Custom Software
Mobile App Development Company in Saudi Arabia: iOS, Android and Cross-Platform Apps
Arabic-first iOS and Android apps for Saudi businesses, native or Flutter/React Native, with secure back ends, local payments, ZATCA-ready invoicing and store publishing.
Key takeaways
- Amwaj Solutions is a Madinah-based mobile app development company building bilingual iOS and Android apps, native or cross-platform with Flutter or React Native, for organisations across Saudi Arabia and the GCC.
- For most business apps, cross-platform development offers the best balance of speed and cost; native suits performance-critical or hardware-heavy products.
- Saudi apps typically need mada, Apple Pay and wallet payments, ZATCA-compliant invoicing if they sell, PDPL-compliant data handling and identity services such as Nafath only through official channels.
- Publishing under your own organisation's Apple and Google Play accounts protects ownership and avoids the 12-tester closed-test rule for new personal Google Play accounts.
- A focused MVP typically takes 3 to 4 months; multi-app platforms take longer and are delivered in phases.
A mobile app development company in Saudi Arabia designs, builds, publishes and maintains iOS and Android apps for organisations in the Kingdom. Amwaj Solutions builds Arabic-first, bilingual apps, native or cross-platform with Flutter or React Native, connected to secure back ends, local payment gateways and the business systems you already run.
A successful app is more than screens. It needs a reliable back end, an admin panel your team can operate, integrations that work on day one, store approval on both platforms and a maintenance plan for every iOS and Android release that follows. We architect all of it before we write the first line of code.
What kinds of mobile apps do we build?
- Delivery and logistics apps: customer, driver and dispatcher apps with live tracking, maps, proof of delivery and route optimisation.
- Booking and reservation apps: clinics, salons, sports facilities, rentals and home services, with availability rules, reminders and online payment.
- E-commerce and retail apps: catalogues, carts, loyalty, push campaigns and order tracking, synchronised with your online store and stock.
- Enterprise and field-service apps: inspections, maintenance, sales visits and approvals, with offline mode, photo capture and ERP integration.
- Customer portals and self-service apps: account management, service requests, documents and statements for banks, utilities, real estate and education.
Not sure an app is the right first step? Compare the options in website, web app or mobile app: which does your business need? Many products start with a responsive web platform from our website development team and add native apps once usage justifies them.
Native or cross-platform: which should you choose?
Native apps are built separately for iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin). Cross-platform frameworks share one codebase across both. For most business apps in Saudi Arabia, cross-platform delivers the best balance of speed and cost; native remains the right call for performance-critical or hardware-heavy products.
| Criteria | Native (Swift / Kotlin) | Flutter | React Native |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codebase | Two separate codebases | One Dart codebase for iOS and Android | One JavaScript/TypeScript codebase for iOS and Android |
| User interface | Platform's own UI components | Rendered by Flutter's engine, identical look on both platforms | Uses native platform components |
| Performance | Highest | Near-native for most business apps | Near-native for most business apps |
| New OS features | Available immediately | Via plugins or custom native code | Via native modules or custom native code |
| Arabic RTL support | Built in | Built in | Built in |
| Time and cost | Highest: two builds to develop and maintain | Lower: shared code and UI | Lower: shared code, can share logic with a React web app |
| Best for | Performance-critical, hardware-heavy or platform-specific apps | Design-led apps needing a consistent brand on both platforms | Products that already run React on the web |
We recommend a framework after discovery, based on your features, integrations, budget and the team that will maintain the app.
What integrations does a Saudi app need?
Payments
Saudi users expect mada, Apple Pay, credit cards, wallets such as STC Bank (formerly stc pay) and buy-now-pay-later options, integrated through a licensed payment gateway. Store rules matter here: Apple's App Review Guidelines (3.1.3(e)) require physical goods and services consumed outside the app to be paid with methods such as Apple Pay or card entry, while unlocking digital features generally requires in-app purchase.
Identity and login
Phone-number login with one-time passwords suits most consumer apps. Government-grade identity verification through Nafath, the Kingdom's national unified access service, is available only through official integration channels and approval for eligible organisations. We design around it where you qualify and never through unofficial workarounds; the same applies to any data held on government platforms such as Absher.
ZATCA e-invoicing
If your app sells goods or services and you are VAT-registered, the invoices it issues fall under ZATCA's e-invoicing regulation. Phase 1 began on 4 December 2021, and Phase 2 integration with the FATOORA platform has been rolling out to taxpayers in waves since 1 January 2023. Our ZATCA e-invoicing integration service connects your app's orders to compliant invoicing.
Business systems and services
Maps and geolocation, push notifications, SMS, shipping carriers, ERP, CRM, inventory and analytics, all connected through documented, secure APIs.
Arabic RTL UX that feels native
Arabic-first design goes beyond translated strings. We mirror navigation, gestures and icons for right-to-left reading, choose Arabic typefaces that stay legible at small sizes, handle mixed Arabic/English text and numbers, support Hijri and Gregorian dates where users expect them, and localise App Store and Google Play listings so the app can be found by Arabic searches.
Back end, APIs and data protection
Every app we build has a back end designed for scale: REST or GraphQL APIs, an admin dashboard, role-based access control, encryption in transit and at rest, logging and monitoring. Hosting runs on AWS, Azure or Google Cloud with KSA data residency, or on your own infrastructure. Apps that collect personal data must comply with the PDPL; see our PDPL compliance guide, and for regulated sectors our cybersecurity and compliance team aligns the platform with NCA controls.
