, building efficiency, and creating a cashless economy,” said Najashi.
By integrating fintech with healthcare, Seha Invest is transforming a traditionally conservative industry into a digitally enabled and investor-friendly ecosystem. This model supports the government’s broader goals of strengthening public-private partnerships and localizing production in strategic sectors like pharmaceuticals and medical technology.
The Road Ahead: Regional Scale and Tech Innovation
With the fund successfully closed, Seha Invest is focused on scaling its operations and technology. The company plans to enhance its digital infrastructure, leverage AI analytics for more precise credit scoring, and explore expansion opportunities across the GCC and North Africa.
“Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a global fintech hub,” Najashi noted, “and we want to make Seha Invest a model for how fintech can drive national impact while creating value for investors.”
The $533 million fund is more than just capital; it is a strong signal of confidence in Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation, the disruptive power of fintech, and the vision of a new generation of Saudi entrepreneurs. As Najashi concluded, “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.”
About Seha Invest
Seha Invest is the first fintech company in the MENA region dedicated exclusively to the healthcare sector. It provides tailored, Shariah-compliant credit solutions and investment opportunities for hospitals, medical factories, and pharmaceutical firms. Through its institutional credit fund and its retail crowdfunding platform, Sukuk Seha, the company aims to bridge the financing gap in the region’s healthcare industry.
Source: Gulf Business
