Digital asset exchange Fasset’s app is now officially available to users in the UAE. The app offers access to broker-dealer services for both early investors and experienced real-world asset investors seeking to diversify their investment portfolio with digital assets.Fasset’s platform allows secure and seamless transactions involving digital and tokenized real-world assets[1] from any location and in the user’s preferred currency. Users can buy and invest in digital and tokenized real-world assets, take part in spot exchange transactions, and transfer funds, all in a blockchain environment. Among available investment options are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, as well as bundles. Potential investors can test the app and their investment skills in the safe learning environment of a digital playground - Fasset Play.The app goes live after the company became one of the first to be granted a VASP Licence by the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai, UAE in November 2023. Completion of VARA’s rigorous multi-stage approval process authorizes the company to provide virtual asset services to both retail and institutional investors in a regulatory-compliant manner.Fasset CEO Mohammad Raafi Hossain comments: “UAE is experiencing a surge in digital asset investment as the government promotes innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. We are happy to extend our secure and transparent platform to customers in the UAE. Our goal is to empower people to have universal access to financial services, so they have more opportunities to build and manage their wealth.”UAE becomes the second country of operations following a successful launch in Indonesia in 2023, where the app gathered over one million customers on waitlist within the first week. By partnering with Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Fasset launched the world’s first embedded digital asset exchange in a telco app - available to over 100M users in Indonesia. The company has also partnered with Mastercard to offer a crypto card to users in the region.Fasset has accumulated a large digital assets licensing portfolio in emerging markets, connecting places like the UAE, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Türkiye. The VASP license by VARA grants Fasset permission to conduct virtual asset brokerage services out of Dubai for customers globally. The company plans to further expand its operations in the region and beyond in the near future.

Rafael Lavor has been appointed as the new Head of Strategy at VICE Media Group, emphasizing the company's dedication to fostering innovation and delivering cutting-edge content to its global audience.With over 18 years of experience, Lavor has developed expertise in creative strategy, in-depth qualitative research, consumer studies, service innovation, digital communication, and brand management and development.His extensive portfolio includes work with local innovation consultancies and global creative agencies, contributing to the success of brands such as du, NEOM, Nissan, KFC, Peugeot, Nokia, Mastercard, Smirnoff, Volkswagen, Ford, Chevrolet, Embraer, Stella Artois, Tang, Uber, Deezer, Amazon, McVitie’s, Hilton, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and more.Lavor's leadership on various teams and projects has garnered recognition at prestigious marketing awards such as the Brazil Effies, LATAM Effies, and MENA Effies. Tarek Khalil, Managing Director of MEA for VICE, expresses enthusiasm about Lavor's addition to the team, citing his extensive regional experience and ability to tackle complex brand challenges. Khalil is confident that Lavor's leadership will contribute to the creation of even more impactful content for VICE's clients and audiences across the Middle East and Africa.

Beirut, Lebanon: Mastercard has entered a long-term strategic collaboration with areeba, a leading payment processing service provider in the Middle East, to bring new Mastercard Card-as-a-Service (CaaS) and Bank-as-a-Fintech (BaaF) propositions to their markets.The enablement program will provide Mastercard products and services to fintech companies and non-banking financial institutions by building ready-to-market hubs in selected Arab countries, spanning from Levant to North Africa. “Our partnership with Mastercard will provide new market segments and demographics access to Mastercard products, services, and relevant benefits. These will be available as light-touch, off-the-shelf propositions with subscription and pay-as-you-grow pricing scheme that can be launched in weeks instead of months. We are proud to contribute to advancing payment solutions in the countries where we operate, and in partnership with Mastercard,” said Maher Mikati, CEO, Areeba. “At Mastercard, we view payment modernization as one of the top priorities in providing market-ready services and platforms that help deliver innovative offerings to consumers. We streamline dependencies by offering out-of-the-box digital solutions that can be implemented at a fast pace and following local regulations and compliance mandates. With its strong technical capabilities and digital-ready enablement, areeba is our ideal strategic processing services partner in the Arab world,” said Gaurang Shah, Executive Vice President, Product and Engineering, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard. This partnership will bring unprecedented benefits to a wide range of stakeholders. Financial institutions will be able to introduce new products to the market without worrying about any technology and business operations readiness. Fintech companies can expect faster time to market by solving obstacles of BIN sponsorship and Mastercard digital first issuing assets access, through Areeba. Meanwhile, consumers will enjoy easy access to bundled digital financial products, such as youth and family banking. This collaboration also extends its support to governments by assisting with on-soil mandates and serving the community by launching new products aimed at enhancing financial wellness and educational apps for the young generation. It creates a one-stop shop for such services.

