Yuno has announced a partnership with Flutterwave to simplify payment access for businesses entering African markets. Through a single API integration, Yuno merchants can now enable Flutterwave’s local payment options, including cards, mobile money and bank transfers, across markets such as Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda and South Africa. The integration removes the need for multiple local integrations and contracts, allowing merchants to manage payments through a centralised Yuno dashboard for operations and reconciliation. The companies said the aim is to reduce the complexity businesses face when operating across Africa’s fragmented payments landscape, while improving access to local payment…

Tether has launched a gold-backed Visa neobanking card in collaboration with Fasset, a stablecoin neobanking and investment platform. The card enables users to spend USD at Visa-accepting merchants globally and earn up to 6% cashback in Tether Gold (XAU₮) on eligible transactions. It uses a tiered rewards structure linked to spending levels. The card includes an automatic round-up feature that rounds transactions to the nearest dollar and invests the difference into XAU₮, allowing users to accumulate tokenised gold through daily spending. It integrates directly with Fasset’s wallet infrastructure, and credits cashback in real time. Fasset provides multi-currency accounts, transfers, instant…

Creative Zone, in collaboration with RAKEZ and Mashreq NEO BIZ, has launched the Young Entrepreneurs’ Business Setup Program, a UAE-based initiative aimed at supporting aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage founders and new business owners as they move from idea to company formation. The programme simplifies the early stages of business setup by combining incorporation support with access to a partner-backed ecosystem of services. It aims to provide a more structured entry point for individuals starting their first business. The launch comes as the UAE continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for entrepreneurship. The country has ranked first globally in…

Deloitte Middle East has launched the 5th edition of its Technology Fast 50 programme, recognising fast-growing technology companies across the Middle East and Cyprus. The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Programme is a ranking that identifies high-growth companies with technological advancements that were founded before January 1, 2021 and with annual revenue of at least US$50,000 in 2019 and US$250,000 in 2024. The programme ranks companies by four-year revenue growth. Here are the 11 fintechs that are the winners of this year’s FAST 50 Programme: FundedNext (UAE) FundedNext is a global proprietary trading firm dedicated to building a unified trading ecosystem…

The Emirates Growth Fund (EGF) will serve as the Exclusive Growth Capital Partner at Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) 2026, the UAE’s flagship industrial forum, which will take place from 4-7 May at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi. The designation marks a milestone in EGF’s first year of operations, as it continues to establish itself as a platform supporting the country’s industrial development agenda. In this role at MIITE 2026, EGF highlights its function as a growth capital investor supporting UAE-based businesses and its position within the wider SME ecosystem. EGF launched at MIITE 2025 and operates with backing from…

Takeem, a UAE-based proptech, has launched a rental guarantee service in the GCC aimed at landlords, tenants, asset managers and agents, as regional property markets face renewed uncertainty. The Takeem Rental Guarantee (TRG) covers landlords against tenant non-payment and includes emergency maintenance for urgent property repairs. The company offers the service alongside Takeem Direct Debit (TDD), its automated rent collection system that replaces post-dated cheques with monthly direct debit payments. According to Takeem, the UAE rental market has traditionally relied on post-dated cheques rather than rental protection schemes commonly used in markets such as the UK, Europe and the US.…

Comfi, a B2B embedded finance platform, has raised US$65 million in a Pre-Series A funding round comprising equity and debt. The equity portion was led by Iliad Partners and included participation from Yango Ventures and Raw Ventures, both of which are making their first investments in the region. The round also includes a credit facility from Partners for Growth and a mezzanine facility structured by Shorooq, with participation from a family office. Founded in 2023 and headquartered in the UAE, Comfi was established by Sanjar Samiev, Alisher Akbarov, Amal Abdullaev and Denis Gavrilin. The founding team has experience in fintech…

A high-level delegation from Abu Dhabi, led by ADGM, has concluded a series of meetings in Milan, Italy with financial institutions and industry representatives. The engagements were part of efforts to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position in financial services and support economic growth priorities. The discussions involved asset managers, private equity firms, banks, and family offices. Talks focused on capital deployment, cross-border expansion, and investment structuring opportunities. Participants also discussed Abu Dhabi’s regulatory and business environment. The engagements form part of the UAE-Italy strategic partnership signed in 2025 to expand cooperation across key sectors. They follow a visit by an Abu…

Sahm, a fintech-driven investment services provider under Hong Kong-based Valuable Capital Group Limited (VCGL), has been granted a license by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) for its UAE entity, Sahm Financial Limited. The approval allows the firm to establish regulated operations within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Under the license, Sahm Financial Limited may advise on financial products, arrange investment deals, and act as an agent in investment transactions. It may also serve retail clients and hold or control client assets, in line with DFSA requirements on investor protection and market integrity. “We are honoured to receive this…

and The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has instructed all banks and licensed financial institutions in the country to stop using instant messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to provide financial services or collect customer information. The regulator issued the notice, according to Khaleej Times. The move aims to strengthen consumer protection and maintain data security standards across the financial system. The directive applies to all institutions under the Consumer Protection Regulation and Standards, covering banking transactions, customer communication, and data handling. The central bank said banks and financial institutions increasingly use messaging apps as service channels. This practice introduces…

