Leveraging Thunes’ trusted Direct Global Network, the collaboration will deliver secure, real-time cross-border payments for millions of Mashreq customers
Singapore and Dubai; November 13, 2025: Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, announces a powerful new collaboration with Mashreq, a leading financial institution in the MENA region, to launch real-time mobile wallet payouts for millions of Mashreq customers.
Powered by Thunes’ trusted Direct Global Network, the partnership will enable Mashreq to connect directly to mobile wallets across Asia, Africa, and Europe and deliver faster, more affordable international transfers across key growth markets.
As Mashreq continues to expand across the Middle East and North Africa, this alliance marks a major step in transforming cross-border payments. Initially covering the bank’s top 30 payment corridors, the service will extend to additional countries over time. Together, Thunes and Mashreq are advancing digital banking innovation and making global money movement more seamless and inclusive.
As the world’s second-largest remittance hub, the UAE is expected to process USD 47 billion in outward flows in 2025, a figure which is set to grow by 4.7% annually. By joining forces with Thunes, Mashreq is supporting this growth and paving the way for fast, transparent, and efficient cross-border payments.
Kartik Taneja, Head of Payments & Consumer Lending at Mashreq
“By expanding our reach to mobile wallets through Thunes’ trusted Direct Global Network, we’re empowering millions of people to send funds to around 45 new destinations instantly and more affordably than ever before. With mobile wallet users projected to exceed five billion globally in the next few years, this capability is critical to serving our customers in key growth markets and driving greater financial connectivity. We are redefining what’s possible in international payments, and Mashreq is proud to be leading this transformation.”
Simon Nelson, Chief Commercial Officer at Thunes
“We are delighted to welcome Mashreq as a Member of our Direct Global Network. This alliance further strengthens our position in the Middle East, amplifying our mission to enable more consumers to take part in the global economy through instant, borderless payments. Trusted by leading banks and financial institutions worldwide, Thunes provides the secure and reliable Network needed to move money with confidence. Together with Mashreq, we’re enabling a new wave of payment innovation and connectivity that will reshape how money moves worldwide.”
Contact:
WE Communications, thunes@wecommunications.com
Anna Birdsall-Strong, Director of Brand and Public Relations, anna.birdsall@thunes.com
About Mashreq Bank:
Mashreq is more than half a century old, yet proudly thinks like a challenger, startup, and innovator. Mashreq has pioneered key innovations and developments in banking, starting with entry-level digital-first customers all the way to powering some of the region’s most prominent corporations and wealth accounts.
The bank’s mandate is to help customers find their way to Rise Every Day, partnering through the highs and lows to help them achieve their goals and unlock their vision of success.
Reassuringly present in major financial centers of the world, Mashreq’s home and global HQ remains in the Middle East, offering services whenever and wherever opportunity takes its customers. Mashreq has been recognized as the fastest-growing Middle East brand, by Banking 500 rankings for 2024 by Brand Finance.
Find your way to Rise Every Day at: www.Mashreq.com/RiseEveryDay
For media inquiries, please write to: media@mashreq.com
About Thunes:
Thunes is the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world. Thunes’ proprietary Direct Global Network allows Members to make payments in real-time in over 130 countries and more than 80 currencies. Thunes’ Network connects directly to over 7 billion mobile wallets, stablecoin wallets and bank accounts worldwide, as well as 15 billion cards via more than 320 different payment methods, such as GCash, M-Pesa, Airtel, MTN, Orange, JazzCash, Easypaisa, Alipay, WeChat Pay HK and many more. Thunes’ Direct Global Network differentiates itself through its worldwide reach, in-house SmartX Treasury System and Fortress Compliance Platform, ensuring Members of the Network receive unrivaled speed, control, visibility, protection, and cost efficiencies when making real-time payments, globally. Members of Thunes’ Direct Global Network include gig economy giants like Uber and Deliveroo, super-apps like Grab and WeChat, MTOs, fintechs, PSPs and banks. Headquartered in Singapore, Thunes has offices in 14 locations, including Atlanta, Barcelona, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Manila, Nairobi, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco and Shanghai. For more information, visit: https://www.thunes.com/
