Tagged: mena region

Mastercard, Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance to Spur Skill Development in Regional Financial Sector

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) and Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance collaborate “to spur skill development in the regional financial sector” Described as a “first-of-its-kind” collaboration, Mastercard and the Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance will aim to “initiate a renewed understanding of the latest industry… Read More

Fintech Alif Expands into UAE with Payments Solution, Shafique Ibrahim Appointed as CEO

Central Asian fintech Alif makes its mark in the UAE with Alif Pay, providing financial services and global remittance for UAE residents. Digital transformation professional Shafique Ibrahim takes on the role as Alif Pay’s CEO, spearheading the launch and “reinforcing the platform’s innovative approach to financial… Read More

Mastercard, Fintech Saudi to Support Digitalization of Financial Services

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) and Fintech Saudi have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding during Seamless Saudi Arabia 2023 “to advance the growth and development of the Saudi Arabia fintech industry.” The announcement marks another step “towards powering an inclusive digital economy and advancing… Read More

MENA Region’s Emirates NBD Makes Equity Investment in Komgo, a Tech Firm Focused on Trade Finance

Emirates NBD has announced it invested in Komgo, a software development and technology services company transforming the trade finance industry. The equity investment was “made by Emirates NBD‘s Innovation Fund, the bank’s corporate venture fund.” Emirates NBD’s corporate venture capital arm will “enable the Group… Read More

JPMorgan Payments Selects Network International to Drive Payment Acquiring in the Middle East

Network International, the enabler of digital commerce across the MEA region, has announced a partnership with J.P. Morgan Payments in order “to strengthen the bank’s acquiring offering.” J.P. Morgan Payments currently “operates in over 160 countries and over 120 currencies and is one of the… Read More

Saudi Arabia: SAMA Issues License to Digital Wallet Solution Provider, Announces Other Key Updates

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has reportedly licensed “Alhulul AlMubassatah Financial Company (SiFi)” to provide E-wallet solutions. With SiFi, there are now 25 licensed companies “offering payment services in Saudi Arabia, in addition to 7 companies that have obtained initial approval to operate within SAMA’s… Read More

MENA Region Fintech Tabby Introduces New Digital Shopping Tools, Features

Tabby, the MENA’s leading shopping and financial services app, has announced the arrival of Tabby Shop, its new all-encompassing shopping tool, “marking the most significant change on the Tabby app since its launch.” The new app is a one-stop-shop “showcasing over 500,000 products from thousands… Read More

Qatar Investment Authority to Invest Approx. $1B in India’s Largest Retailer, Reliance Retail

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has announced today an investment of ₹ 8,278 crore (approx. $1bln) into Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (Reliance Industries). QIA’s investment “will translate into a minority equity stake of 0.99% in RRVL on a fully-diluted… Read More

UAE Government, Mastercard to Accelerate Adoption of Artificial Intelligence

Mastercard (NYSE:RSKD) has established a Global Centre for Advanced AI and Cyber Technology in Dubai. The UAE’s Artificial intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office and Mastercard signed a Memorandum of Understanding “to increase Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities and readiness in the region.” An… Read More

Mastercard, Qashio to Support Cashless Transactions in UAE’s Corporate Sector

Mastercard (NYSE:RSKD), a global technology company, is partnering with UAE-founded spend management fintech company Qashio in order “to launch corporate credit cards, while enabling them with virtual issuance capabilities across the region.” The strategic partnership aims “to make the future of expense management cashless, transparent… Read More

Digital Assets Trading Platform M2 Obtains Financial Services Permission from Abu Dhabi Global Market

The new virtual asset platform M2 has been officially granted a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and is now “approved to operate a multilateral trading facility and offer custody services to… Read More

Saudi Arabia: SAMA Licenses Consumer Finance Firm, Approves Insurtech Rules, Shares Other Updates

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licensed “Loan” to provide consumer microfinance solutions through financial technology. With Loan, there are now six authorized companies “offering consumer microfinance solutions in Saudi Arabia.” This decision reflects SAMA‘s endeavor “to support the finance sector, increase efficiency of financial transactions,… Read More

BNPL: Flynas, Fintech Tabby to Help Clients Pay Travel Tickets with Manageable Monthly Payments

flynas, the Saudi air carrier and the leading low-cost airline in the Middle East and the world, and Tabby, the MENA region’s shopping and financial services app, have announced a partnership “to provide travelers with flexible payment solutions, allowing flynas’ customers to pay for their… Read More

Qatar Fintech Hub Announces Wave 5 of Incubator, Accelerator Programs

Qatar FinTech Hub (QFTH), founded by Qatar Development Bank (QDB), has announced the final list of FinTech Startups to join Wave 5 of its Incubator and Accelerator Programs. The series is part of QDB’s efforts “to support startups in their entrepreneurial journey through various programs… Read More

Digital Banking: Kuwait International Bank Introduces Corporate Financial Services Platform

Kuwait International Bank (KIB) has announced the launch of its Corporate Online Banking platform, heralding “a new phase of financial empowerment and security for its corporate customer.” The launch falls in line with the Bank’s commitment “to digital innovation and expanding its modern banking solutions.”… Read More

Digital Assets: Binance Obtains an Operational Minimum Viable Product License in Dubai

Binance, which is being sued by US regulators for a wide range of issues, is pleased to announce that their Dubai subsidiary, Binance FZE, has reportedly become the first exchange “to receive the Operational Minimum Viable Product (MVP) license from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority… Read More

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Releases Latest Report Covering Nation’s Finance Companies Sector

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) issued the Annual Performance Report of the Saudi Finance Companies Sector 2022. The report outlines the sector’s key developments and financial results in 2022. According to the report, most indicators in the finance companies sector “grew at varying rates in… Read More

Flash, Egypt’s Cashless Payments Fintech, Secures Funding from Addition, Flourish Ventures, Others

Flash, Egypt’s cashless payments app, completed a $6 million seed round led by Addition along with participation from Flourish Ventures and other angel investors. This funding from the investment round will be used “to accelerate the startup’s product development and customer & business acquisition in… Read More

Nomura Launches Wealth Management Business in Dubai, Opens Premises in DIFC

Nomura announced the expansion of its International Wealth Management business with new premises in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the global financial hub in the MENA and South Asia region. Nomura announced last year that it would “open a branch of Nomura Singapore Limited in… Read More

ESG, Saudi Arabia: Sustainability Is Fundamental Aspect of Vision 2030, Nation Committed to Achieving Net-Zero Target

Sustainability is a fundamental aspect of Vision 2030, and Saudi Arabia is committed to achieving its net-zero target by 2060; however, “the adoption of sustainability considerations remains its initial stages in Saudi Arabia.” As the concept of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) gains momentum in… Read More

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