ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates has consolidated its position as one of the world’s leading global and regional hubs in the e-commerce sector, benefiting from an integrated ecosystem that includes advanced logistics infrastructure, rapid digital transformation in government services, and a flexible regulatory environment that supports the digital economy. These factors have strengthened the […]
SoFi and Mastercard partner to enable SoFiUSD settlement across Mastercard’s global payments network
SoFi’s fully reserved U.S. dollar stablecoin will support settlement across the Mastercard network, including for SoFi Bank, N.A. Galileo, SoFi’s technology platform, will be among the first to offer its clients and their issuing banks the choice to settle transactions using SoFiUSD The Mastercard Multi-Token Network will look to support SoFiUSD, help expand interoperability between […]
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar push Global Islamic Fintech toward $341bln
Saudi leads with a $77.2bln market, according to advisory firms DinarStandard and Elipses. The global Islamic fintech market is forecast to reach $341 billion by 2029, driven by rising appetite for digital assets and robust activity in the Middle East. The sector, valued at $198 billion in 2024/25 in terms of transaction volume, is poised […]
2PointZero Group completes majority acquisition in Italy-based ISEM Packaging Group for AED 704mln
Packaging becomes the sixth consumer-focused vertical with ISEM as an anchor Abu Dhabi, UAE – 2PointZero Group PJSC (ADX: 2PointZero), a next-generation investment powerhouse focused on energy and consumer sectors, announced today that it has formally completed the transaction to acquire a majority position in ISEM, a leading European packaging group serving beauty, fashion, luxury, nutraceuticals […]
Alizz Islamic Bank and Sharakah accelerate SME development and growth to empower Omani entrepreneurs
Building on last year’s Alizz Business SME Development Programme and reinforcing their shared commitment to strengthening Oman’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Alizz Islamic Bank and Sharakah upscale the second edition of the Programme, reaching out to more businesses and expanding its reach across the Sultanate. The renewed partnership will empower an additional 15 high-potential SMEs this year […]
Sohar International and Sohar Islamic launch “Bold Steps. Golden Rewards.” campaign
Muscat: Sohar International, together with its Islamic banking window, Sohar Islamic, is offering customers the opportunity to win gold bars through monthly draws as part of its newly launched Credit Card Campaign, “Bold Steps. Golden Rewards,” running until 30 April 2026. Designed to transform everyday retail spending into tangible rewards, the initiative grants cardholders an automatic […]
Visa and Bridge Expand Collaboration, with Plans to Bring Stablecoin‑Linked Cards to Over 100 countries
Collaboration deepens as Bridge’s stablecoin‑linked card program gains global momentum. SAN FRANCISCO — Visa (NYSE:V), a global leader in digital payments, and Bridge, a leading stablecoin infrastructure platform and a Stripe company, today announced an expansion of their global card issuance product that they first unveiled in 2025.Bridge enables businesses and fintech developers to offer stablecoin-backed […]
Fintech Pine Labs to launch stablecoin payments in Nine countries outside India, CEO says
MUMBAI, March 3 – Pine Labs, opens new tab will launch a stablecoin-backed prepaid card across nine countries in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia by the end of April, the fintech firm’s chief executive told Reuters, marking the first attempt by an Indian payments major to tap the fast‑growing market. The Temasek and Peak […]
Unlock the FIFA World Cup 2026 experience with Sohar International & Sohar Islamic Credit Cards
Muscat: Reaffirming its commitment to delivering differentiated value and globally relevant experiences, Sohar International, together with its Islamic banking window, Sohar Islamic, has launched the “Swipe & Win” campaign. The initiative provides both existing and new credit cardholders with the opportunity to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 through exclusive, fully curated travel packages. Running until […]
Temporary closure of Nasdaq Dubai effective Monday, 2 March 2026 and Tuesday, 3 March 2026
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent banking, financial services, and markets regulator of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has announced the temporary closure of Nasdaq Dubai, effective Monday, 2 March 2026 and Tuesday, 3 March 2026. Nasdaq Dubai is the international financial exchange based in the DIFC, providing a platform […]