Tagged: middle east

October 11, 2022 @ 10:57 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

LuLu Financial Group – which claims to be one of UAE’s leading financial services company, has joined hands with Wio Bank – the region’s “first” platform bank to allow Wio Business customers “to make account deposits through its network of LuLu Exchange branches.” The partnership… Read More

October 11, 2022 @ 9:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mamo, a UAE-based FinTech and financial services platform for SMEs, has been granted regulatory approval “to operate from Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the global financial center  in the MENA and Asia region.” The license has been “granted by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA),… Read More

October 11, 2022 @ 5:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mercury is using Oracle Banking Payments, running on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) in order “to help democratize digital payments in the UAE.” With Oracle Banking Payments, Mercury was able “to capitalize on changes in the digital payments landscape in the post-pandemic era to create their… Read More

October 6, 2022 @ 8:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

MoneyGram International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGI), a global player in the evolution of digital P2P payments, and Jingle Pay, a financial super-app based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced a partnership “to enable convenient and fast global money transfers through the Jingle Pay app.” Consumers… Read More

October 6, 2022 @ 5:54 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

CWallet, a Qatar-based payment processing fintech startup, has teamed up with M2P Fintech, which claims to be one of Asia’s largest API infrastructure companies, in order “to enable prepaid and multi-currency cards in Qatar.” This partnership is “aimed at promoting financial technology intelligence, financial inclusion,… Read More

October 3, 2022 @ 7:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Tabby, the Middle East’s payments and shopping app, and Paymob, the omni-channel payments facilitator in MENAP, announced their partnership “to fuel growth for retailers in Egypt by enabling businesses across Paymob’s network to benefit from Tabby’s split in four, interest and fee-free payment solution via… Read More

September 22, 2022 @ 12:15 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Binance, the global blockchain services provider, has received the Minimal Viable Product (MVP) license from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), following the issuance of its provisional license in March 2022. The MVP license “means that Binance can offer an approved range of virtual asset-related… Read More

September 21, 2022 @ 12:18 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announces the licensing of two payment financial technology companies, including: Arab Sea Financial Company and Fatoraah in order to provide Payment services for e-commerce. This brings the total number of payment companies licensed by SAMA “to 21 companies, in addition… Read More

September 19, 2022 @ 11:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As the first of several other planned announcements to come from the region, OpenNode intends to test a bitcoin payment processing and payouts solution via the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB’s) Regulatory Sandbox. Bitcoin payments had “been non-existent in the island nation until now, which… Read More

September 18, 2022 @ 8:41 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

ENOC Group has accelerated its digitization strategy through a collaboration with Emirates NBD, a banking group in the MENA region (and Turkey), in order “to implement innovative payment solutions.” ENOC Group has “successfully implemented Emirates NBD’s Host to Host (H2H) services for payments and account… Read More

September 17, 2022 @ 3:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Deeptech & Banking company Tintra PLC has been awarded a Fintech Services License to operate in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), which is described as “a watershed moment as the company expands its build-out worldwide.” Tintra is using artificial intelligence and Web3 technologies “to build… Read More

September 15, 2022 @ 9:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Wio Bank PJSC announced its official launch in the UAE, “becoming the first platform bank in the region, aiming to transform banking operating models towards a more digital future.” This is in line with the UAE’s Digital Economy Strategy that aims “to double the contribution… Read More

September 10, 2022 @ 3:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As Dubai seeks to support crypto and blockchain innovation, Blockchain.com has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). That means that soon both retail and institutional clients will be able “to access the financial system of the future… Read More

September 6, 2022 @ 10:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Emirates Development Bank (EDB), the financial “engine” of the UAE’s economic diversification and industrial transformation agenda, has announced a lending feature that allows SMEs and startups “to apply for loans of up to AED5 million directly through its Digital Banking App and receive approval or… Read More

September 6, 2022 @ 7:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has reportedly issued the nation’s first virtual payment licenses to Ooredoo Money and iPay by Vodafone Qatar. The announcement was made via social media on August 30, 2022. The update noted that the issuance was made to contribute to the development… Read More

September 4, 2022 @ 10:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) and Ajman Bank have strengthened their commitment to inclusion through a new initiative “designed to expand access to the digital economy.” The Touch Card is “an accessible payment card that will allow blind and partially sighted people to easily facilitate payments and… Read More

August 29, 2022 @ 10:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) recently announced granting permit to a new batch of companies; Lean Technologies and Mod5r to “provide Open Banking Solutions; bringing the total number of permitted Fintech companies operating under its Regulatory Sandbox to 38.” This step completes “a series of… Read More

August 29, 2022 @ 8:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Zywa, a teen-focused fintech aiming to “re-imagine” banking for Gen Z in the MENA region, has completed a seed funding round of $3 million. Investors who took part in the investment round reportedly “include Goodwater Capital (the largest consumer tech VC globally), Dubai Future District… Read More

August 27, 2022 @ 7:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

SubsBase, which claims to be the first and only subscription and recurring revenue management platform catering to the MENA region, announced it “has successfully closed its seed round at $2.4 million.” The investment round was “led by Global Ventures, a leading MEA-focused venture capital firm.”… Read More

August 27, 2022 @ 5:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Abu Dhabi Blockchain and Virtual Assets Committee (ADBVAC) held its first meeting, “under the chairmanship of H.E Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and Chairman Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), to discuss strategy for blockchain and… Read More