IG Group appoints Sharaz Hussain to senior executive officer role

IG Group appoints Sharaz Hussain to senior executive officer role

Prior to that, he held senior finance executive positions at several institutions including ICAP, MF Global, Credit Suisse and JP Morgan

amana_CEO_Muhammad Rasoul

Neo broker amana launches trading app, offers access to regional and global markets

The platform offers stocks, commodities, ETFs, currencies and crypto among other assets through the app

Tintra

Tintra secures fintech services licence to operate in Qatar

Tintra is using artificial intelligence and Web3 technologies to build a global, borderless banking infrastructure

Bahrain's Al Waha Fund, Hambro Perks launch HP Spring Studios to support fintech startups

Bahrain’s Al Waha Fund, Hambro Perks launch HP Spring Studios to support fintech startups

The studio aims to create new highly skilled jobs in Bahrain for both local and international talent, on both its core team and at the startups it helps to launch

Direct Debit

UAE’s first paperless Direct Debit Marketplace launched

Fintech company Direct Debit System, launched the platform to facilitate recurring payments such as school fees, rent and subscription services

Ziina

UAE-based fintech Ziina eyes Jordan in regional push

The company successfully raised $9m during a seed round from prominent investors

Africa

McKinsey sees Africa fintech sales surging eightfold by 2025

Financial services revenues in Ghana and francophone West Africa will enjoy the fastest growth, with Nigeria and Egypt the next quickest

Zywa

Teen-focused fintech startup Zywa raises $3m seed round

Zywa is reimagining financial services for Gen Z through gamified learning and community building

ADIB Egypt

ADIB, Simplifi partner to expand Egypt’s digital payment ecosystem

Both the organisations will work together to help companies issue scheme-enabled prepaid cards by reducing cost to launch and time to market

Emirates Post Group and DIFC FIntech HIVE sign sponsorship deal

Emirates Post, DIFC’s FinTech Hive sign sponsorship deal to promote ‘HIVE 22’

Emirates Post Group will join DIFC FinTech Hive’s accelerator programme as the logistics partner

financial services

Banking-as-a-service is transforming the future of financial services

Banking-as-a-service is a revolution that combines the power of banks with the reach and customer loyalty of well known brands

Tabby gets $150m credit facility

Tabby secures $150m credit facility from Atalaya Capital, Partners for Growth

Following Tabby’s Series B extension earlier this year, the fintech’s total capital raised to date amounts to $275m

Fintechs

Why bank and tech giants are losing their experts to fintechs

Significant numbers of employees are moving from tech firms like Amazon.com and Microsoft to fintech companies

luxury e-commerce

An overview of the Middle East fintech landscape

The Middle East has seen an influx of fintech startups, new funding and increased support for existing and new ventures

Alinma Bank Saudi

Alinma Bank, Foodics sign strategic fintech partnership to empower SMBs in Saudi

The two brands will launch new products to enable small business owners to have full autonomy over their business decisions

Fintech e-commerce

How fintech is shaping the future of e-commerce

By integrating innovative fintech solutions, e-commerce businesses can enhance operations to deliver the ultimate customer experience

Ewallet

UAE telco e& rebrands eWallet to transform fintech space

UAE citizens, residents, and businesses will benefit from e& money through an enhanced customer experience

DIFC FIntech week 2022

DIFC to host the region’s most comprehensive fintech event in June

More than 1,000 attendees, including fintech startups, investment firms, banks and service providers, are expected to attend DIFC FinTech Week on June 28 and 29

tracking tool

Fintech firm Modifi unveils free shipment tracking tool for cross-border commerce

The open-for-all shipment tracking tool helps businesses to track and manage shipments in one glance, on one platform

PwC launches UAE cryptocurrency report, identifies three-stage facilitative model for regulation

Coinbase to lay off 18% of workers as crypto market worsens

The company plans to lay off roughly 1200 employees, ending the current quarter with about 5,000 employees

Network International

Network International partners with FreedomPay

Strategic collaboration will enable Network to offer a fully integrated payments platform to its hospitality and retail merchants in UAE and MEA region

valU EFG-Karim-Awad

FAS Labs, valU partner to offer digital consumer finance services in Saudi Arabia

The agreement will accelerate the geographical expansion of valU and provide digital finance solutions to consumers in Saudi Arabia through FAS Finance

FOO Fintech

Fintech solution provider FOO expands operations into Saudi Arabia

FOO works with banks, fintech companies and retailers across the MENA region to provide digital products that enhance business models and customer experience

Zenda

MENA’s fintech school fee app, zenda, raises $9.4m in seed round

Zenda, is the first fintech app that lets parents to pay school fees with pay-now and pay-later options, and unlock rewards for paying on time

Digital wallet

Careem Pay launches peer-to-peer transfer facility and digital wallet in the UAE

It will soon issue Careem cards that can be used at ATMs and merchants, and will also introduce international remittance solutions

Saudi Arabia’s Foodics raises $170m in Series C round in MENA

The Series C funding was led by Prosus and Sanabil Investments, with participation by Sequoia Capital India and existing investors

UAE’s fintech startup FlexxPay expands into Egypt

The company estimates that around 20 million people across Egypt could benefit from early wage access

Dubai-based Stake hosts MIT student team for six-month project

The project will entail developing a analytics model that will collect historical market data on Dubai’s residential market dating back over 10 years

Wa’ed Ventures and Maydan Capital to fund ‘ethical’ fintechs in Saudi

The two companies will coordinate and collaborate on finding, backing and mentoring founders as they launch and grow their ethically-focused startups

Bahrain-based cryptocurrency platform Rain announces 0% trading fees

The simplified fee structure aims to help customers feel more comfortable and confident placing their first trade in the crypto world