Abu Dhabi regulator tightens up funding rules
ADGM also teams with Beijing-based firm for Belt and Road initiative.
UAE
Wealthtech Sarwa raises $1.3m in funding
Automated and human investment advice catching on.
UAE’s Rakbank implements Kamakura’s cash management
The solutions cover balance sheet management and funds transfer pricing.
UAE digital payments start-up Foloosi fires up
New firm offers cashless transactions through a digital wallet.
Abu Dhabi regulator brings crypto under control
Follows the completion of a public consultation.
Finovate in 2018: a search for fintech’s frontier
Where is the future of fintech?
Emirates NBD unveils EasyHub digital kiosk
The Emirates NBD EasyHub capabilities go far beyond a typical ATM, Diebold Nixdorf says.
UAE and China to create new “Belt and Road” exchange
It will serve as a key international capital-raising platform for Chinese firms.
Plug and Play ADGM finds its way to Abu Dhabi
Middle East welcomes innovation platform.
Emirates NBD goes blockchain for its “Cheque Chain”
Integrates blockchain technology into bank-issued cheques.
First Abu Dhabi Bank deploys Fircosoft global sanctions screening tech
First Abu Dhabi Bank is “setting the standard for financial crime compliance in the Middle East”.
Mashreq Bank harnesses Blue Prism digital workforce
Blue Prism integrates AI and automates dozens of processes across various business functions.
SunTec inks two VAT tech deals with UAE banks
Finance House and Union National Bank sign up for flagship Xelerate platform.
Ripple fuels UAE Exchange’s cross-border payments
Via the deal, UAE Exchange joins RippleNet, its enterprise blockchain network.
ADGM heads e-KYC utility project in UAE
Abu Dhabi Global Market has started the development of an electronic know your customer utility.
Growth, wealth and modernisation drive fintech innovation in MENA region
An interesting place to be a bank or a fintech!
Sharjah Islamic Bank implements SunTec’s Xelerate for VAT
SunTec will facilitate in computing and invoicing of the new Value Added Tax (VAT) for SIB in the Gulf region.
Al Hilal Bank selects SunTec to sidestep VAT law splat
Will use Xelerate solution for the management of the newly introduced Value Added Tax (VAT) regime.
Emirates NBD appoints chief digital officer, seeks fintech partnerships
Emirates NBD’s new chief digital officer is on the lookout for partnerships with fintechs.
Abu Dhabi wants eyes open wide via digital currency guide
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has set out its approach to initial coin offerings (ICOs) and virtual currencies under the Financial Services and Markets Regulations (FSMR). It cites the usual stuff that distributed ledger technology (DLT) has “extraordinarily wide application to financial services and markets as a whole” […]
Mashreq launches Neo digital bank for millennials
Dubai-based Mashreq has confirmed its future as a branchless bank, with the launch of its digital entity Mashreq Neo. As reported in May, Mashreq was mulling the branchless route in a speech by CEO Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair at its 50th anniversary ceremony. At that time, Banking Technology expected this to be a digital bank […]
Calypso lands IT overhaul deal with Invest AD
Abu Dhabi Investment Company (Invest AD) is implementing new treasury and asset management software from Calypso, front-to-back office.
Bank of Khartoum turns to Path Solutions core banking system for UAE move
Bank of Khartoum (BOK) is implementing Path Solutions’ iMAL Islamic core banking system for its new branch in the United Arab Emirates – BOK International UAE. As reported last year, BOK opened its first international branch (in Bahrain), underpinned by Path’s iMAL. Path Solutions is a long-standing tech supplier to the Sudanese bank, but says […]
Commercial Bank of Dubai in core banking platform upgrade
International Turnkey Systems (ITS) has upgraded its core banking system, Ethix, at Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD).
