Tagged: mena

October 25, 2021 @ 9:46 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Fintech Galaxy, the UAE-headquartered open innovation platform, has acquired $2 million in seed funding in order to further enhance the development and rollout of its Open Finance platform, as it looks to further expand its reach and support financial inclusion across the MENA region. Fintech… Read More

October 25, 2021 @ 9:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

FIS and Money.Jo have teamed up to adapt to significant changes in consumer behavior in the MENA region. Less than a year after establishing business operations in Jordan, Money.Jo (also called Money for Finance) became the nation’s leading consumer loan provider, with €3.9 million in… Read More

October 25, 2021 @ 6:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

During the past year, the Fintech sector in Saudi Arabia has experienced steady growth. This, according to the Fintech Saudi Annual Report for 2020/2021. The number of Saudi Arabia-based Fintechs increased by 37% with an investment amount surpassing SAR 1.3 billion (appr. $347 million). Nejoud… Read More

October 22, 2021 @ 9:18 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Payment solutions provider Mastercard (NYSE: MA) has entered into a partnership agreement with Demica in order to introduce a supply chain finance capability within Track Business Payment Service (Track BPS). This should enable improved access to “flexible working capital for buyers and suppliers.” As mentioned… Read More

October 21, 2021 @ 10:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The team at Fintech firm Ripple is pleased to confirm that UAE-headquartered foreign exchange and worldwide money transfer firm, Al Ansari Exchange has joined RippleNet. Via RippleNet Cloud, which is Ripple’s international Cloud-powered financial network tech, Al Ansari Exchange will be connecting with major money… Read More

October 18, 2021 @ 10:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) signed an agreement with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the international financial center in the MEASA region, in order to collaborate on the development and growth of the UAE’s Fintech sector “through joint initiatives and activities.” The agreement… Read More

October 15, 2021 @ 5:28 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

Asian API infrastructure company M2P Fintech this week announced a $35 million Series C round. Tiger Global Management led the raise with participation from existing investors BEENEXT, Flourish Ventures, Omidyar Network India, 8i Ventures, Better Capital and the DMI Group via its investment vehicle Sparkle… Read More

October 5, 2021 @ 7:19 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Qatar Fintech Hub (QFTH), established by the Qatar Development Bank (QDB) to support the growth of the Fintech industry in the Middle Eastern country, published its first whitepaper on the current state of the fast-evolving Fintech ecosystem in the MENA region. Titled “From Qatar to… Read More

October 1, 2021 @ 10:33 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Global Processing Services (GPS), the Paytech Pioneer behind major Fintech challengers, reveals that it has established its MENA region office and hired payments professional, Arnav Rath, as Head of Region. Based in Dubai, the team will focus on leveraging its international reach and payments expertise… Read More

September 30, 2021 @ 8:47 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Three Egypt-based banking institutions will be establishing a 1 billion Egyptian pound Fintech fund (appr. $63.6 million) in order to offer support to Fintech firms (starting October 2021). The three banking institutions include the National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr, and Banque du Caire, along… Read More

September 29, 2021 @ 10:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Veriff, an international ID verification provider, is teaming up with SimpliFi, a Cards as a Service (CaaS) platform for the MENA region and Pakistan, in order to protect SimpliFi clients from identity fraud within their “instant” card issuance programs. Through their partnership, Veriff will be… Read More

September 29, 2021 @ 1:33 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Citi (NYSE:C) has introduced a dedicated technology hub in Bahrain in order to develop its digital-first platforms. Citi’s management confirmed on September 27, 2021 (Monday) that they are establishing an international tech hub at their Bahrain offices. According to a report from Reuters, the tech… Read More

September 26, 2021 @ 6:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Velmie, a Fintech and banking software service provider, has launched an FX and cross-border transfers module that is connected to providers like Currencycloud, Rapyd, and Nium. Velmie’s white-label platform is currently capable of supporting international payments and funds transfers with customized integration. Global payments and… Read More

September 23, 2021 @ 10:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The newly formed financing firm in Saudi Arabia, Positive Facilities Co. Ltd. (Ejabiah), has reportedly entered an agreement with Path Solutions for the introduction of its interest-free Core banking platform. Ejabiah will be providing a unique 0% interest financing product, which is somewhat similar to… Read More

September 20, 2021 @ 10:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Saudi Arabia-headquartered virtual payment and point-of-sale (POS) solutions provider CashIn has reportedly acquired SAR 6 million (appr. $1.6 million) in capital through a seed round. CashIn’s investment round has been led by investor Mine. Saudi venture capital firm BIM Ventures also took part in the… Read More

September 16, 2021 @ 9:30 am By Omar Faridi  |  

dopay, a B2B2C payments platform that aims to serve 1.7 billion unbanked workers in emerging markets, has finalized an $18 million Series A round. As mentioned in a release, dopay intends to address a steady and growing demand from businesses for cashless payroll and from… Read More

September 13, 2021 @ 9:31 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The total number of point-of-sale (POS) and digital commerce transactions in Bahrain increased by 65% in August 2021 YoY, reaching an aggregate value of almost $744 million during the month, after topping $3.62 billion during H1 2021, the Central Bank of Bahrain has revealed. According… Read More

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

UAE-headquartered healthcare financing platform Klaim has acquired $1.6 million via a pre-Series A round. Klaim’s investment round has been led by Mad’a Investments, a private equity company based in Saudi Arabia. Other investors also made contributions to the round, including Arzan Venture Capital and Wealth… Read More

September 8, 2021 @ 8:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Three private equity funds and a select group of VCs have reportedly invested around $120 million in Egypt-based MNT-Halan, a microfinance lending and payments firm. As noted by its management: “MNT-Halan is Egypt’s largest and fastest growing lender to the unbanked. Founded in 2018, with… Read More

September 4, 2021 @ 6:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), an Islamic financial institution, reveals that it has introduced “Amwali,” which is an Islamic digital proposition meant for youth between the ages of 8 to 18. Amwali is described as a unique proposition that aims to bring together a suite… Read More