Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
ZIGRAM and PSPAN have partnered to enhance Nepal’s AML compliance and support FATF exit efforts by deploying advanced RegTech tools across the country’s payment sector. The initiative strengthens transparency, trust, and resilience in Nepal’s growing digital finance ecosystem.
Shimanto Bank has launched Bangla QR service through its CONNECT app, enabling customers to make seamless QR-based payments nationwide. The initiative supports Bangladesh’s digital payment ecosystem and promotes secure, cashless transactions for everyday use.
PLDT Global and stc Pay Bahrain are expanding cross-border digital services, enabling Filipinos in Bahrain to fund e-wallets, send e-gifts, and access Philippine digital tools securely through the stc Pay app. The partnership enhances financial inclusion and digital connectivity for overseas Filipinos.
Ooredoo Fintech has partnered with PayPal to join PayPal World, enabling nearly two billion users to shop, send money, and pay globally using local wallets. The collaboration enhances Ooredoo’s reach and strengthens its mission to provide accessible, cross-border digital financial services across the MENA region.
Zindigi, powered by JS Bank, won “Best Banking-as-a-Service Provider” at Finovate Awards 2025 in the UK for its open banking innovation. Its BaaS platform empowers businesses to embed financial services via secure APIs, driving inclusion, innovation, and Pakistan’s digital-first economic transformation.
Bahrain’s Fintech Forward 2025 brings Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and Shazam co-founder Dhiraj Mukherjee to the stage, underscoring Bahrain’s emergence as a fintech hub. With strong regulatory frameworks and digital innovation, the Kingdom cements its role as the launchpad for global firms entering the Middle East.
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.