#Fintech

BNPL startup Tamara raises $340m, now valued at $1bn

BNPL startup Tamara now valued at $1bn after raising $340m

With this transaction, the BNPL platform will have raised a total of $500m in equity funding, and well above $400m in debt financing

MASTERCARD

Interview: Mastercard’s Andrea Prazakova on navigating the sustainability transition

Mastercard’s position at the critical juncture of finance and sustainability allows it to influence the transition to net zero

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao pleads-guilty-ot-money-laundering-charges-GettyImages 1239957173.jpg

Binance CEO Zhao quits, pleads guilty to money laundering

Zhao, who was born in China and moved to Canada at the age of 12, pleaded guilty in a Seattle court on Tuesday afternoon

blockchain

Cover story: Pioneering proptech: Transforming real estate through blockchain

Robin Ubaghs, co-founder of Propchain and the Welfare Group shares how his ventures are using blockchain technology to transform the real estate industry

Botim hits Dhs1.3bn transactions in 4 months

Astra Tech’s Botim exceeds Dhs1.3bn transactions in 4 months

PayBy has witnessed a 75 per cent increase in the number of transactions quarter-on-quarter across its fintech offerings

EFG Holding’s Valu to launch in Jordan in early 2024

EFG Holding’s Valu to launch in Jordan in early 2024

The fintech firm said its expansion into Jordan is at an advanced preparation stage

Egypt credit sector

Egypt: Driving financial independence

As the first licensee of consumer finance in Egypt, Contact has played a pivotal role in growing the non-bank credit sector

DIFC’s five-year innovation strategy for financial services

DIFC unveils five-year innovation strategy for financial services

Investments in fintech is further accelerating the ongoing pace of fintech innovation globally and in Dubai

Emirates NBD launches-sustainTech program Dubai Media Office

Emirates NBD launches SustainTech Accelerator Program ahead of COP28

The accelerator programme is accepting applications from September 6 to October 10 this year

Bybit-Aus sponsorship for 38 students Image Bybit

Bybit-AUS sponsorship fund: Here’s how 38 bright students will benefit

In addition to sponsoring the selected students, Bybit is contributing Dhs100,000 to sponsor the first AUS-Bybit Inter-College Hackathon in November

Dubai business

Dubai trumps Lisbon as top destination for globetrotting executives: Report

The findings were based on research conducted by real estate broker Savills, which ranked 20 prime residential markets by their appeal to long-term remote workers

Top startups

GCC: Top startups to watch in 2023

We shine the spotlight on some of the region’s most prominent startups

Mastercard MTN

Mastercard to buy stake in MTN’s $5.2bn fintech unit

Signing of the definitive investment agreements is expected to occur in the very near term, said MTN chief executive officer Ralph Mupita

Moove

Moove raises $76m with investment from Mubadala, BlackRock

The round brings total funding to over $335m since inception across equity and debt

Dubai’s VARA, DET to establish market assurance standards for virtual assets

The MoU strengthens VARA’s aim to achieve full transparency and market conduct adherence across virtual asset service providers licenced to operate in Dubai

Twig

SME story: Interview with Chafic Idriss, Rayan Antonios, Karam El Dik, founders of Twig

We facilitate effective goal planning and provide a user-friendly experience to help individuals achieve their financial objectives

FOO

SME story: Interview with Ghady Rayess, managing director of FOO

Financial services embedded into existing business models are no longer optional, but necessary

NymCard acquires BNPL firm Spotii

NymCard acquires Middle East BNPL firm Spotii

The integrated platform will serve both B2C and B2B markets seamlessly, enabling instant instalment options

Brian Armstrong, chief executive officer of Coinbase Global Inc., speaks at the IFGS 2023 summit at the Guildhall in London, UK, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Innovate Finance's Global Summit -- part of U.K. Fintech Week -- runs until Tuesday.

Crypto exchange Coinbase weighs UAE as potential international hub

Coinbase has been navigating a market downturn and a difficult US regulatory environment

DIFC innovation Hub AECB sign agreement to support fintechs

DIFC Innovation Hub, AECB to empower fintech startups in the UAE

The bureau will enable the DIFC Innovation Hub community to tap into new data sets to boost fintech development in the UAE market

Dubai_Mohammad AlBlooshi - Head of DIFC Innovation Hub and FinTech Hive 2023 DFS

Exclusive: How Dubai is bolstering its global fintech hub status

Mohammad Alblooshi, head of DIFC Innovation Hub and Fintech Hive, showcases Dubai’s role in the global fintech ecosystem

Regional banks

Should regional banks buy or build their innovations?

In the early years of the digital era, building was the only option, but today the region is strewn with fintechs

DIFC unveils DIFC Launchpad

Dubai financial hub launches venture building platform ‘DIFC Launchpad’

The programme supports efforts to realise the financial centre’s 2030 strategy to catalyse economic growth

Dubai’s DIFC registers highest revenue in history

Dubai’s DIFC registers highest ever revenue in 2022

The financial centre registered the highest number of new firms – totalling 1,084 – last year

Tarabut

Tarabut Gateway partners with Saudi’s micro-lending firm Tamam

The partnership will make micro-loans easily accessible, resulting in more favourable loan arrangements for both fintechs and customers

Gameball

Adtech platform Gameball raises $3.5m for international expansion

Founded by Egyptian entrepreneurs, the platform enables omnichannel retailers to have a 360–degree view across all customer touchpoints

fintechs UAE

Fringe to forward: Charting fintech’s journey in the UAE 

Initiatives launched by the government to support crypto and metaverse firms have created strong incentives for fintech companies to invest and grow in the country

Fintech

Fintech 2023: The year of digital transformation

As we look towards 2023, several key trends are set to redefine the fintech space

Savii

Women in tech: Jane Harvey, co-founder and CEO at Savii

Young girls need role models and as women operating in this space, it is incumbent to show that there is a seat for females at the table

Dubai Chambers WAM

Dubai Chamber of Commerce sets up Fintech & Payments Business Group

Dubai Chamber of Commerce plans to increase the number of economic sectors and activities represented by business groups to 100 by March 2023