Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Saudi Arabia executed the first sovereign-native tokenised property deed transfer by linking its Real Estate Registry directly to blockchain settlement, reducing transfer time to seconds while embedding legal enforceability into digital assets to boost liquidity, PropTech innovation, and foreign investment.
Fasset has partnered with ADI Foundation to deliver regulated onboarding and fiat connectivity for blockchain services built on ADI Chain, including future Dirham-backed stablecoin use cases. The collaboration supports institutional adoption of compliant digital asset infrastructure in line with the UAE’s evolving regulatory and digital finance framework.
H2O Hospitality has partnered with the ADI Foundation to support the UAE’s digital currency initiative in the travel sector. The collaboration will integrate non-custodial wallets and QR-based stablecoin payments into tourism services, simplifying transactions for international visitors and supporting the UAE’s digital economy agenda.
e& UAE will integrate AE Coin, the UAE’s first dirham-backed licensed stablecoin, into its payment systems, enabling customers to pay telecom bills and access digital services via regulated blockchain transactions. The partnership with Al Maryah Community Bank supports faster settlements, transparency, and secure mass-market digital payments.
Mastercard has formed new blockchain alliances in the Middle East, including a collaboration with the ADI Foundation, to advance stablecoin payments and asset tokenization. New partners NEO PAY and INFINIOS are adopting stablecoin settlement, expanding faster, compliant digital payment options across the regional financial ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia has partnered with major European crypto exchange WhiteBIT to build national blockchain infrastructure, including stock market tokenization, CBDC framework development, and national data computing centers. The strategic cooperation, backed by Royal Holding, aligns with Vision 2030 and strengthens Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a regional blockchain and digital finance leader amid rapid industry growth and increasing global competition.
UNDP and FLock.io are launching an NFT- and AI-powered marketplace to help Moroccan artisans authenticate and sell their crafts globally, even as Morocco finalizes its digital asset law under Bill 42.25. The initiative bridges innovation and regulation in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
Arab Financial Services (AFS), a leading innovator in digital payment solutions across the Middle East and Africa, has announced a…
Bahrain FinTech Bay has partnered with Tether to drive blockchain innovation and digital asset education in Bahrain. The collaboration builds on the Central Bank of Bahrain’s new stablecoin regulatory framework, aiming to attract global talent and investment while promoting sustainable and compliant blockchain growth. The initiative strengthens Bahrain’s position as a leading fintech and blockchain hub in the GCC.
ECM Blockchain, founded by Bangladeshi entrepreneur Tanvirul Islam Prince, is the country’s first blockchain initiative with global scale. With a mainnet launch in Q4 2025, live ecosystem projects, and an active ICO, ECM aims to deliver scalable, low-cost infrastructure for trade, supply chains, finance, and Web3 innovation.