Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
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.
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.
SPAYZ.io is expanding into South Africa, Egypt, and Cameroon, offering EFT Bank Transfers and Mobile Money solutions to capture growing digital payment markets. This research-driven expansion targets long-term stability in Africa’s rapidly growing digital economy, set to reach USD 1.5 trillion by 2030.
DG Financial Technology and au Financial Service launch NESTA, a secure, scalable payment platform supporting 40+ payment methods with tokenization and zero downtime. Aligned with KDDI’s growth strategy, NESTA enhances Japan’s digital payments ecosystem, starting with au and UQ mobile services and planning wider expansion.
Qatar’s card payment transactions totaled QR11.59 billion in April 2025, driven by strong growth in PoS and e-commerce. The Fawran instant payment system and mobile wallets also contributed significantly, supporting Qatar’s expanding digital economy and advancing a secure, efficient, and inclusive digital payment ecosystem.
Jordan Armed Forces and Orange Jordan reissue “Comrades-in-Arms” Visa discount card linked to Orange Money wallet, offering military personnel free access to digital payments and purchase discounts.
Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce sector saw a 73.4% year-on-year increase in MADA card transactions in March 2025, totaling SR27.55 billion ($7.34 billion). This surge is driven by the widespread adoption of MADA cards, government initiatives, and improved consumer trust, marking significant growth in the Kingdom’s digital payment ecosystem.
Fonepay hosted the 21st Asian Payment Network Forum in Kathmandu, where delegates from 14 countries discussed cross-border payment initiatives and digital financial cooperation. The event featured high-level meetings, the APN AGM, and panel discussions on fraud risk, regional integration, and regulatory alignment, highlighting the need for secure digital payment systems.
Bangladesh’s e-commerce sector is growing rapidly, but cash reliance remains a challenge. Efforts to transition to digital payments are underway, with initiatives to improve consumer confidence, simplify merchant onboarding, and enhance mobile payment solutions. As infrastructure improves, the sector could significantly contribute to the country’s economy and global integration.