Trade agreements in the 21st century are no longer just about reducing tariffs. Increasingly, they are evolving into frameworks that facilitate data flows, digital services, and financial innovation. They are evolving into frameworks that facilitate data flows, digital services and financial innovation. According to the World Trade Organization over 60 per cent of newly signed…
Following years of experimentation, digital assets are entering a more grounded, infrastructure-led phase. The real story in 2025 is regulatory clarity, deepening institutional interest and the shift toward scalable, integrated infrastructure. Not hype cycles or token rallies. This moment of change is a signal for fintech players ranging from payments and neobanking to compliance tech…
Zoho, a leading global technology company, and areeba, a leading payment processing service provider in the Middle East, today announced a strategic partnership agreement aimed at fast-tracking digital transformation of businesses across the region. The MoU was signed in a ceremony at Seamless Dubai 2025 by Prem Anand Velumani, Associate Director, Strategic Alliances, Zoho Middle…
MoneyHash, the Middle East and Africa’s leading payment orchestration platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Lean Technologies, the region’s leading financial infrastructure platform, to bring instant Account-to-Account (A2A) payments for e-commerce and digital-first businesses across the UAE. The partnership enables merchants to offer seamless, bank-direct payments at checkout, reducing card processing fees, improving checkout…
The Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) has announced the development of a groundbreaking technology for generating cryptographic keys, marking a significant advancement in the field of data protection and information security. The announcement was made by CBK Governor Basel Ahmad Al-Haroon, who said the innovation was created within the Bank’s Innovation Hub, Wolooj, as part…
Egypt’s leading fintech platform digitizing the traditional ROSCA savings model, ElGameya, announced the successful closing of a new 7-figure USD investment round, aiming to accelerate the development of its technology platform. The round was led by AYADY for Investment and Development, with participation from prominent investors including Jedar Capital, Cubit Ventures, Ventures Notes, P-Maestro and a group of both…
Apex Group has appointed Tom Bennett as Global Head of Fintech. In this newly created role, Tom (pictured) will lead Apex Group’s global fintech strategy, enhancing its digital capabilities across private markets, capital markets, and digital assets. Tom Bennett’s background boasts experience at leading companies such as JLL and BT, and he most recently served…
Financial technology company Chime on Tuesday filed paperwork to go public on the Nasdaq. The company intends to file under the ticker symbol “CHYM.” “Chime is a technology company, not a bank,” the company said in its prospectus noting it is not a member of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Still, the company cited…
Citigroup has agreed to sell its wealth alternatives unit to fintech firm iCapital, the companies announced on Tuesday, as the bank pursues simplifying its business. The unit, Citi Global Alternatives, represents more than 180 funds distributed by the bank across asset classes including private equity, infrastructure, hedge funds, and private credit. New York-based iCapital will manage…
In a significant advancement for the UAE’s digital economy, Astra Tech’s flagship platform, Botim, has partnered with Mbank, a leading digital bank in the United Arab Emirates, to introduce the nation’s first fintech-integrated Jaywan card scheme. The announcement was made in the presence of H.E. Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, CEO and Board Member of Astra…
