Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Bangladesh is rapidly adopting digital payments, with significant growth in both domestic and cross-border transactions, according to Visa. The shift towards online and contactless payments has seen a 14% increase in spending and a 17% rise in transactions, with Dhaka remaining the central hub for digital transactions.
Oman has launched a Postal Sector Policy and Executive Programme (2025-2029) to modernize and regulate the expanding postal sector, improve service quality, and support e-commerce and logistics. The programme aligns with national goals and includes initiatives like postal service liberalization, a national addressing system, and e-commerce delivery guidelines.
CMI has partnered with Global Blue to launch a multi-currency payment service for Moroccan e-commerce websites. This new service, incorporating Dynamic Currency Conversion, allows international customers to pay in their preferred currencies, enhancing the shopping experience and increasing sales for Moroccan merchants.
The 9th edition of Women Tech Quest (WTQ) held in Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore inspired women to lead in Pakistan’s IT and e-commerce sectors. The event featured competitions, keynote speeches, and discussions on leadership, digital transformation, and financial empowerment. Winners were recognized in testing, design, and coding categories.
MENA’s e-commerce market has surged by over 30% in 2024, driven by digital initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Digital Economy Strategy. The growth is creating both opportunities and challenges for logistics providers, who must innovate with automation, regional fulfilment centres, and real-time tracking solutions.
Flowwow and Admitad have released a report on the MENA e-commerce and gifting markets, showing significant growth in 2024. The UAE and Saudi Arabia led the region in online orders, with a rise in average order values. The gifting market, especially flowers, saw remarkable growth, with Flowwow leading the surge.
Paymob has partnered with Woo to integrate its payment solutions into the WooCommerce marketplace, providing merchants in MENA with access to over 50 payment methods. The collaboration aims to streamline e-commerce operations by offering mobile-optimized checkout, fast payment processing, and enhanced security features, supporting the region’s e-commerce growth.
Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce has launched a campaign to regulate e-commerce businesses, requiring registration of e-store links, secure payment methods, clear return policies, and timely deliveries. Non-compliance will lead to legal consequences, aiming to protect consumers, promote fair competition, and boost the country’s digital economy.
FedEx has launched its International Connect Plus (FICP) service in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, designed for e-commerce packages weighing up to 20 kg. The service combines speed and cost-effectiveness, offering day-definite delivery, digital tracking, flexible delivery options, and Picture Proof of Delivery (PPoD), empowering e-tailers to expand cross-border.
Apaya and Telr have formed a strategic partnership to enhance e-commerce in the MENA region. The collaboration integrates Telr’s payment solutions with Apaya’s no-code automation platform, providing merchants with seamless payment experiences, fraud protection, and advanced financial services. This partnership aims to drive digital commerce growth across the region.