Mashreq Bank revamps with NCR tablet and video banking tech
Dubai-based Mashreq Bank will revamp its banking services in the UAE with the help of NCR technology over the next six months. NCR says Mashreq will be the first in the region to deploy its tablet-based Interactive Banker, which lets tellers come out from behind their counters to help customer’s complete transactions. Sandeep Chauhan, head […]
Dubai and Hong Kong hug for fintech innovation
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong have entered an agreement to establish a framework of co-operation for fintech innovation. Both authorities will share information on developments and the agreement “also intends to encourage both regulators to refer innovative firms to one another’s markets and to […]
Dubai’s FinTech Hive accelerator kicks off
Dubai International Financial Centre’s (DIFC) inaugural FinTech Hive accelerator programme has started with the first batch of 11 finalists. As reported in April, DIFC called for applications for its FinTech Hive. The 12-week programme is designed to help early and growth-stage firms accelerate product and business development by gaining exposure to financial institution executives. Raja […]
Abu Dhabi Global Market and UAE Exchange partner for “vibrant fintech ecosystem”
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the International Financial Centre in Abu Dhabi and UAE Exchange have teamed up “to support, develop and promote the fintech” ecosystem in the country.
Al Masraf to swap ITS Ethix for Temenos T24 core banking system
UAE-based Arab Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade (Al Masraf) is modernising its front-to-back office technology with Temenos. On the way out is the Ethix core banking system from regional vendor International Turnkey Systems (ITS).
Abu Dhabi’s first fintech innovation challenge for start-ups launched
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and KPMG are launching the first Fintech Abu Dhabi Innovation Challenge – a five-week programme for “innovative and mature start-ups across the globe”.
Abu Dhabi and Kenya form fintech bridge
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the International Financial Centre in Abu Dhabi, and the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) Kenya have signed a co-operation agreement for fintech innovation. The agreement provides a framework for information sharing; and keeping abreast of regulatory and relevant economic or commercial developments in the respective markets. They will also support fintech […]
Emirates NBD raises profile with FaceBanking launch
Emirates NBD has launched FaceBanking, a “first-to-market service” offering video and live chat with advisors on its revamped online banking platform and mobile banking app. The new 24×7 service lets its customers connect with a personal banking advisor for queries and transactions by clicking a button on the online banking platform, “thus effectively bringing in […]
UAE gives all clear for unified clearing house
A unified clearing house could be on its way to the UAE, with a trio of organisations making noise that they’re working together to make it happen. The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX), and its parent company, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre […]
Dubai regulator unveils fintech innovation licence to thrill
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) will allow firms to apply for a financial services licence as it seeks to boost innovation in the region. As reported in March, DFSA issued a new consultation paper and proposed its licence plans. The licence, known as an Innovation Testing Licence (ITL), will allow qualifying firms to develop […]
Five start-ups fire up with Abu Dhabi Global Market’s RegLab
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has approved its first batch of Regulatory Laboratory (RegLab) firms comprising five local and international fintech start-ups. The start-ups were selected from a pool of 11 applicants and are now ready to further develop and test their innovations at the fintech regulation lab. Richard Teng, CEO of the Financial Services […]
Mashreq bank mulls branchless future
Dubai-based Mashreq is planning its future as a branchless bank, according to a speech by CEO Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair at its 50th anniversary ceremony. With the rise in digital banking, Al Ghurair used the speech to express his understanding of the real world; and set out the bank’s vision of job cuts and embracing […]
Al Khaliji France moves to new core banking system, Temenos’ T24
Al Khaliji France, a Paris-based subsidiary of Qatar’s Al Khaliji Bank, has gone live with a new core banking platform, Temenos’ T24, at its branches in the UAE.
Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait swaps Misys’ Equation core banking system for Infosys Finacle
Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) has gone live with a new core banking system at its two branches in the UAE. The new platform is Finacle, supplied by Infosys’ product subsidiary EdgeVerve.
DFSA proposes innovation testing licences
Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has issued a new consultation paper to find the ways to avoid creating a standalone regime to facilitate fintech companies. Instead, keeping in line with practices followed in the UK and Australia, DFSA will review innovative fintech business propositions and match them with applicable rules already prevailing in the region.
Nasdaq revamps Borse Dubai market tech
Nasdaq and Borse Dubai have signed a new infrastructure agreement for Dubai’s stock exchanges, Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and Nasdaq Dubai, to improve post-trade practices. Under the agreement with Borse Dubai, the parent company of DFM, Nasdaq will deliver a new INET-powered, multi-asset trading technology engine (Nasdaq matching engine), a cash equities clearing module (Nasdaq […]
