Blackstone has invested US$250 million in Advanced Digital Gaming Technology (ADGT), a payments and data intelligence platform launched from the UAE to support regulated digital markets. Blackstone, Raya Holding, an Abu Dhabi-based investment firm, and technology partners NRT Technology and Sightline Payments established ADGT through a partnership. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the platform will initially focus on deployments in the UAE, the Middle East, Africa, and selected international markets. In the UAE, ADGT holds a license to provide payments and compliance technology to the commercial gaming sector and can contract directly with both land-based venues and online platforms. Michael Dominelli,…

Emaar Development held its Annual General Meeting (AGM), where the Board of Directors reviewed its 2025 financial performance and outlined its strategic outlook. Shareholders approved a dividend of AED 4 billion (US$1.1 billion), equivalent to 100% of share capital. The Board’s report on the company’s activities and financial position, along with the auditor’s report, was also approved. The company reported property sales of AED 71.1 billion (US$19.4 billion) in 2025, up 9% year-on-year. Its revenue backlog increased to AED 125.2 billion (US$34.1 billion), providing visibility on future revenue. Total revenue rose 44% to AED 27.5 billion (US$7.5 billion), while EBITDA…

Fintech platform Vault22 has launched in the UAE, introducing an AI-powered wealth management application designed to help users budget, save and invest through a single interface. The platform aggregates users’ bank accounts, investments, liabilities and financial goals into one dashboard, allowing them to better assess their financial position and make more informed long-term decisions. The launch reflects rising demand for tools that support individuals managing multiple banks, currencies and investment accounts, which can make it difficult to maintain a clear financial overview. Vault22 consolidates financial data across institutions and applies artificial intelligence to generate personalised insights and recommendations. Its AI…

GoTyme Bank and BPC, a global provider of payment solutions, are marking a decade-long partnership that has supported the bank from its inception to its current customer base of over 12 million in South Africa. BPC has provided technology and operational support, including its SmartVista platform, enabling GoTyme Bank to launch quickly and issue debit cards instantly. The partnership also included support with regulatory compliance, international scheme certification, card manufacturing, transaction design, and operational readiness. SmartVista’s modular platform and open APIs have allowed the bank to roll out features rapidly while keeping costs low. GoTyme Bank combines digital banking with…

Resilience in the financial services industry has transcended beyond the technological capability to restore services after a disruption, evolving into a strict compliance requirement and a strategic imperative. This shift requires institutions to adopt a holistic and proactive approach that integrates robust cybersecurity measures, comprehensive risk management frameworks, and continuous monitoring capabilities, according to a new report by cybersecurity firm Fortinet. A primary driver of this urgency is the rise of AI-generated deepfakes. These sophisticated AI generation tools allow criminals to deceive victims by creating realistic synthetic video and audio. They have proliferated over the past years, with fraud operations…

The Board of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), chaired by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister, held its second meeting of the year today. It noted that the UAE’s financial system has remained resilient despite extraordinary global and regional market conditions, with no material impact on the health of the banking sector or payment systems. The Board approved a Financial Institution Resilience Package to strengthen the stability and resilience of the UAE banking sector. The package allows banks greater access to liquidity and flexibility to utilise capital buffers to support the economy.…

Vodafone Egypt has partnered with TapTap Send, an international remittance platform, to enable instant transfers from over 30 countries directly to Vodafone Cash wallets. The partnership supports financial inclusion and aims to provide a simpler, digital alternative to traditional remittance channels for families in Egypt, particularly from the UK, EU, USA, UAE, Canada and Australia. Kareem Eid, Chief Commercial Officer at Vodafone Egypt, said: “Our partnership with TapTap Send reflects our role as a trusted partner that places customer aspirations at the heart of everything we do. This collaboration further strengthens Vodafone Cash’s position as the largest and most widely…

Ultra-fast satellite internet service Starlink is now available in the UAE. Residents may pay from around Dh300 per month for standard packages, while the ‘Residential Lite’ plan costs Dh230 per month. Separate plans for businesses are also available from Dh248 per month. Gulf News reports that the UAE recently appeared on Starlink’s official availability map, signalling that live service is now accessible in the country. Developed by Elon Musk’s space venture SpaceX, Starlink provides high-speed internet through a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites. Starlink provides connectivity in areas where traditional fibre or mobile networks cannot reach or are unreliable. Unlike…

Tabby has added Apple Store to its Tabby Card partner network in the UAE, allowing customers to purchase Apple products with flexible, interest-free payment options. This applies across the Apple Store Online, the Apple Store app, and physical Apple Store locations throughout the UAE. For a limited period, Tabby Card holders can split Apple purchases into six interest-free payments with no fees until 30 March. Customers can also opt to pay in four interest-free instalments at any time. For larger purchases, payments can be spread over up to eight months. Tabby Card has quickly become one of the most widely…

Presight has announced the first six AI companies selected for investment through its AI Innovation Ecosystem, part of the Presight-Shorooq Fund I (PSFI), a US$100 million early-stage fund established with Shorooq. The companies are based in the US and the UAE. They focus on applied AI across infrastructure, financial and industrial intelligence, and edge systems. AMI-Advanced Machine Intelligence was founded by Yann LeCun. It is developing world model architectures that enable machines to understand and interact with physical environments. The technology is being applied in sectors such as manufacturing, aerospace and robotics. NodeShift provides an on-premises AI platform that allows…

