The SAMA regulates a range of activities. These include licensing and regulating the following:

• Banks that carry out conventional banking activities, such as accepting money on current or fixed deposit accounts, the opening of current accounts, opening letters of credit (L/C), issuing letters of guarantee, payment and collection of cheques, orders and similar other papers of value, discounting of bills, promissory notes and other commercial papers
• Entities carrying out foreign exchange business
• Insurance companies carrying on insurance business (effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance)
• Finance companies that provide real estate financing solutions, financial lease services, credit cards, and financing and leasing of equipment and machinery

The CMA regulates financial institutions carrying out the following securities business:

• Dealing – This covers a person dealing in security as principal or as an agent, and dealing includes selling, buying and managing the subscription of or underwriting securities.
• Arranging – This involves a person introducing parties in relation to securities business or arrangement of its underwriting or advising on corporate finance business.
• Managing – This means a person managing security belonging to another person in the circumstances involving the exercise of discretion or a person operating investment funds.
• Advising – This involves a person advising another person in relation to a security, which includes advising on the merits of that person dealing in security, exercising any right to deal conferred by security, or financial planning and wealth management in security.
• Custody – This covers a person safeguarding assets belonging to another person, including security, or arranging for another person to do so, and custody includes taking the necessary administrative measures.