Posts From Fintechnews Middle East
Oman Jumps on Open Banking Bandwagon
The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) is drafting the so-called Open Banking API Strategy as part of a broader push to stimulate innovation in the finance sector. The intentions were outlined in the 2021 Arab Region Fintech Guide, a paper
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Financial Data Concerns Rise Amongst Digital Shift in the GCC
Illegal data collection and financial data theft have become major concerns amongst GCC consumers, according to a new report. The Ding Global Prepaid Index (GPI), a bi-annual global study by mobile top-up service Ding, found that GCC consumers are uneasy
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Tiger Global Leads US$12m Series A for Tarabut Gateway
Dubai-headquartered open banking startup Tarabut Gateway has raised US$12 million in a pre-Series A fundraise, the company announced in a statement today. The round was led by Tiger Global. It was joined by new backers Dubai International Fintech Fund, an
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Edfundo Is the Newest Youth Neobank in the UAE
Edfundo, a youth-focused neobank, will be launching in the UAE early next year, according to a statement from the company. Edfundo is a tween and teen-focused smart money management app built by UAE-based teachers and co-founder CEO Simon Wing and
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Pakistan’s Nascent Fintech Ecosystem Gets a Boost
Despite a growing population and a large pool of unbanked, Pakistan has been a relatively slow-mover within the digital finance space, but new opportunities brought about the COVID-19 pandemic and government-led initiatives are expected to fuel growth. Out of a
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Fintech News Digest: What’s Behind Saudi Arabia’s Fintech Boom?
Saudi Arabia’s fintech ecosystem is thriving to say the least. In last week’s fintech news, a new report pointed out that Saudi fintech companies raised a total of US$157.2 million between January and August this year. That’s a whole bunch
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Qatar FinTech Hub Reveals Third Cohort for Incubator, Accelerator
Qatar FinTech Hub (QFTH) has announced the list of 16 fintechs joining Wave 3 of its incubator and accelerator programmes. Founded by the Qatar Development Bank (QDB), the QFTH runs an incubator and an accelerator to encourage fintech innovation in
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Dubai Unveils Regulatory Framework for Investment Tokens
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) launched its regulatory framework for investment tokens, according to a statement yesterday. The DFSA is a regulatory body housed in Dubai’s financial district, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The framework is the first
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Report: Payments Dominates Saudi Fintech Map 2021
Payments emerged as the most popular area for investment in Saudi fintech companies, according to a new report by Fintech Saudi. The Fintech Saudi Annual Report 2020/21 noted that payments clinched 93% of venture capital investments in 2021 so far.
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Fintech News Digest: The Problem of Surveillance in Africa’s Biggest Fintech Hubs
A new study has found that governments in six African countries have been spying on citizens through the use of technology (The Conversation). Governments in Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Sudan have been surveilling citizens, either through legal
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