Tagged: mena region

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

Mastercard and Nirvana Travel and Tourism to Provide Payment Solution to Clients in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) and Nirvana Travel and Tourism – which claims to be one of the UAE’s leading travel and tourism management companies – have joined forces in a collaboration aimed at providing a payment solution “to customers who book travel services in the UAE,… Read More

UAE-based Crypto Exchange BitOasis Technologies Loses License Due to Unmet Regulatory Requirements

VARA is issuing a market alert regarding ongoing supervisory controls, and enforcement actions initiated against BitOasis. VARA in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) confirmed that it is issuing this market alert regarding ongoing supervisory controls, and enforcement actions initiated against digital currency trading platform BitOasis. Investors… Read More

Emirates NBD, a Financial Services Group in MENA Region and Turkey, Launches Updated WhatsApp Banking Service

Emirates NBD, a banking group in the MENA region and Turkey, has launched an enhanced and upgraded version of its WhatsApp banking service, “providing customers with a convenient, secure and reliable digital banking experience like never before.” Emirates NBD WhatsApp banking “allows customers to seamlessly… Read More

Fintech Firm BKN301 Expands Operations into Egypt, Focuses on Business Growth in Financial Tech Sector

c, a payment and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) provider in the MENA region has expanded its operations into Egypt with the opening of a new office in Cairo. The move is part of BKN301’s strategy “to support the growth of the fintech sector in Egypt and the… Read More

MENA’s Open Banking Platform Tarabut Gateway Appoints Tariq Sanad as Chief Financial Officer

Tarabut Gateway, MENA’s open banking platform, announces the appointment of Tariq Sanad as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Tariq, a Bahraini national, is “one of MENA’s renowned start-up veterans, boasting over 20 years of experience in the finance field.” During this time, he has… Read More

MENA Region’s Emirates NBD to Enhance Business Operations with Generative AI

Emirates NBD, a banking group in the MENA region and Turkey, has announced a transformation focused on harnessing the power of generative AI to change Emirates NBD’s operations and enhance productivity across various business functions supported by Microsoft. This collaboration aims “to unlock new opportunities… Read More

UAE’s B2B Fintech FOO, Infinios to Enhance CX via Payment Solutions

FOO, a B2B fintech solutions provider headquartered in the UAE, has partnered with the Bahrain-based payment services provider and card processor, Infinios Financial Services B.S.C (C). By combining their technology and expertise, the two companies “will deliver an out-of-the-box Digital First Card Issuance Platform.” The… Read More

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Announces Regulations for Payments, Payment Services

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announces the issuance of the Implementing Regulations for the Law of Payments and Payment Services “to support the objective of enhancing soundness and efficiency of the payment systems infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.” The relevant regulatory and supervisory frameworks enable SAMA… Read More

Digital Asset Platform TOKO Signs Agreement with PwC Hong Kong

TOKO, headquartered in Dubai with offices in Hong Kong, is a digital asset creation platform, created in collaboration with DLA Piper and operating within an unparalleled regulatory framework, signs joint business relationship with PwC Hong Kong in order “to offer Blockchain solutions to PwC’s global… Read More

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