Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Verto’s UAE launch enables instant cross-border payments and transparent FX management for Gulf businesses trading with Africa and Asia, addressing long-standing inefficiencies in traditional banking systems.
Pakistan is shifting its welfare system from cash handouts to mobile wallets under the BISP, transitioning over 10 million families into digital inclusion. The move aims to empower beneficiaries, especially women, while strengthening transparency, financial literacy, and participation in Pakistan’s growing digital economy.
Ooredoo Fintech is set to join PayPal World, linking its users across Qatar, Oman, and the Maldives to nearly two billion global consumers. The partnership expands digital wallet use cases, simplifies cross-border payments, and reinforces Ooredoo’s role as a regional leader in financial inclusion while leveraging PayPal’s trusted global network.
Qatar National Bank has received Saudi approval to launch Ezbank, a fully digital lender with SAR2.5 billion in capital, in partnership with Ajlan & Bros Holding. The move expands QNB’s regional footprint while supporting Saudi Arabia’s fintech growth, bringing the number of licensed banks in the Kingdom to 39.
BENEFIT and ATME have confirmed their sponsorship of Bahrain’s flagship fintech forum, Fintech Forward 2025. BENEFIT joins as a gold sponsor, highlighting its role in modernizing payments and driving inclusion, while ATME, as silver sponsor, brings expertise in digital assets and tokenization to the event.
Attijari Payment, Visa, and Woliz have partnered to expand digital payments in Morocco’s FMCG sector. The collaboration integrates acceptance solutions, leverages Visa’s global expertise, and emphasizes financial inclusion to help merchants transition to secure, simple, and efficient digital transactions.
HSBC Qatar hosted its CIB Networking Event in Doha, uniting over 70 clients to explore digital solutions driving resilience, efficiency, and growth. Showcasing Treasury APIs, TradePay, and FX Evolve, the event reinforced HSBC’s digital leadership and its alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030.
Sri Lanka aims to grow its digital economy contribution to GDP from 3% to 15% within a decade, with fintech projected to unlock $15 billion in value. At the Fintech Summit 2025, Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya outlined a DPI-led strategy built on trust, innovation, inclusion, and regulation to drive growth.
Mastercard extended its digital identity partnership with Smile ID in Africa to scale secure onboarding and fraud prevention, while also signing an MoU with the Central Bank of Syria to develop a national payments ecosystem. These initiatives aim to expand financial inclusion, enhance compliance, and build digital infrastructure in emerging markets.
Rupali Bank PLC has launched its modern mobile banking service ‘RupaliCash’, offering e-KYC accounts, fund transfers, salary payments, bill pay, and digital transactions. As the only state-owned bank with its own mobile financial service, Rupali Bank aims to expand financial inclusion and enhance customer convenience nationwide.