Tagged: mena

July 25, 2023 @ 9:20 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 23, 2023 @ 11:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 23, 2023 @ 4:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 16, 2023 @ 7:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 15, 2023 @ 6:33 am By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 13, 2023 @ 11:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 13, 2023 @ 9:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 13, 2023 @ 5:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 12, 2023 @ 5:31 am By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 11, 2023 @ 10:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 11, 2023 @ 8:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 9, 2023 @ 1:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 7, 2023 @ 11:37 am By Omar Faridi  |  

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

July 4, 2023 @ 12:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) announced the implementation of its sustainable finance regulatory framework with immediate effect, following significant support received through public consultation, “reinforcing its position as a sustainable financial hub and a natural hub for sustainable finance activities.” The framework encompasses rules “on… Read More

June 26, 2023 @ 10:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Agel, which claims to be Egypt’s first and only Islamic FinTech, has announced today that the company has successfully “closed the pre-seed round for undisclosed seven-digit figures.” The investment round was “led by MENA-focused venture capital firms, Plus Venture Capital (+VC), Seedstars International Ventures, Flat6labs,… Read More

June 26, 2023 @ 2:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

QNB Group, in collaboration with IBM (NYSE: IBM) and its ecosystem partner, Mannai InfoTech, an ICT Division under Mannai Trading Company WLL have delivered an innovative, pioneering and engaging Digital Banking experience to its customers. IBM Consulting’s Business Transformation expertise, the IBM Garage methodology and… Read More

June 23, 2023 @ 5:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Pine Labs’ Qwikcilver, a provider of end-to-end gift card and stored value solutions, has partnered with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates to enable seamless issuance of refund and compensation vouchers through Qwikcilver’s Asset Manager solution. This solution has been “integrated… Read More

June 20, 2023 @ 10:24 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Eazy Financial Services B.S.C (EazyPay) and JCB International Co., Ltd., the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., Japan’s “only” international payment brand, have signed an agreement “to enable JCB payment acceptance at the bank’s POS and e-commerce merchants in the Kingdom of Bahrain.”… Read More

June 19, 2023 @ 11:24 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) is partnering with Bankiom, a UAE-based lifestyle banking app, to introduce digital payment cards across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. This partnership marks “a significant stride in Mastercard‘s ongoing commitment to advancing digitalization in the payments landscape throughout the… Read More

June 10, 2023 @ 4:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) and NAPS, a Moroccan fintech company, have announced a collaboration to develop various payment solutions for individuals as well as business organizations. The new partnership aims to consolidate the solid historical relationship between the two entities. NAPS says it is on a… Read More