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Middle East

Fintech reporting from Middle East. Stories across banking, payments, infrastructure, capital and policy that touch this region.

145 STORIES PUBLISHED · UPDATED DAILY

MIDDLE EAST · 2 MIN READ · 30 JUL 2026

Emirates Launches Crypto.com Pay for UAE Flight Bookings

The airline now accepts payment through Crypto.com's wallet for AED-priced bookings by eligible UAE residents, a year after signing a memorandum of understanding with the exchange.

MIDDLE EAST

Commercial Bank of Dubai Launches Digital Wealth Platform for Affluent Clients

30 JUL 2026

MIDDLE EAST

Yalla Financial Solutions Wins In-Principle Approval for Cross-Border Payments Licence in the UAE

29 JUL 2026

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MIDDLE EAST

Pemo Wins In-Principle Approval for UAE Stored Value Facilities Licence

The Dubai spend management platform would gain the ability to hold and manage customer business funds directly, rather than solely through a partner bank, once the licence is finalised.

29 JUL 2026

MIDDLE EAST

Al Etihad Credit Bureau Adds Tabby and Tamara Data to UAE Credit Reports

Buy now, pay later activity will count towards a UAE credit file for the first time from July 2026, closing a gap that has widened alongside the country's $5 billion BNPL market.

28 JUL 2026

MIDDLE EAST

Checkout.com Secures In-Principle UAE Stored Value Facilities Licence

The Central Bank of the UAE's SVF licence sets rules for e-wallets and prepaid schemes. See who needs it and how to apply.

27 JUL 2026

MIDDLE EAST

ADGM Recognises Tether Gold (XAU₮) as Accepted Spot Commodity, Reserves Near $2.9 Billion

Abu Dhabi's financial free zone has cleared XAU₮ for regulated trading and custody, giving Tether's gold token a Gulf foothold its main US rival still lacks.

27 JUL 2026

MIDDLE EAST

Sinder Beats Wise and Revolut to Launch a UAE Travel Card With 0% FX Markup

The Dubai-based fintech, founded by former Revolut and Tamara staff, is live in the UAE while both larger rivals are still sitting on regulatory approvals they haven't yet turned into a retail launch.

24 JUL 2026

MIDDLE EAST

ADIB Becomes First Bank Globally to Deploy Visa’s New Threat Intelligence Platform

ADIB is the first external bank to deploy Visa's newly launched fraud and cyber intelligence platform, built on the same defences Visa uses to protect its own global network.

23 JUL 2026

MIDDLE EAST

UAE’s Jaywan Card Scheme Gets Its First Credit Co-Badge, a Day After National Launch

Mastercard launched the first Jaywan co-badged credit card a day after the UAE scheme's national debut. Read what it means for issuers.

22 JUL 2026

MIDDLE EAST

UAE Banks Face New Sovereign Cloud Questions as Core42 Expands Beyond CBUAE Mandate

Core42 now powers both the Central Bank of the UAE's sovereign cloud mandate for licensed institutions and a new open-market platform with e& UAE, raising fresh governance questions for banks.

22 JUL 2026

MIDDLE EAST

Sav’s Entire Card Portfolio Goes Exclusively Visa in Five-Year UAE-Saudi Deal

A five-year, multimillion-dollar deal makes Visa the sole card network behind Sav's UAE and Saudi Arabia business, with credit cards still pending regulatory approval.

20 JUL 2026

MIDDLE EAST

Revolut Wins VARA Approval to Complete Full UAE Crypto and Payments Licence Stack

VARA approval lets Revolut offer broker-dealer and exchange services in Dubai, completing its UAE licence stack for a late-2026 launch.

17 JUL 2026

MIDDLE EAST

Tabby Signs Up 150,000 for Fee Free Cash Account Beyond BNPL

The Dubai buy now, pay later group has launched a zero-fee money account under a new central bank licence, its first step into everyday banking.

14 JUL 2026

Explainer MIDDLE EAST

What is the UAE’s AML law? The 2025 overhaul, the regulators, and what it means for fintechs

The UAE’s 2025 AML law overhaul brings virtual-asset firms into scope, strengthens reporting duties and clarifies supervision across mainland, DIFC and ADGM firms.

14 JUL 2026