Stake, a MENA digital real estate investment platform, and Switzerland-based investment group ACE & Company, which manages over US$2 billion in assets, have announced a strategic partnership to develop liquidity solutions for investors in Stake products. The initial focus will be Stake’s UAE real estate portfolio, held through Prescribed Companies, which operate similarly to Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The collaboration aims to improve liquidity, transparency and efficiency for investors in fractional real estate. It combines Stake’s access model with ACE & Company’s experience in private markets and secondary transactions. The firms said the…

Speedinvest, a European venture capital firm, has launched its first flagship fund dedicated to early-growth stage companies across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Mubadala Investment Company, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and the European Investment Bank (EIB Global), among others, back the fund. The firm said the fund formalises its existing investment activity in the region and extends its European platform with dedicated capital, local teams, and long-term partnerships aimed at supporting startups in both Europe and MEA as they scale. Speedinvest has also joined QIA’s Fund of Funds programme, strengthening its presence in Qatar and the wider Gulf Cooperation…

Dubai South, an urban master development focused on aviation, has signed a MoU with Emirates NBD to support SMEs and improve access to banking services within the development. Under the MoU, Emirates NBD will provide support for companies setting up in Dubai South, including streamlined processes for opening corporate bank accounts. It will also offer banking solutions tailored to business requirements. The partnership aims to simplify access to financial services and reduce administrative barriers for companies operating within Dubai South. Nabil Al Kindi, Group CEO of Dubai South, said: “By facilitating seamless access to essential banking services, we are enabling…

BurjX, a UAE-based digital asset brokerage and custodian licensed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM, has expanded its services to support broader stablecoin usage across multiple blockchain networks within its regulated framework. Stablecoins have become a significant part of global digital asset markets, processing more than US$33 trillion in transaction volume in 2025, with total market capitalisation exceeding US$300 billion. Their use has expanded across payments, trading, and treasury functions, including in the UAE, where regulated digital asset activity continues to grow. The latest expansion enables BurjX clients to transfer stablecoins across several blockchain networks. This includes…

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has announced plans to become the world’s first AI-native financial centre, integrating AI across its legal, regulatory, operational, and physical infrastructure. Rather than treating AI as an add-on, DIFC said it intends to embed it into the core functioning of the centre, including legal frameworks, business operations, talent development, ecosystem infrastructure and the district’s built environment. The initiative builds on its 2023 AI strategy, which introduced data governance policies and incorporated AI as Regulation 10 under the DIFC Data Protection Law. AI tools are already in use to support client compliance and relationship management.…

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Futian District People’s Government of Shenzhen have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cross-border economic and financial collaboration. The ADGM Shenzhen partnership establishes a framework to elevate cooperation across priority sectors such as financial services, innovation, and talent development. The agreement also supports broader economic, cultural, and educational exchanges between the two jurisdictions. ADGM and Futian District will work together to promote mutual development opportunities and enable better engagement between their respective business and financial communities. The collaboration aims to focus on advancing dialogue and knowledge in areas such as financial…

Tabby has been granted a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE). It allows the company to hold customer funds and launch new financial products, including spending accounts, cards and money management tools. The license advances Tabby’s move towards becoming a full-service financial platform in the UAE. It already serves millions of users in the market. The approval will enable Tabby to integrate spending, sending and managing money into a single platform. Tabby now holds regulatory authorisation in its two largest markets. In Saudi Arabia, it secured a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) license…

ruya has announced the launch of its ruya Mastercard Cashback Credit Card. The card rewards everyday spending on categories such as groceries, fuel, dining and online shopping through cashback while remaining Shari’ah-compliant. According to the bank, cardholders will earn 2% cashback on all purchases, with the exception of government-related transactions. The card does not require a minimum spend to qualify for cashback, so customers earn rewards on all eligible transactions regardless of value. Christoph Koster, Chief Executive Officer of ruya Bank, said: “We wanted to create a product that removes the complexity from rewards, offering a transparent, Shariah-compliant way for…

MoneyGram, a global payments network for consumers and businesses, and NALA, a stablecoin payments company, have announced a partnership to support cross-border payouts into emerging markets using stablecoin-based settlement infrastructure. The collaboration combines MoneyGram’s international payments network with NALA’s stablecoin settlement and local payout infrastructure, enabling funds to move between digital dollars and local currencies in near real time. MoneyGram will use NALA’s licensed on- and off-ramp platform, Rafiki, to support payouts across Africa and Asia. The platform connects MoneyGram to banks and mobile money providers in the region, with the aim of improving settlement speed and foreign exchange efficiency.…

DIB has launched a financial support initiative for frontline workers. The programme provides relief and preferential banking benefits to eligible personnel across selected ministries and essential entities. It will reach around 25,000 consumer banking customers and will run until 30 June 2026, subject to eligibility criteria. The package offers up to three months’ instalment deferment on selected personal and auto finance facilities, without profit or fees. It also includes fee waivers on selected card products and a six-month zero-fee Easy Payment Plan for school fees. For new-to-bank customers, DIB will provide complimentary teller services at UAE branches and fee-free home…