Fasset has appointed Behnam Gurban-Zada as Executive Director, Islamic Finance and Banking. The appointment coincides with the company strengthening its Shariah governance framework and expanding into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) regions. Behnam has more than 20 years of experience in Islamic banking, capital markets, and regulatory advisory. He previously held executive roles at Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, and Sberinvest Middle East, where he helped establish Islamic banking units, structured Shariah-compliant financing and trade finance transactions, and managed portfolios exceeding US$1.2 billion. Earlier in his career, Behnam was among the first to develop Islamic…

Utexo, a blockchain infrastructure startup based in the UAE, has closed a US$7.5 million seed funding round. The round was led by Tether, with participation from Big Brain Holdings, Portal Ventures, Franklin Templeton, Maven11 Capital, and Fulgur Ventures. The funding will support Utexo’s development of systems for direct stablecoin payments on the Bitcoin network. It will focus on USDT transactions and simplify integration for financial institutions and payment providers. Founded in the UAE, Utexo provides enterprise APIs and software infrastructure. Its platform allows digital wallets, cryptocurrency exchanges, and payment companies to process stablecoin payments without overhauling internal systems, compliance procedures,…

In Dubai, the next stage of the emirate’s proptech industry could unlock AED 53.29 billion (US$14.5 billion) in annual worker productivity. This growth will be driven by technologies, such as indoor environmental regulation systems, according to a new report  by Dubai Proptech Hub (report was released last week but likely produced in January/February). Specifically, so-called Proptech 3.0 technologies, including smart heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) monitoring, can simultaneously improve occupant comfort, reduce energy consumption and emissions, lower operating expenditure, and enhance worker productivity. Applied across Dubai’s 123 million square feet of office stock, these systems could generate an estimated…

AB Xelerate, Arab Bank’s fintech accelerator, and Fuze have signed a MoU. The agreement aims to explore collaboration on digital asset products and services in Jordan. The partnership intends to support Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision. It will do so by strengthening digital financial infrastructure and enabling the development of regulated financial services. AB Xelerate and Fuze will assess potential digital asset use cases. They will utilise Fuze’s Digital Assets-as-a-Service (DaaS) infrastructure alongside Arab Bank’s banking expertise and regional presence. The focus will be on secure and compliant digital asset offerings. These offerings can integrate into Arab Bank’s existing digital channels,…

The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), part of the Department of Municipalities and Transport and operating under the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, has announced the expansion of autonomous taxi services on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The expansion involves Apollo Go, a subsidiary of China’s Baidu, with Autogo, a subsidiary of K2, joining as an additional local operator. Abu Dhabi is extending autonomous mobility services, adding more operators, and strengthening operational readiness as part of its phased plan. This follows successful testing and operational trials on Yas Island and the transition to commercial operations for Level 4 autonomous taxis. Future plans…

Rwanda has officially launched the Rwanda Fintech Centre during Inclusive Fintech Forum 2026, introducing a new platform intended to coordinate and support the country’s growing financial technology ecosystem. The centre is a joint initiative involving the Ministry of ICT and Innovation Rwanda, Kigali International Financial Centre, ICT Chamber Rwanda, Fintech Association Rwanda, and Luxembourg Cooperation. The Rwanda Fintech Centre brings together stakeholders and drives the development of fintech in the country. The initiative aims to position Rwanda as a launchpad for both domestic and international fintech firms seeking to scale their operations across the Africa. Rwanda’s fintech ecosystem currently includes…

Ziina, a UAE-based payments platform and Virtuzone, a corporate services provider specialising in company formation, tax, and compliance, have formed a strategic partnership to support UAE businesses’ operational readiness. The collaboration links company formation with payments infrastructure. Virtuzone clients can now access Ziina’s payment gateway and acceptance capabilities, enabling merchants to handle transactions both online and in person through a single platform. Faisal Toukan, Co-Founder and CEO of Ziina, said: “Through our partnership with Virtuzone, founders can easily deploy Ziina’s payment solutions, enabling them to accept payments, access funds instantly, and manage cash flow with greater control from day one.”…

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is rapidly establishing as a leading hub for fintech, supported by strategic government initiatives, rising consumer demand for digital services, and a vibrant innovation ecosystem. Regionally, the UAE systemically captures one of the largest shares of fintech investment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), accounting for 39% of funding in H1 2024. The country also hosts one of the largest concentrations of fintech companies in the region, with over 320 fintech companies operating in the UAE, against 281 fintech companies in Saudi Arabia, and 177 fintech startups in Egypt. The UAE’s fintech growth…

Cross-border e-commerce platform Ubuy has integrated Tabby as a payment option for customers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, allowing shoppers to pay for purchases in instalments. The option is now available on Ubuy’s UAE and Saudi Arabia platforms, giving customers the ability to split purchases into up to four payments. Shoppers can choose to divide payments into three interest-free instalments with no additional fees, or opt for four payments with a small processing fee where applicable. At checkout, the system approves transactions instantly and schedules the remaining payments automatically. The integration reflects increasing demand for flexible payment options in…

Network International and ADCB Egypt, part of the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Group, have launched FICO Falcon Fraud Manager in Egypt. The system uses AI and machine learning (ML) to detect and prevent fraudulent transactions in real time. The solution creates a behavioural profile for each customer and analyses millions of transactions, enabling the identification of potentially fraudulent activity and protecting accounts across digital channels. Dr Reda Helal, Group Managing Director – Processing, Africa at Network International, said: “The go-live of the FICO fraud solution underscores ADCB Egypt’s impact on the market by providing best-in-class digital customer experiences enhanced by…