Publishing on the App Store and Google Play
We prepare builds, store listings, privacy disclosures and review notes, and publish under your organisation's own developer accounts so you keep ownership. Points that often delay first-time launches:
- Apple requires companies to provide a D-U-N-S Number to enrol as an organisation; Apple advises allowing up to five business days to obtain one.
- Apple guideline 4.2 rejects apps that are little more than a repackaged website, and guideline 5.1.1(v) requires in-app account deletion if the app lets users create accounts.
- On Google Play, personal developer accounts created after 13 November 2023 must run a closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 consecutive days before production release, one more reason to publish under an organisation account.
Our app development process
- Discovery: users, journeys, features, integrations and success metrics.
- Architecture: platform choice, back end, data model, security and hosting.
- UX/UI design: clickable prototypes in Arabic and English, tested with real users.
- Development: app, APIs and admin panel built in short sprints with regular test builds.
- QA: functional, device, performance and security testing on iOS and Android.
- Launch: store submission, analytics, crash reporting and monitoring.
- Support: maintenance, OS updates and new features.
How long does it take to build an app?
As an indicative guide: a focused MVP with one app and an admin panel typically takes 3 to 4 months; a full delivery or booking product with customer, provider and admin apps 5 to 8 months; and an enterprise platform with deep integrations 6 to 12 months, delivered in phases. Integrations and decision speed affect the schedule more than screen count.
What affects app development cost?
- Native versus cross-platform, and the number of apps (customer, driver, vendor, admin)
- Feature complexity: real-time tracking, chat, offline mode, video, payments
- Integrations with payment gateways, ERP, e-invoicing and third-party services
- Custom UI and animation, and the depth of Arabic/English localisation
- Back-end scale, security and data residency requirements
- Ongoing maintenance, hosting and support
For typical market ranges, read our guide to app development cost in Saudi Arabia. We scope and estimate every project after discovery.
Maintenance after launch
Apple and Google ship major OS releases every year and regularly update store policies and technical requirements; apps that fall behind can lose the ability to publish updates or reach new users. We provide monitoring, security patches, OS compatibility updates, performance tuning and feature releases so your app stays approved, fast and secure.
Why Amwaj Solutions?
- Architect first: back end, data and integrations designed for five-year growth, not just launch day.
- Security embedded: NCA-aligned practices and PDPL-aware data handling from the start.
- Production standard: automated testing, crash monitoring and documentation as part of every build.
- Six disciplines, one partner: apps, web, cloud, automation, AI and digital marketing under one roof, based in Madinah and serving the Kingdom and the GCC.
Tell us about your app idea or the operational problem you want to solve. We respond to consultation requests within 24 to 48 business hours.
Mobile App Development
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to develop a mobile app in Saudi Arabia?
Cost depends on the number of apps, platforms, features and integrations rather than screen count. A single cross-platform MVP with an admin panel costs far less than a delivery platform with customer, driver and admin apps, live tracking, payments and ERP integration. Back-end scale, security requirements, localisation and ongoing maintenance also matter. A short discovery phase is the reliable way to turn an idea into a defined scope and estimate.
Should I build a native app or use Flutter or React Native?
For most business apps, a cross-platform framework such as Flutter or React Native is the efficient choice: one codebase serves iOS and Android with near-native performance and full Arabic RTL support. Choose native Swift and Kotlin when the app is performance-critical, relies heavily on device hardware, or needs new iOS and Android features the day they are released.
How long does it take to build and launch an app?
A focused MVP typically takes 3 to 4 months from discovery to store launch. A complete delivery or booking product with several apps and an admin panel usually takes 5 to 8 months, and enterprise platforms with deep integrations 6 to 12 months in phases. Allow extra time for first-time developer account setup and store review, especially if your organisation still needs a D-U-N-S Number for Apple.
Can my app use Nafath or Absher for identity verification?
Only through official channels. Nafath, the national unified access service, can be integrated by eligible organisations that complete the official onboarding and approval process; there is no legitimate unofficial route. Data on government platforms such as Absher cannot be pulled into a private app without authorisation. Most commercial apps use phone-number login with one-time passwords and add Nafath only when the use case and eligibility support it.
Does my app need ZATCA e-invoicing?
If your business is VAT-registered and the app sells goods or services, the invoices it generates must comply with ZATCA's e-invoicing regulation. Phase 1 applied from 4 December 2021, and Phase 2 requires integration with the FATOORA platform for taxpayers in waves that ZATCA announces in advance. The app usually passes orders to an invoicing engine or ERP that issues and reports compliant invoices.
Which payment methods should a Saudi app support?
Most Saudi apps should support mada, Apple Pay and Visa and Mastercard, with wallets such as STC Bank and buy-now-pay-later options where they suit the basket size. Payments run through a licensed gateway. Under Apple's rules, physical goods and services consumed outside the app use Apple Pay or card payments, while unlocking digital features or content inside the app generally requires Apple's in-app purchase.
Who owns the app, the source code and the store accounts?
Your organisation should. Publish the app under your own Apple Developer and Google Play organisation accounts, keep the source code repository, cloud hosting and analytics in your name, and make sure the contract assigns intellectual property to you. That way you can change providers, extend the app in-house or sell the business without having to rebuild or migrate store listings.