Send App by Flutterwave has introduced the Send App Travel Card, a physical Naira card for Nigerians in the diaspora returning home for the festive period. Developed with technology partner Odysy and powered by AfriGO, Nigeria’s national domestic card scheme, the card aims to address common payment issues faced by travellers. Many Nigerians visiting home each December encounter cash limits, fluctuating exchange rates, and foreign card acceptance failures. The Travel Card reduces these challenges by letting users abroad pre-order the card, pay for it within the Send App, receive it before travelling, and use it immediately at POS terminals, ATMs,…

Franklin Templeton has signed separate MoUs with Finstreet, a licensed financial entity and market infrastructure group based in Abu Dhabi, and ADI Corporation, a firm specialising in blockchain solutions for governments and institutions in emerging markets. The partnerships aim to explore opportunities for developing digital asset solutions within the regulatory framework of ADGM and support the creation of an advanced securities ecosystem in the region. Under the agreements, the companies will work together to develop and distribute tokenised assets, enhance market access, and expand the adoption of digital finance solutions. The collaboration will include joint research and strategic initiatives to…

Yango Group and noon, a regional e-commerce platform, have announced a partnership to deploy autonomous delivery robots across the UAE. The collaboration begins with autonomous deliveries for noon Minutes customers in Dubai, moving the technology from pilot trials to live operations. The rollout will initially focus on the Sobha Hartland community, with plans to expand across the UAE and the wider GCC, guided by operational performance and customer feedback. The electric robots, developed by Yango Autonomy, can independently plan routes, navigate around obstacles, and yield to pedestrians. Customers can select the delivery robot option in the noon app, track its…

Presight has signed a MoU with HSBC UAE to collaborate on the development and deployment of AI solutions across core areas of financial services. The agreement, signed during Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2025, aims to accelerate the adoption of AI capabilities to enhance risk management, operational performance, and client insights. Under the MoU, the partnership will focus on areas including intelligent risk and compliance, human capital intelligence, growth and client intelligence, client acquisition, and real-time analytics for executive dashboards. These workstreams are intended to integrate Presight’s technological expertise with HSBC’s banking operations to support efficiency, regulatory oversight, and business…

Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2025, hosted by ADGM, continued on its second day with Asset Abu Dhabi, bringing together global asset managers and capital allocators to examine emerging investment opportunities and the future of asset allocation. Emmanuel Givanakis, CEO of ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority, highlighted Abu Dhabi’s growing role in global asset management, noting its combination of regulation, innovation and strategic position. He said, “Asset Abu Dhabi reflects the growing convergence of global capital and innovation, convening the world’s most sophisticated asset managers at a time of profound change in finance. It stands as a symbol of Abu…

Circle has secured a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM to operate as a Money Services Provider in the International Financial Centre (IFC) of Abu Dhabi. The company has also appointed Dr Saeeda Jaffar as Managing Director for Circle Middle East & Africa (MEA). Dr Jaffar joins from Visa, where she was Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In her new role, she will oversee Circle’s regional strategy, develop partnerships with financial institutions and enterprises, and support the adoption of digital dollars and onchain payment…

Hashgraph Ventures, an Abu Dhabi–based venture capital fund regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) within ADGM, has completed the first close of its Web3 and AI early-stage venture capital fund. This enables the firm to begin deploying capital to founders and entrepreneurs in the Web3 sector. The announcement coincided with Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2025. In 2024, Hashgraph Ventures received its fund management license from the ADGM FSRA and launched the US$100 million Hashgraph Venture Fund-I. The fund targets blockchain and deep technologies, focusing on Seed, Series A, and Series B stages. Its investment strategy prioritises founders…

Tabadulat, a UAE-based Shariah-compliant investing platform, has received its full Financial Services Permission (FSP) as a Category 3A licensed entity from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM. The full FSRA license allows Tabadulat to provide regulated global halal brokerage services, addressing challenges faced by Muslim investors who have previously relied on fragmented tools, partial compliance, or unregulated platforms. “Obtaining our full FSRA license is a defining moment for Tabadulat and for Muslim investors globally. It gives us the regulatory foundation to build a trusted, world-class platform that finally brings institutional-grade halal investing to the mass market,” said Samy…

The Emirates Growth Fund (EGF) and Hub71 Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem have signed a MoU to support the development of their SMEs and growth-stage company portfolios. The agreement seeks to enhance private sector growth and align with the UAE’s economic diversification objectives. Signed during Abu Dhabi Finance Week by Khalifa Al Hajeri, CEO of EGF, and Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, the MoU establishes a framework to deploy growth capital, expand commercial opportunities, and strengthen operational capabilities. EGF and Hub71 will collaborate to improve the performance and growth trajectory of SMEs and scaling companies. The focus will include…

Visa convened founders, investors, corporate partners, and industry leaders in Cape Town for the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator program Cohort 4 Demo Day, showcasing 22 fintech startups from across the continent. The event marked the conclusion of a three-month program aimed at developing and scaling digital commerce solutions. Cohort 4 includes startups headquartered in 12 African countries and operating across 31 markets. Women-led innovation is notable in this group, with eight female founders and 90 percent of startups having women in leadership roles. With this cohort, Visa has accelerated 86 African fintech startups, which collectively have a valuation of US$1.3…

Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2025 opened on 8 December under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, bringing together global financial and business leaders to discuss the capital’s evolving economic landscape. Hosted by ADGM with ADQ as a headline partner, this edition marked the largest gathering in the region’s flagship financial event. A key moment of the opening was the pledging session convened by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, where Bill Gates and other international leaders committed a collective US$1.9…

At IBM Think Riyadh 2025, IBM and Riyadh Air announced a milestone in their collaboration, unveiling Riyadh Air as the world’s first AI-native airline. Designed without legacy systems, the airline’s AI-driven operations aim to transform employee and passenger experiences. Riyadh Air is working with IBM Consulting and its partner ecosystem, including Adobe, Apple, FLYR, and Microsoft, to operate as an AI-native enterprise from its inception. IBM Consulting coordinated 59 workstreams using IBM Consulting Advantage, its AI-powered delivery platform, to implement the airline’s end-to-end technology strategy. Initial flights have begun, with the first commercial service expected in early 2026. Adam Boukadida,…

In the traditional corridors of finance, regulation is often synonymous with friction – a necessary brake on the wheels of commerce to prevent them from spinning out of control. But for Wai Lum Kwok, Senior Executive Director at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM, the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, the Capital of the UAE, regulation can be a powerful enabler for growth and innovation. Widely recognised for steering ADGM’s digital transformation and its broader fintech strategy, he has been instrumental in shaping initiatives such as the Regulatory Sandbox (a sandbox environment for new business models), the…

botim Money, the financial services arm of botim serving users in the UAE and Binance have signed a MoU to explore providing digital asset access to customers. The signing took place during Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai. The MoU supports botim’s shift from a communications-led platform to a broader fintech offering, allowing users to pay, transfer, and invest within a single ecosystem. Both companies will examine solutions combining Binance’s expertise in digital assets with botim’s fintech capabilities in the UAE market, with a focus on creating safe and compliant access. The agreement comes amid growing global interest in digital assets…

Turkish Airlines has partnered with Samsung to enhance its digital services, particularly in passenger baggage tracking. From 1 December, travellers will be able to track their luggage using the Smart Tagged Baggage Service, powered by Samsung’s SmartThings Find. This system allows for faster and more efficient tracking of misplaced or delayed baggage equipped with Galaxy SmartTags. Passengers will also have the option to upload a photo of their luggage within the SmartThings Find app, making identification simpler. The airline has indicated plans to expand the use of SmartThings Find beyond baggage, integrating location-based features into future passenger services. Commenting on…

Zelo, a UAE-based private-credit platform and subsidiary of IHC, has secured US$715 million in capital allocation from its parent company to expand supply chain financing across the Middle East. The allocation is among the largest in the region’s B2B financing space and aims to increase liquidity access for SMEs across core economic sectors. The platform provides SMEs and mid-market suppliers with financing against receivables owed by government entities, large corporates, and regional businesses. Zelo converts receivables linked to some of the region’s largest buyers into investable private-credit assets. This approach aims to support broader participation in global institutional private-credit markets.…

Rostro Group, an international fintech and financial services group, and has received a Category 5 license from the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). The approval positions the Group as a regulated participant in the UAE’s financial sector. It also allows Rostro to operate in line with the country’s standards for transparency, investor protection, and market conduct. The UAE’s fintech ecosystem has been expanding rapidly, supported by regulatory developments, government initiatives, and growing investor interest. Based in the UAE, Rostro Group is led by CEO Michael Ayres, who has extensive experience in the regional fintech sector. Commenting on the license,…

ruya, UAE’s digital-first Islamic bank, now allows customers to buy and sell Bitcoin directly through its mobile app. The feature is part of ruya’s broader investment offering aimed at supporting Islamic wealth management and long-term financial planning. Developed with Fuze, a licensed virtual asset provider, the service is designed to be secure, accessible, and compliant with Islamic financial principles. The launch comes as interest in digital assets grows across the UAE. Chainalysis’ 2024 Geography of Crypto Report recorded more than US$30 billion in cryptocurrency inflows between July 2023 and June 2024, a 42% year-on-year increase. The report also noted marked…

The real estate industry across the Middle East is undergoing a digital transformation, driven by the rise of property technology (proptech) that is revolutionizing how properties are designed, built, bought, and managed. Within this landscape, a handful of companies are emerging as standouts in this nascent ecosystem, distinguished by their rapid growth, expansion, and strong market traction. These companies operate across markets including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Israel. They facilitate real-estate transactions, streamline property management and rental processes, and improve construction efficiency through greater project visibility and insights. These companies are among the most prominent private…

Binance has received formal authorisation from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of the ADGM. The approval covers Binance’s global platform, Binance.com, under a comprehensive regulatory framework. The regulatory authorisation is granted across three separate entities operating within ADGM, each with defined permissions. Nest Services Limited, soon to be renamed Nest Exchange Limited, is approved as a Recognised Investment Exchange (RIE). It may operate a Multilateral Trading Facility and handle on-exchange trading of spot and derivatives products. Nest Clearing and Custody Limited is approved as a Recognised Clearing House (RCH). It can manage clearing, settlement, custody, and central securities depository…