Tagged: mena

May 13, 2026 @ 8:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Research from digital payments provider Checkout.com shows that the expansion of online shopping across the MENA region is fueled by consumers’ desire for effortless, seamless transactions. Yet the report, titled “From Invisible Payments to AI Agents,” makes one thing clear: frictionless experiences only succeed when… Read More

April 19, 2026 @ 2:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Tabby, a fintech company currently operating in the Middle East, has obtained a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates. This regulatory approval, announced in mid-April 2026, represents a significant advancement for the firm as it broadens its… Read More

April 10, 2026 @ 12:56 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ruben Bombardi, the VARA General Counsel and Head of Regulatory Enablement, noted that the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) published its Guidance on the Virtual Asset Issuance Rulebook, setting out in practical terms how virtual assets are “created, disclosed, and brought to market” in Dubai…. Read More

April 8, 2026 @ 12:38 am By Omar Faridi  |  

MoneyHash, the payment orchestration platform focused on emerging and global markets, entered a partnership with Eazy Financial Services (EazyPay), a Central Bank of Bahrain-licensed payments platform and acquirer enabling companies across the Middle Eastern Kingdom of Bahrain and boosting access to payment channels for merchants…. Read More

February 12, 2026 @ 10:32 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The global fintech landscape in 2025 as well as early 2026 reveals a state of contrasting developments across regions. In the United Kingdom, once a powerhouse of financial innovation, investment experienced a notable downturn. Funding for UK fintech companies dropped 21% in 2025, reaching approximately… Read More

January 24, 2026 @ 2:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The MENA venture capital ecosystem has experienced considerable activity as of late, as highlighted in a recent analysis by CB Insights. This in-depth study ranks the top 50 investors in the region, shedding light on their strategies, performance, and impact on emerging startups. By examining… Read More

December 7, 2025 @ 8:56 am By Omar Faridi  |  

ADGM, the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, has reported strong Q3 2025 results, reinforcing its standing as the leading financial hub in the MEASA region. The asset management sector continued to be a major driver of growth, with Assets Under Management (AUM) in ADGM… Read More

December 2, 2025 @ 8:30 am By Michael Wong  |  

Emirates Gold and Malaysia’s Public Gold have installed a bullion vending machine in Dubai that the companies say is the first in the UAE to combine a Fintech account platform with automated dispensing of physical gold and silver. The firms unveiled the “Gold ATM” on… Read More

November 30, 2025 @ 6:32 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Wizz Financial, the Abu Dhabi-based global fintech group specializing in cross-border payments and digital wallets, in partnership with Aditum Investment Management Limited, announced the launch of MENA and India’s first gold-backed private credit strategy, fully regulated under India’s RBI framework and available via UAE-based FIs…. Read More

November 28, 2025 @ 5:43 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In line and consistent with its vision to collaborate with global investment managers to diversify its global platform and provide investment solutions to clients in Kuwait, Gulf Capital Investment Company KSCC “InvestGB”, the investment arm of Gulf Bank, has entered into a partnership with Arrow… Read More

November 27, 2025 @ 5:43 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Animoca Brands announced it has received in-principle approval (IPA) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM, the international financial center of Abu Dhabi, the Capital of the UAE, to operate as a regulated Fund Manager. Currently subject to the fulfillment of conditions and… Read More

November 13, 2025 @ 8:20 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

AURAS Technologies MENA FZCO, a Dubai-based firm that is specialized in Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) services, has recently announced the launch of AURAS Pay, which is described as a non-custodial decentralized payments platform that allows various merchants to accept and manage digital asset transactions directly… Read More

October 14, 2025 @ 8:09 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Tabby, a financial services app, announced that it is now deploying NVIDIA HGX systems to start developing and testing its AI capabilities to serve a growing base of clients and merchants. The investment helps with establishing local AI factory infrastructure that supports tech advancements while… Read More

October 4, 2025 @ 2:01 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

HarbourVest Partners, an independent private markets asset manager with more than $147 billion assets under management (as of March 31, 2025), announced the opening of its office in ADGM, the International Financial Centre (IFC) of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The expansion underscores the firm’s… Read More

September 28, 2025 @ 12:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a move signaling its commitment to the burgeoning Middle East market, Airwallex, the Melbourne-headquartered global financial platform, has unveiled updates designed to enhanc its regional footprint. The announcement from Fintech Airwallex encompasses pivotal regulatory approvals, foundational infrastructure setups, and high-impact partnerships. These developments come… Read More

September 26, 2025 @ 9:57 am By Omar Faridi  |  

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) is focused on enhancing digital payments and financial services in Asia and across Europe. From forging a credit partnership to supporting growth in emerging markets and backing European fintechs, recent updates underscore PayPal’s commitment to enabling more inclusive digital financial… Read More

September 16, 2025 @ 1:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s financial technology landscape continues to evolve at a steady pace, as highlighted in the latest Saudi Fintech Annual Report. Released amid the nation’s Vision 2030 initiatives, this comprehensive document underscores the sector’s pivotal role in diversifying the economy and enhancing… Read More

September 15, 2025 @ 2:15 am By Michael Wong  |  

Global payments infrastructure provider Thunes has rolled out a real-time payments service into Morocco, allowing payouts in Moroccan dirhams to be sent directly into local bank accounts. The expansion gives members of Thunes’ Direct Global Network wider access to Morocco’s increasingly digitised economy and seeks… Read More

August 15, 2025 @ 7:20 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Tuum, the core banking provider, has been selected by Oliver Business Development (OBD) Holding to power its newly licensed e-banking services in the MEA region called Uptex Bank. The partnership marks Tuum’s first customer in the Middle East and reinforces its strategy to “support financial… Read More

August 14, 2025 @ 8:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Checkout.com, a global digital payments company, unveils data showing that consumers in Asia and the MENA region, are embracing digital identity wallets and biometric verification, “closely followed by Brazil and New Zealand.” Meanwhile, adoption remains sluggish “across Europe, including the UK, and North America.” The… Read More