Mastercard has initiated a strategic partnership with Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) to launch cross-border payment services for peer-to-peer (P2P) and business-to-business (B2B) fund transfers. The collaboration leverages Mastercard Cross-Border Services to enable the bank to provide real-time remittances through its digital channels across more than 40 countries worldwide. The Mastercard-powered remittance solution allows people and organizations to send and receive money around the world almost instantly.Mastercard Cross-Border Services facilitate the movement of funds to any end point across over 140 countries through one secure connection and through rich features such as guaranteed exchange rates, full value transfers without deductions and transaction status tracking, reaching 95% of bank accounts worldwide. The highly localized solution offers multiple payout options, including bank account, mobile wallet and card. To address the needs of the unbanked and underbanked, cash payout is also an option through a continuously expanding global network of cash pickup locations, whose number currently stands at approximately 350,000.“At DIB, we are committed to making an active contribution to building a seamless payment infrastructure through bringing unique, state-of-art solutions to the market in line with the highest international standards. This partnership further enriches DIB cross-border payment services through an integration between customer facing mobile apps and online platforms with Mastercard, ensuring secure and efficient transfers to a vast network of geographies that the latter operates in. With its advanced technology, global expertise and ever-growing remittance footprint, Mastercard will significantly enhance our customer offering and allow us to achieve further global reach,” said Dr. Adnan Chilwan, Group CEO of DIB.“For many people, remittances are a way to stay connected to their communities. At Mastercard, we are dedicated to providing them with fast, convenient, secure and affordable ways to transfer funds internationally. We are delighted to launch our first innovation-driven business venture with DIB, and hope this will be the start of a long and productive partnership,” said Dimitrios Dosis, President, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard.Recognizing the need for speed in today's fast-paced world, Mastercard Cross-Border Services have been optimized for quick and efficient fund transfers. This ensures that customers can complete their desired transactions promptly, which is particularly advantageous for urgent financial needs. To promote transparency, the solution is equipped with a real-time tracking feature, so users can stay informed about the progress of their transactions.

Mastercard, a global technology company in the payments industry, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ottu, a prominent fintech player in the Middle East region. This pioneering partnership is primarily focused on Ottu's integration of Mastercard Gateway, enabling a range of local payment methods in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.Mastercard Gateway offers advanced payment processing and fraud prevention technology to acquiring banks, merchants, micro-merchants, and technology partners. It provides its partners with the reach, security, and innovation to compete in the world of digital payments.Ottu provides an Online Payments Management Solution (OPMS) designed to streamline online payments, crafted to optimize online payment processes for enterprises across a wide spectrum of industries. Ottu’s solution also seamlessly connects various online sales channels and payment methods, harnessing Ottu's expertise in building an efficient ecosystem.Through this partnership, Ottu merchants can tap into these local payment methods through a streamlined integration, thereby bridging the gap between international payment networks.Talal AlAwadhi, CEO of Ottu, stated, "Our partnership with Mastercard Gateway is more than a strategic alliance. It's a vision for integrating global technological might with regional transactional traditions, ensuring the Gulf's payment ecosystem is robust and resonant with its users."Maria Parpou, Executive Vice President, Mastercard Gateway, said: “At Mastercard, we are committed to partnering with innovative fintech companies such as Ottu to bring advanced payment solutions to the region with the aim of fueling the growth of the digital economy. Mastercard Gateway offers a single connection to help local merchants accept payments globally, facilitating secure and seamless transactions that surpass customer expectations.”

Yazle, a global digital media company specializing in innovative and creative digital advertising, partnered with Dentsu to work on Mastercard’s Gamers8 campaign that not only pushed the boundaries of performance but also supported sustainability efforts. Yazle adopted groundbreaking adaptive streaming technology from SeenThis. Using SeenThis's adaptive streaming, to the campaign saw a reduction in data transferred to devices during this year’s edition of the event by an astonishing 23% compared to running creatives of corresponding quality using conventional technology. This reduction is not just a statistic; it is a meaningful contribution to sustainability. By avoiding the release of 399 kilograms of CO2e emissions into the atmosphere, which translates to 7% in creative delivery emissions, Mastercard achieved a notable 6.88% reduction in its carbon footprint. This is equivalent to curbing 6,871 KM driven by a passenger car or 109,756 fully charged phones. This impressive environmental impact demonstrates how Yazle’s expertise in digital advertising, along with SeenThis's adaptive streaming technology, supports Mastercard’s commitment to sustainability. “At Mastercard, we are passionate about building a sustainable world that works for everyone. Recently, we pushed forward our deadline to achieve net-zero emissions across our operations from 2050 to 2040 in line with our dedication to reducing our carbon footprint. We believe in the power of technology to influence a greener tomorrow for ourselves, our partners, and the markets we serve. Through our work with Yazle and Dentsu, we are ensuring that we conduct our business in a responsible and sustainable way,” said Mustapha Kassem, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Middle East, and North Africa, Mastercard. Through the utilization of adaptive streaming technology, brands can efficiently deliver captivating content while simultaneously lessening the environmental impact, compared to running creatives of corresponding quality using conventional technology. This innovative streaming technology provides advertisers with the means to curtail data consumption without sacrificing video quality, leading to a substantial decrease in carbon footprint. This aligns seamlessly with the UAE's Year of Sustainability initiative, highlighting commitment to eco-friendly practices and responsible content delivery.“At Yazle, we are empowering brands to forge a sustainable path forward, where innovation and responsibility converge. Together, we are redefining success, where achieving sustainability goals is not just a choice but a strategic imperative. In this journey, we do not just follow trends; we set them. We measure impact, reduce carbon footprints, and engage consumers in meaningful ways. With our unwavering commitment to a greener future, we are not just helping brands reach their sustainability goals; we are propelling them towards a brighter, more responsible tomorrow. The Mastercard campaign is a perfect example of this,” said Jamie Atherton, Managing Director at Yazle. “Reducing emissions associated within the media supply chain has become an imperative for our industry, and achieving this requires close collaboration across the entire media ecosystem. Mastercard has been a leader in supplier sustainability, and it is really encouraging to see the tangible impact of taking an eco-conscious approach to advertising in this campaign. Having partners like Yazle helps us to not only support our clients on their climate action commitments, but also our own efforts to decarbonize media and achieve our science-based-targets on the journey to net-zero,” said aid Mr. Ramzy Abouchacra from Dentsu.Overall, the campaign also achieved remarkable results, with a total of 1,847,464 impressions. Notably, it boasted a robust video start rate of 90.9% and an impressive video completion rate of 64.1%, underscoring the engaging nature of the content. Among the various ad placements, the 300x600 unit emerged as the star performer, delivering the highest completion rates, demonstrating the campaign's ability to captivate and retain audience attention. This successful collaboration between Yazle and Dentsu sets a commendable example for the advertising industry, displaying the potential to achieve business objectives while prioritizing sustainability. Yazle is dedicated to pioneering innovative approaches that benefit both consumers and the environment.

