British payments firm, Sokin, has announced its acquisition of Norwegian fintech, settle Group AS, for an undisclosed sum. The move positions Sokin to bolster its technological capabilities and enhance its offering, including its flagship product, Sokin Pay. This strategic acquisition directly plays into Sokin’s growth trajectory, aligning with its vision to transform international payments. Sokin…
The UK and Qatar are set to enter major agreements as the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani wraps up his official state visit to the UK. The deal will put the spotlight on cooperation and development of the UK’s fintech and green finance sectors. Qatar’s delegation will be hosted at Downing Street by…
The third edition of the MENA Fintech Festival concluded yesterday, following a three day affair that saw fintech leaders and key players coming together to remark on the financial landscape across the region. The opening ceremony of the three-day event witnessed the participation of the Assistant Governor for Financial Instruments and Payment Systems at Qatar…
Francophone-focused fintech startup HUB2, which has built a seamless, secure platform designed to unify national and cross-border financial services across diverse payment methods, has raised a EUR8 million (US$8.4 million) Series A round of funding to help it scale across the region. Founded in 2019 by Ashley Gaüzère, who was joined as co-CEO by Jean-Rémi…
Kenja Consulting, a boutique investment consultancy, has revealed plans for a new event series designed to enhance fintech collaboration between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Kingdom (UK). This initiative aims to build bridges between these two prominent financial centres, fostering investment opportunities and strategic partnerships. Named Fintech Futures: UAE-UK Connection, the series…
Malta-based startup, Basta Pay, has announced its intentions to introduce its financial platform by 1 March 2025, with the company aiming to solidify its position in the fintech industry. With the launch date approaching, Basta Pay is working on entering strategic collaborations to develop an advanced global fintech ecosystem. The company intends to deliver optimized…
WadzPay Worldwide has secured a capital commitment of SGD 50 million ($36.7 million) from Global Emerging Markets (GEM) Global Yield. The commitment is comprised of a shared subscription facility (SSF), which stipulates that WadzPay can call on GEM to purchase ordinary shares in the company up to the agreed value. However, the New York-based alternative…
The Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024 featured a panel discussion titled ‘Fintech for All: Harnessing Innovation to Benefit Women and Beyond’, which focused on how financial technology is reshaping opportunities for women and communities worldwide. The panellists in the session included Hela Cheikhrouhou, Regional Vice President at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for the Middle…
Rwanda has recently unveiled a five-year fintech strategy, with the goal of developing a fintech ecosystem to position the country as a regional financial center. According to the Ministry of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Innovation, the plan aims to establish Rwanda as the preferred location for African fintech companies and investments, as well as…
UAE-based Reem Finance has selected Swiss banking tech vendor Temenos to power its upcoming digital community bank. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Reem Finance provides corporate and retail financing solutions to help “facilitate business growth and advance trade capacity for private entities within various sectors”. Through its partnership with Temenos, Reem Finance…
