Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
PLDT Global has partnered with stc Pay Bahrain to offer enhanced digital financial services to Filipinos in Bahrain. The collaboration integrates PLDT Global’s digital vouchers, bill payments, and mobile top-up services into stc Pay Bahrain’s app, expanding the range of services available to the Filipino community.
omnispay, a UAE fintech, has raised $1.5 million in seed funding led by Mercatus Capital. The company offers an all-in-one platform to simplify SME cash flow management, combining collect, pay, and borrow features. The funds will accelerate its mission to drive digital adoption and empower SMEs in the GCC region.
Visa introduced its Tap-to-Add Card feature in Jordan, allowing cardholders to add their Visa contactless cards to digital wallets by tapping their mobile devices. This feature enhances security, reduces manual input errors, and has gained adoption with over 542 tokens enabled. It also benefits financial institutions and digital wallet providers.
Basata Holding has increased its stake in MadfoatCom to 25%, enhancing digital payment services in Jordan. The strategic acquisition, in partnership with major Jordanian financial institutions, aims to expand financial inclusion and improve digital infrastructure. The collaboration focuses on enhancing payment solutions, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
VEON CEO Kaan Terzioğlu discussed the challenges and growth potential in Bangladesh, emphasizing the need for regulatory reforms to support digital services expansion. Despite market challenges, VEON continues investing in the country, aiming to transform Bangladesh into a digital economy by offering telecom, financial, and other digital services.
XPay has partnered with Huawei Cloud Services to enhance digital payment systems for businesses in Egypt. The integration of Huawei’s cloud technology will scale XPay’s services, supporting financial inclusion through multiple payment methods. This move is part of Huawei’s broader push into the fintech sector globally.
VEON’s CEO, Kaan Terzioğlu, emphasized that regulatory reforms in Bangladesh could unlock the country’s potential for digital financial services, transforming the economy within three years. With the right reforms, VEON plans to expand digital offerings, including financial services and telecom, to foster growth and increase profitability in the market.
Malaysia and Bahrain are set to sign several collaborations, including in Islamic fintech, by May this year. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim highlighted key areas such as fintech, education, and bilateral investments, emphasizing the importance of research and cooperation to enhance capabilities in digital and energy transitions.
Trevi, an e-payment and loyalty app, has launched in Egypt, offering secure transactions, instant cashback, and rewards with no cap. Partnering with Paymob, Trevi aims to revolutionize digital payments, targeting 11.4 million users by 2029. Upcoming features include SNPL and Lending & Leasing services for a comprehensive financial solution.
Pass Delivery has partnered with SkipCash to introduce Card on Delivery (CoD), allowing customers in Qatar to make secure cashless payments for doorstep deliveries. This collaboration aims to streamline transactions, enhance security, and reduce cash-handling risks, contributing to Qatar’s shift toward a cashless society.