Category: news

MoneyGram and NALA Use Stablecoins for Payouts in Africa and Asia

MoneyGram and NALA Partner to Use Stablecoins for Payouts in Africa and Asia MoneyGram, the global payments network serving consumers and businesses, has partnered with NALA, a stablecoin payments company, to support cross-border payouts into emerging markets using stablecoin-based settlement infrastructure. According to the companies, the collaboration combines MoneyGram’s international payments network with NALA’s stablecoin […]

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DIB Launches Relief Programme for UAE Frontline Workers

DIB Launches Relief Programme for UAE Frontline Workers Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) has introduced a financial support programme for frontline workers in the UAE, offering instalment deferments, fee waivers and preferential banking benefits for eligible customers. The initiative is expected to cover around 25,000 consumer banking customers and will remain available until 30 June 2026, […]

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ADIB Secures UAE Open Finance TPP License Under AlTareq Initiative

ADIB Becomes First UAE Bank Licensed as Open Finance Third-Party Provider Under AlTareq Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) has become the first bank in the United Arab Emirates to receive a Third-Party Provider (TPP) licence under the Central Bank of the UAE’s AlTareq open finance initiative. The approval marks a notable development in the country’s […]

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Legacy Systems Hinder Financial Innovation in Saudi Arabia, the UAE

Legacy Systems Continue to Slow Financial Innovation in Saudi Arabia and the UAE Financial institutions in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are still grappling with legacy technology that is limiting innovation, increasing costs and reducing execution speed, according to new research commissioned by Stitch and conducted by YouGov. The study found that outdated […]

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Visa Opens Applications for Africa Fintech Accelerator Cohort 6

Visa Opens Applications for Africa Fintech Accelerator Cohort 6 Visa has opened applications for Cohort 6 of the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator, inviting Africa-based fintech startups to apply before May 17, 2026. The announcement comes as the company continues to expand its startup support programme across the continent and the wider Middle East and North […]

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Pakistan Virtual Asset Act of 2026 Ends 8-year Block on Crypto Banking

Pakistan Ends Eight-Year Banking Ban for Licensed Crypto Firms Under New Virtual Asset Framework The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has allowed commercial banks to open accounts for licensed digital currency businesses, ending an eight-year restriction that had kept the sector outside the formal banking system. The move follows the enactment of the Virtual Assets […]

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UAE Central Bank e-KYC Platform to Launch Nationwide with Norbloc

UAE Central Bank to Launch Nationwide e-KYC Platform with Norbloc The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has announced the development of a nationwide unified electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) platform in partnership with Swedish technology firm Norbloc. The initiative is part of the UAE’s Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Programme and is designed to improve […]

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Careem Pay Partners with Adyen for UAE Digital Remittance Expansion

Careem Pay Expands UAE Digital Remittance Services Through Adyen Partnership Careem Pay has expanded its international money transfer capabilities through an extended partnership with global payments platform Adyen, as the company looks to scale its digital remittance services in the UAE. The collaboration is aimed at improving settlement, reporting, and authorization performance for users sending […]

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Bain Capital Opens Abu Dhabi Hub to Scale Fintech Investments

Bain Capital Opens Abu Dhabi Hub to Expand Fintech and Digital Infrastructure Investments Bain Capital has opened an office in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), establishing a new regional hub aimed at supporting its Middle East expansion and assessing direct investments in the financial technology sector. The move is designed to connect Bain Capital’s global […]

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MENA Funding Slips to US$941M in Q1 2026 Amid Regional Tensions

MENA Startup Funding Falls to US$941 Million in Q1 2026 as Regional Tensions Weigh on Investment Startup funding across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) declined sharply in the first quarter of 2026, dropping to US$941 million, according to a report by Wamda. The total represents a 37% year-on-year fall, reflecting weaker investor sentiment […]

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