Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
MoneyHash and Mastercard have partnered to expand access to MoneyHash’s Merchant Cloud platform across the Middle East and Africa. The collaboration enables merchants to connect to Mastercard Gateway through a single API, improving payment success rates, streamlining operations, and providing unified analytics while supporting scalable, secure digital growth.
First Abu Dhabi Bank and Mastercard have launched a mobile-first virtual corporate card solution in the UAE, allowing enterprises and government entities to issue and manage virtual cards via mobile wallets. The platform streamlines expense management, enhances security and transparency, and supports real-time payments, reflecting the UAE’s accelerating shift toward digital and contactless B2B payment ecosystems.
The partnership between PayTabs and BEDE aims to strengthen Kuwait’s digital commerce ecosystem by providing SMEs and startups with fast, secure, and locally tailored payment solutions. Through the launch of BEDE Shop, merchants can quickly create online storefronts, accept social and QR-based payments, and streamline checkout without technical complexity, supporting broader fintech adoption and SME growth in Kuwait.The partnership between PayTabs and BEDE aims to strengthen Kuwait’s digital commerce ecosystem by providing SMEs and startups with fast, secure, and locally tailored payment solutions. Through the launch of BEDE Shop, merchants can quickly create online storefronts, accept social and QR-based payments, and streamline checkout without technical complexity, supporting broader fintech adoption and SME growth in Kuwait.The partnership between PayTabs and BEDE aims to strengthen Kuwait’s digital commerce ecosystem by providing SMEs and startups with fast, secure, and locally tailored payment solutions. Through the launch of BEDE Shop, merchants can quickly create online storefronts, accept social and QR-based payments, and streamline checkout without technical complexity, supporting broader fintech adoption and SME growth in Kuwait.
PayTabs Kuwait and BEDE, powered by Zain, have partnered to simplify digital commerce for SMEs through BEDE Shop, a new social commerce platform. The initiative enables fast online storefront creation, social media payments, and QR-based transactions, supporting financial inclusion and SME growth across Kuwait.
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.
Veon’s Mobilink Bank has launched Islamic banking services in Pakistan, opening its first Shariah-compliant branch in Karachi and planning nationwide expansion. The move taps into the country’s fast-growing Islamic banking sector, supporting financial inclusion and offering faith-aligned deposit and financing products through physical and digital channels.
Pakistan is seeking Chinese fintech investment to expand digital lending, boost SME financing, and advance financial inclusion. Talks with Fintopia China highlighted Pakistan’s underbanked market, regulatory reforms, and incentives aimed at attracting foreign fintech firms as part of a broader digital economy strategy.
Pakistan held high-level talks with Ant Group and Easypaisa to expand digital payments and fintech services, focusing on financial inclusion, cashless transactions, and digital lending. The discussions explored QR-based payments, digital banking, tokenisation, and regulated fintech frameworks to support Pakistan’s transition to a digitally enabled economy.
Qatar processed over $5.1bn in digital payment transactions in November, driven by strong growth in point-of-sale, e-commerce, and instant payments. Central bank data highlights rising adoption of card-based and mobile payment systems as Qatar continues to digitise its financial ecosystem.