Middle East’s financial landscape is poised for both continuity and transformation in 2025. While traditional banking metrics signal stability, FinTech is reshaping how financial services are delivered, reflecting a sector where innovation and resilience coexist. Fitch Ratings’ latest Middle East Banks Outlook 2025 paints a ‘neutral’ picture for the region’s banking sector. Credit growth is…
PaySky and Yalla Super App have been nominated for multiple prestigious awards at the MENA Fintech Association 2024 Awards, with winners to be announced during the Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2024 (ADFW). PaySky has been shortlisted in four categories: Fintech of the Year, Best Payments Solution, Best Innovative Payment Technology, and Best Merchant Solution, while…
Leading global digital real estate investment and fintech platform in the Middle East and North Africa region, Stake, has announced their official launch in the Kingdom. As the first platform regulated by the Capital Market Authority to afford individuals outside of the Kingdom the opportunity to invest into Saudi real estate, Stake is set to…
The growth of Artificial Intelligence in the Fintech market is fueled by the increasing need for intelligent financial solutions that enhance customer experience, reduce risks, and improve decision-making in real time. The SNS Insider report indicates that the AI in the fintech market was valued at USD 12.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to…
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…
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…
Emirates NBD and Mashreq Bank have made a strategic investment in NewBridge Fintech Solutions, the owner of UAE-based fintech platform LoanBook. LoanBook offers a centralised marketplace digitising the syndicated loan and private credit markets. The investment will be used to scale up the platform and make it easier for market participants to access global loan…
Commercial Bank International (CBI), leading UAE bank, has announced a strategic partnership with areeba, a global payment infrastructure provider, to become the first UAE bank to offer areeba’s comprehensive card and payment solutions to fintechs across the country. The partnership aims to empower UAE fintechs with scalable, secure card management capabilities and accelerate the growth…
Qatar Development Bank (QDB) announces a strategic investment in Wahed, a global Shariah-compliant fintech. Wahed currently manages over $1 billion in assets and has attracted over 400,000 clients worldwide. The company is built on the principles of democratizing access to financial services and offers clients access to Shariah-compliant investments in its mobile app. Wahed removes…
EdfaPay, a Riyadh-based FinTech platform redefining digital payments for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the MENA region, has announced the successful closure of its $5m pre-Series A funding round. The funding was led by OmanTel Innovation Labs, with participation from Aljabr MENA and Waad Investment. EdfaPay provides a comprehensive suite of financial tools tailored…
