Tagged: middle east

October 27, 2026 @ 4:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: HOOD) has secured regulatory clearance from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to introduce its retail brokerage platform across the Middle East, establishing operations inside the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The approval covers both trading and custody services spanning all ten… Read More

September 22, 2026 @ 2:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sweden have dismantled a cross-border money-laundering network that investigators say moved millions in criminal proceeds through cash and cryptocurrency, with digital trails pointing toward organized crime and paid assassinations. In a coordinated operation announced this week, UAE security… Read More

August 22, 2026 @ 5:52 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates briefly held two employees of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance in recent weeks as part of police investigations into possible financial wrongdoing linked to activity on the platform. The workers were intercepted while passing through airports in the Emirates and… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 3:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Singapore-based digital payments Fintech Triple-A has taken a major step forward in its Middle East expansion by obtaining in-principle approval (IPA) from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai. This milestone positions the company to offer regulated broker-dealer services involving virtual assets once it… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 1:47 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Remitly Global, Inc. has obtained a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license paired with an Exchange Business Category IV authorization from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE). This approval positions the company among the early international remittance specialists to gain such credentials in… Read More

July 14, 2026 @ 8:54 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Tabby, the fintech platform operating across the Middle East region, has introduced Tabby Cash—a spending account that combines a rewarding cashback card with cost-free money transfers. This marks a significant expansion as the company evolves from its roots in flexible payments into a comprehensive everyday… Read More

July 8, 2026 @ 7:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Swiss digital assets firm Bitcoin Suisse has taken a major step in its international growth by securing full regulatory authorization for operations in Abu Dhabi. Its regional subsidiary, BTCS (Middle East) Ltd., received the Financial Services Permission from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of the… Read More

June 17, 2026 @ 10:01 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital bank Revolut, which supports a global fintech platform currently serving more than 75 million customers around the world, has achieved a regulatory milestone in the United Arab Emirates. On June 17, 2026, the Fintech company confirmed it has obtained full approval for its Stored… Read More

June 17, 2026 @ 7:18 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Bitcoin, the flagship cryptocurrency, has broken through the $64,000 level once again, reflecting renewed confidence in the market tied to positive signals from international diplomacy. The move upward occurred as Pakistan’s leadership shared encouraging news about advancing negotiations aimed at resolving tensions involving Iran. The… Read More

June 16, 2026 @ 6:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Euroclear has indicated that during the first half of 2026, the distribution of alternative funds to private wealth clients in Asia and the Middle East has shown robust expansion. According to recent insights from Euroclear, investors from these regions accounted for 57% of subscriptions into… Read More

June 10, 2026 @ 1:46 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Oliver Wyman indicated that geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East have elevated risk assessment as a core element in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) private capital decisions. Several research reports have suggested that investors now weigh energy disruptions, maritime uncertainties, and broader volatility more heavily when… Read More

May 28, 2026 @ 1:05 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Hyperliquid’s native token HYPE briefly exceeded the market capitalization of the popular meme coin Dogecoin (DOGE). This development occurred during a period of heightened volatility, where privacy-centric cryptocurrencies experienced notable declines while global markets reacted to escalating tensions in the Middle East. HYPE achieved this… Read More

May 25, 2026 @ 3:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Iran has initiated conversations with Oman regarding a potential collaborative arrangement to implement a payment mechanism for ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies. This development highlights ongoing tensions, as it suggests that Washington and Tehran remain far from… Read More

May 3, 2026 @ 6:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Fintech firm Ripple, a key player in blockchain-enabled solutions for finance, has announced a major step forward in its regional strategy with the launch of a new headquarters for the MEA in Dubai’s International Financial Centre (DIFC). This development underscores the company’s dedication to supporting… 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 7, 2026 @ 11:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In the Middle East, fintech investors are increasingly channeling resources into sturdy domestic infrastructure as geopolitical tensions mount. While war-related instability is clearly dampening the speed of deal-making across the region, it does not appear poised to shut off capital inflows entirely. Instead, funding is… 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 28, 2026 @ 11:31 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Wio Bank, a digital banking platform based in the UAE, has entered into a strategic alliance with Pine Labs, an international fintech company specializing in payment solutions. This collaboration aims to overhaul merchant acquiring systems by introducing cloud-based technology that eliminates outdated dependencies. Announced recently… Read More

January 12, 2026 @ 1:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre in the UAE capital, has taken another significant step forward in supporting its real estate sector. Through its Registration Authority (RA), ADGM recently announced a new integrated suite of real estate services, building upon the comprehensive… Read More

December 13, 2025 @ 2:31 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Crypto.com and LuLu Financial Holdings (LuLuFin) have announced a strategic partnership to develop regulated digital asset capabilities across multiple markets, starting in the UAE. The collab will reportedly integrate Crypto.com’s trading infrastructure, custody, and payment technologies with LuLuFin’s financial services and global network, while adhering… Read More