Fintech in MENA

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Since SAMA introduced digital-only bank licensing in 2020, Saudi Arabia’s banking sector has shifted rapidly toward digital-first models, with faster adoption and rising competition.

Clear leaders have emerged:

• STC Bank – the largest standalone digital bank, serving 3M+ https://t.co/I2DTkLBP1t

Beltone Venture Capital has invested in Yakeey as part of its US$15M Series A, the largest Series A round in Morocco to date.

Yakeey is building a digital real estate platform that unifies property search, valuation, brokerage, and financing, streamlining how real estate https://t.co/XZH7LAiVCW

Emirates NBD Capital has received approval from India’s market regulator SEBI to operate as a Category I merchant banker, marking a key expansion of its investment banking footprint in India.

The license allows Emirates NBD Capital to offer the full suite of capital markets https://t.co/8vAIxlIXzE

MENA fintech insight:
Western markets: Product differentiation wins
MENA markets: Relationship initiation wins
Product 20% better but late response = Lose
Product 20% worse but instant response = Win
Market structure determines success factors.
Relationship velocity > Product

PayPal has partnered with NEOPAY, a UAE-based digital payments provider, to expand PayPal acceptance among merchants across the UAE.

The integration enables merchants to offer PayPal as a secure online payment option and simplifies onboarding through NEOPAY’s acquiring https://t.co/fRSbxHxO7A

Careem Pay has expanded its remittance services, adding mobile wallet transfers to Egypt, USD cash pickup in Lebanon, and improved wallet and cash pickup options for the Philippines.

UAE residents can now send money to 35+ countries, with some transfers completed in minutes. The https://t.co/4xtv3mRKGp

Cairo-based fintech NowPay has entered Saudi Arabia via NowAccess, a JV with Tas’heel.

Backed by a $20minvestment (Tas’heel 75%, NowPay 25%), the venture brings payroll-linked, Shariah-compliant financial wellness solutions to the Kingdom, leveraging Tas’heel’s 310+ locations. https://t.co/tHY6a0wxs0

Fintech founders if you want customers that actually want your product check out https://t.co/Yzf9RMKH5e

Global Money Exchange Oman (GMEC) has launched Global Pay, a new mobile payments app powered by Comviva, supporting Oman’s digital transformation and cashless economy goals.

The app offers instant onboarding, local and international transfers, bill and education payments, https://t.co/PioA3L7LUe

NEO PAY has partnered with Wio Bank PJSC to launch a new PoS lending solution for SME merchants across the UAE.

The model uses real-time sales data to unlock fast, data-driven access to working capital, without lengthy approvals or rigid credit checks. Repayments are linked https://t.co/VHR8d5yV9u

Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has issued a royal decree establishing the International Financial Centre of Oman (IFC Oman), marking a major step in the country’s financial and economic development.

Under Royal Decree No. (8/2026), IFC Oman will operate with full administrative, https://t.co/aMlqYzFER5

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Abu Dhabi–based fintech Mal has raised US$230m in seed funding, the largest seed round ever in MENA.

Founded by Abdallah Abu-Sheikh, Mal is building an AI-driven Islamic finance platform targeting Muslim and underbanked communities globally. The round was led by BlueFive Capital https://t.co/nG2Y893A6P

MENA fintech acquisition formula:
Trust + Speed + Local Context = Customer
Missing any variable = Lose deal
Competitor has all three automated. You have none automated.
Every “Which fintech for Dubai?” question = Their customer.
LeadSynth automates all three variables. Arabic +

MENA fintech loses deals to response time, not features.

Prospect asks: "أفضل محفظة رقمية للإمارات؟"
Your competitor: Replies in Arabic in 15 minutes with local context
You: Reply in English 8 hours later with generic answer

Features don't matter if you're too slow and too

Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (ABK-Egypt) has partnered with Mastercard to expand consumer, commercial, and digital payment solutions in Egypt.

Mastercard will support ABK-Egypt as a trusted advisor, helping enhance secure, seamless digital payments for customers and businesses https://t.co/2vDLntqmPO

MENA fintech acquisition:

Traditional: Ads → Landing page → Hope Reality: Trust question → Fast helpful reply → Customer

Someone asks "Is X safe?" in Arabic Telegram group.

Reply in 15 minutes: Building trust Reply in 15 hours: They chose competitor

LeadSynth ensures 15