Tagged: middle east

February 22, 2021 @ 9:57 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The reserve bank in Saudi Arabia has introduced an instant payments solution, called the “Sarie” system, in order to carry out low-value transactions within the country. The Saudi reserve bank (SAMA) noted that the new initiative will allow banking customers in the Kingdom to accept… Read More

February 7, 2021 @ 7:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Saudi Arabia’s venture capital funds are increasingly looking to tap into Fintech, digital commerce, and healthcare segments this year. VC activity has increased considerably in the MENA region including Saudi Arabia during the past few years, with local startups recording a 55% year-over-year growth in… Read More

February 3, 2021 @ 11:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Abu Dhabi based NymCard, a card issuing and processing platform, has secured $7.6 million in  capital through a Series A funding round. The banking-as-a-service (BaaS) provider confirmed that the investment round was led by Shorooq Partners along with the contributions from OTF Jasoor Ventures and… Read More

January 27, 2021 @ 6:51 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The LuLu Exchange in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed that they’re teaming up with American Fintech Ripple (which is the subject of a major enforcement action from the US SEC) and Federal Bank in order to enhance real-time payments capabilities from the UAE… Read More

January 24, 2021 @ 10:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard has partnered with UAE-headquartered PSP Network International in order to introduce a digital platform with the goal of promoting the adoption of virtual payments across the MENA region. With this new digital platform going live this month, Network International plans to help its customers… Read More

January 17, 2021 @ 10:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

SNGLR Holding AG has confirmed the official launch of its business operations and is now fully operational with its headquarters based in Zug, Switzerland. SNGLR Holding also maintains  business offices in Boston (USA), Berlin, (Germany), Rome (Italy), and Dubai (UAE). The SNGLR Holding team includes… Read More

January 11, 2021 @ 9:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Dubai-headquartered investment advisory firm Sarwa is reportedly expanding its business operations to Saudi Arabia after acquiring a temporary or experimental Fintech license from Saudi’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA). This development has come about a year after Sarwa secured $8.4 million in capital, which was one… Read More

January 10, 2021 @ 5:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Qatar-based Fintech firm Cwallet has finalized a $220,000 pre-seed investment round from its founders and MBK Holding, the company’s CEO has confirmed. Michael Javier, who’s also Co-founder at Cwallet, noted that the Fintech company is now working cooperatively with the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) in… Read More

January 9, 2021 @ 5:41 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital payments in Saudi Arabia surged by 75% last year, as consumers increasingly began shopping online following the COVID-19 outbreak. Meanwhile, cash withdrawals from ATMs and other payment points declined 30% during the same time period. Point of sale (PoS) refers to a location where… Read More

January 4, 2021 @ 10:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Dubai‘s economy is projected to grow by 4% this year, driven by the government’s (fairly) effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dubai government has taken several measures to extend support to local businesses and individuals. It also launched four stimulus packages valued at 6.8… Read More

January 2, 2021 @ 3:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a major global disruptor as it has fundamentally changed how people conduct their daily lives. In 2020, we saw many more consumers using online platforms while cash usage dropped considerably in some parts of the world. In developed countries like… Read More

December 31, 2020 @ 6:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The digital commerce sector in Saudi Arabia has undergone a major (digital) transformation and there have been noticeable changes in consumer behavior, particularly when it comes to using online platforms in a post COVID world. Ibrahim Mohammad Al-Saad, Founder of Ajda, has stated that the… Read More

December 28, 2020 @ 8:51 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

  UK-based next-generation banking platform Cashaa announced on Monday Unicas has opened its first physical branch in Jaipur, India. Unicas is notably a join venture between Cashaa and the United Multistate Coop Society and allows users to transact in cryptocurrency and fiat from one account…. Read More

December 27, 2020 @ 4:39 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Dalal Buhejji, the Director of Business Development, Financial Services at the Bahrain Economic Development Board, has noted that there are currently around 400 financial institutions based in Bahrain. Buhejji pointed out that these companies are offered a “stable, predictable and proven” regulatory and business environment… Read More

December 26, 2020 @ 4:09 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Although Dubai’s economy is projected to contract by 6.2% this year, with the travel and hospitality industries hit really hard due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country saw a significant increase in bank financing for its communications, storage, and transport sectors. There was also solid… Read More

December 17, 2020 @ 12:27 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Fintech is expected to play an important role in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to further diversify its economy, according to commentary from the nation’s Budget 2021 report. Padmini Gupta from Fintech Rise notes in an update published by Arab News that sustained support this year from… Read More

December 16, 2020 @ 9:16 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

  Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: TASE) announced on Wednesday they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The duo claims this is the first time an Arab exchange has entered into a commercial relationship with the state… Read More

December 14, 2020 @ 10:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The US-Qatar Business Council (USQBC), the Silicon Valley Forum and the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington DC recently held a discussion during a virtual event on December 8, 2020, titled “Qatar in Focus: Smarter Countries & Thriving Communities in the Digital Age.”… Read More

December 2, 2020 @ 10:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Middle East focused Fintech Tour 20 officially began on November 29, 2020. The event will provide key insights on the evolving financial technology sector in Saudi Arabia and aims to bring together local and international industry professionals. Ahmed Alkholifey, Governor of the Saudi Central… Read More

November 30, 2020 @ 10:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Fintech Hive, the largest Fintech hub in the MENA region, entered into an agreement with Israel-based Fintech-Aviv on Saturday, November 28, 2020. Founded in 2014, Fintech Aviv aims to cater to the needs or requirements of the Israeli Fintech… Read More