Tagged: mena region

January 12, 2021 @ 10:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

A recently published whitepaper from Massachusetts-based International Data Corporation (IDC) and Huawei examines how banking institutions across the globe have been dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. The paper identifies or recommends the way forward in a post COVID world which is now considered the “new… Read More

January 11, 2021 @ 9:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Dubai-headquartered investment advisory firm Sarwa is reportedly expanding its business operations to Saudi Arabia after acquiring a temporary or experimental Fintech license from Saudi’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA). This development has come about a year after Sarwa secured $8.4 million in capital, which was one… Read More

January 10, 2021 @ 5:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Qatar-based Fintech firm Cwallet has finalized a $220,000 pre-seed investment round from its founders and MBK Holding, the company’s CEO has confirmed. Michael Javier, who’s also Co-founder at Cwallet, noted that the Fintech company is now working cooperatively with the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) in… Read More

January 9, 2021 @ 5:41 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital payments in Saudi Arabia surged by 75% last year, as consumers increasingly began shopping online following the COVID-19 outbreak. Meanwhile, cash withdrawals from ATMs and other payment points declined 30% during the same time period. Point of sale (PoS) refers to a location where… Read More

January 4, 2021 @ 10:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Dubai‘s economy is projected to grow by 4% this year, driven by the government’s (fairly) effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dubai government has taken several measures to extend support to local businesses and individuals. It also launched four stimulus packages valued at 6.8… Read More

January 2, 2021 @ 3:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a major global disruptor as it has fundamentally changed how people conduct their daily lives. In 2020, we saw many more consumers using online platforms while cash usage dropped considerably in some parts of the world. In developed countries like… Read More

December 31, 2020 @ 6:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The digital commerce sector in Saudi Arabia has undergone a major (digital) transformation and there have been noticeable changes in consumer behavior, particularly when it comes to using online platforms in a post COVID world. Ibrahim Mohammad Al-Saad, Founder of Ajda, has stated that the… Read More

December 27, 2020 @ 4:39 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Dalal Buhejji, the Director of Business Development, Financial Services at the Bahrain Economic Development Board, has noted that there are currently around 400 financial institutions based in Bahrain. Buhejji pointed out that these companies are offered a “stable, predictable and proven” regulatory and business environment… Read More

December 26, 2020 @ 7:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Many more Egyptians are now using online or all-digital platforms and services, and the nation’s government is planning to support the Fintech sector so that it can enhance the local economy. Saeed Talaat, an Egyptian citizen who had been working at a bank in Dubai,… Read More

December 26, 2020 @ 4:09 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Although Dubai’s economy is projected to contract by 6.2% this year, with the travel and hospitality industries hit really hard due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country saw a significant increase in bank financing for its communications, storage, and transport sectors. There was also solid… Read More

December 17, 2020 @ 12:27 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Fintech is expected to play an important role in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to further diversify its economy, according to commentary from the nation’s Budget 2021 report. Padmini Gupta from Fintech Rise notes in an update published by Arab News that sustained support this year from… Read More

December 14, 2020 @ 10:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The US-Qatar Business Council (USQBC), the Silicon Valley Forum and the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington DC recently held a discussion during a virtual event on December 8, 2020, titled “Qatar in Focus: Smarter Countries & Thriving Communities in the Digital Age.”… Read More

December 2, 2020 @ 10:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Middle East focused Fintech Tour 20 officially began on November 29, 2020. The event will provide key insights on the evolving financial technology sector in Saudi Arabia and aims to bring together local and international industry professionals. Ahmed Alkholifey, Governor of the Saudi Central… Read More

November 30, 2020 @ 10:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Fintech Hive, the largest Fintech hub in the MENA region, entered into an agreement with Israel-based Fintech-Aviv on Saturday, November 28, 2020. Founded in 2014, Fintech Aviv aims to cater to the needs or requirements of the Israeli Fintech… Read More

November 30, 2020 @ 6:49 am By Omar Faridi  |  

UK-based Paymentology, a payment tech solutions provider, is reportedly working with banks and financial institutions based in the UAE and the Middle East in order to offer digital payments services. Paymentology claims that its payment services will change and improve the way customers conduct transactions… Read More

November 27, 2020 @ 7:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Kingdom of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia’s capital city Riyadh were recently chosen as the top Fintech ecosystems to watch closely, according to a report from research organization Startup Genome. The researchers at Startup Genome analyzed the economies and deal activities of several different countries…. Read More

November 22, 2020 @ 3:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Qualified or eligible Fintech firms interested in establishing operations at the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) could save around $10,000 as the QFC gets ready to launch its “Tech Talk” series. Henk Jan Hoogendoorn, MD at the Financial Sector Office at the QFC, noted earlier this… Read More

November 22, 2020 @ 1:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Western Union (NYSE: WU) has reportedly acquired a 15% stake in Saudi Arabia’s Telecom’s digital payment division. Western Union, which is notably the largest money transfer company in the world, has confirmed that it has purchased a $200 million (or 15%) stake in the online… Read More

November 21, 2020 @ 8:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Israel’s Bank Hapoalim and Abu Dhabi Global Market will be collaborating on various Fintech projects. Both organizations have agreed to support the digital transformation of financial services in the UAE and Israel. Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), a major international financial centre located in the… Read More

November 14, 2020 @ 2:06 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

A report released earlier this week by Checkout.com reveals that digital commerce and online payments are on track for major growth next year. Internal Checkout.com data indicates that digital payment transfers have almost doubled in the MENA region since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak…. Read More