At Expand North Star 2025, du, the UAE’s leading telecom and digital services provider, announced a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Network International, one of the Middle East and Africa’s foremost fintech companies. The collaboration aims to reshape how startups and SMEs operate in the UAE’s digital economy by integrating connectivity, payment processing, and point-of-sale (POS) capabilities into a single unified platform.
The alliance combines du’s robust network infrastructure and digital platforms with Network International’s advanced payment technologies, creating a comprehensive ecosystem that enables businesses to connect, sell, and grow. Through this partnership, du will offer bundled payment solutions integrated with telecom services—empowering merchants to accept payments seamlessly across both online and offline channels. These include payment gateway integrations for e-commerce and sophisticated POS systems for retail, tailored to enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs.
By addressing key challenges around financial inclusion and digital enablement, the collaboration supports the UAE’s broader cashless economy agenda. It will provide scalable, cost-effective options for small businesses to start and expand without heavy upfront investments, while bringing unbanked and underserved SMEs into the digital financial ecosystem.
Looking ahead, du and Network International plan to leverage emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and real-time payments to drive innovation, security, and performance. The partnership will also harness data-driven insights to offer actionable analytics and business intelligence tools designed specifically for SMEs. Furthermore, both companies intend to launch educational programs to raise awareness about the benefits of digital payment adoption and empower entrepreneurs to make informed decisions.
“We aim to be a comprehensive business growth partner offering integrated solutions that enable our customers to connect, sell and grow,” said Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of du. “This partnership represents a fundamental evolution in how we serve the business community by providing everything SMEs need under one trusted platform.”
Murat Cagri Suzer, Group CEO of Network International, added: “Our partnership with du will extend our mission to build digital, inclusive, and innovation-driven economies. Together, we’re making payments simpler, smarter, and more secure—helping businesses transact and grow with confidence.”
This collaboration marks a pivotal moment for the UAE’s SME sector, setting a new benchmark for integrated digital and financial infrastructure that supports inclusive economic growth and the country’s vision of a future-ready digital economy.
