Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Samadhan Services Limited, affiliated with Grameen Telecom Trust, has received its final payment service provider licence from Bangladesh Bank after a multi-year application process. The licence enables Samadhan to offer digital wallet services, joining eight other licensed PSPs, and supports Bangladesh’s expanding fintech sector.
eSewa has launched a hotel booking feature offering over 2,000 hotels across Nepal. This move extends eSewa’s digital convenience from payments to travel, enabling easy, on-the-go booking of accommodations nationwide via its app.
ONE App by Al Salam Bank launches a digital personal finance service for Bahraini employees, offering loans up to BD40,000 with repayment terms up to seven years and APR starting at 4.99%. The service enhances accessibility and convenience in personal financing through a fully digital application process.
Mastercard leads Egypt’s cashless economy shift through tokenization and AI-driven cybersecurity, boosting secure digital payments and financial inclusion. Innovations like Apple Pay and fraud prevention tools enhance user trust and experience, while supporting Egypt’s growing e-commerce and fintech sectors.
BENEFIT and Bahrain Clear partner to launch an eIPO service on BenefitPay, streamlining IPO subscriptions for retail investors. Set for Q4 2025, the platform aims to enhance accessibility, security, and transparency, supporting Bahrain’s financial sector development and digital transformation goals.
BerryPay and DIGITEC join forces to launch an Algerian digital payment platform, enhancing financial inclusion and cross-border remittances, while supporting Algeria’s digital banking growth amid evolving regulatory frameworks.
WAMD, Kuwait’s real-time payment system powered by ACI Worldwide and KNET, has quickly gained over one million users since its 2024 launch. The system improves payment speed, security, and convenience, supporting Kuwait’s digital transformation and setting the stage for expanded fintech integration and e-commerce payment solutions.
Google Pay is launching soon in Bangladesh, starting with City Bank cardholders, enabling NFC-based payments and digital wallet use. The move follows its success across South and Southeast Asia, boosting Bangladesh’s digital finance growth alongside local platforms like bKash.
Careem Pay now offers fast, affordable money transfers from the UAE to Jordan, supporting remittances in Jordanian Dinars with next-day processing. The service includes fee-free transfers for new users and discounts for Careem Plus members, facilitating easier support for expatriates and their families.
Egypt’s FRA licenses 16 FinTech companies and enforces cybersecurity across 110 compliant institutions, promoting digital transformation in the non-banking sector. Recent regulations define infrastructure, digital identity, electronic contracting, and outsourcing requirements to ensure secure, stable financial markets amid rapid technology adoption.