 Mastercard has entered a strategic partnership with tmam - one of the leaders in multi-currency corporate card, expense management and accounts payable solutions for SMEs - to launch its innovative payment proposition across the GCC region. The collaboration will help small businesses digitize their corporate expenses while saving money on company spend.With a transparent fee structure and deep integration into leading accounting platforms, tmam provides unlimited physical and virtual cards in regional currencies, including USD, with EUR and GBP to follow, to businesses of any size worldwide. Through its partnership with Mastercard, tmam customers will be able to access a range of benefits through a simple digital onboarding experience via the tmam app, allowing them to transact seamlessly physically and online. The payment solution for SMEs will help improve expense tracking for their branch offices. In addition, the companies can monitor the spend of all their remotely-located staff and branches, reducing the cost of doing business in the local currency. The new proposition will also enable organizations to save on fees while paying USD invoices and streamline all recurring expenditure into one platform.“SMEs are crucial drivers of the economy. Guided by our pledge to connect 50 million small enterprises globally to the digital economy by 2025, we are delighted to partner with tmam to deliver our innovative payment solutions to SMEs. Our collaboration will contribute to accelerating digital transformation and enhancing financial inclusion in the region while providing companies with practical tools that align with their business and operational needs, and facilitate their access to the digital economy,” said Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development,EEMEA, Mastercard.“As one of the leading regulated corporate multi-currency spend platforms in the GCC, we are thrilled to work closely with Mastercard to provide our clients a financial operating ecosystem navigating multi-geographical operations and transactions spanning a myriad of currencies powered by smart physical and virtual corporate cards. Augmented by intuitive software, these cards empower meticulous oversight and control of departmental budgets, eliminating any worry on where and how your money is being spent. With the backing of Mastercard’s platform, they can be utilized seamlessly across the vast expanse of online retailers and global merchant locales,” said Maseeh Ahmed, Founder and CEO, tmam.Pursuing its vision of financial automation, tmam works closely with its clients to build solutions by them and not for them. Supporting the company are leading fintech investors, such as Aditum, JIMCO, Plus VC, and a number of strategic angels stretching from Silicon Valley to South Africa and the Middle East.

 Mastercard has signed an exclusive agreement with Alhulul Almobassatah Financial Company (SiFi) to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia with a range of innovative offerings.The agreement brings Mastercard, a leading technology company in the global payments sector together with SiFi, a Saudi-based fintech that simplifies how businesses manage spend — to provide greater access to novel financial solutions: offerings designed to overcome challenges in controlling spend, managing expense reports, and accessing analytics to save money.Utilizing Mastercard’s expertise, ecosystem, network, and resources, SiFi will have the ability to offer solutions with ease to SMEs and enterprises across the Kingdom, enabling them to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy.“Mastercard is a key partner for SiFi. As a reputable player in the payment technology field, Mastercard's expertise and flexibility helps us adapt to our evolving needs and improve our service to customers. With their support, we can better understand and address our customers' expectations,” said H.E. Ahmed Alhakbani, Founder and CEO of SiFi.“As Saudi Arabia’s SME space continues to grow, it is our responsibility to effect more positive change, serving as the partner of choice to fuel that growth. At Mastercard, we are committed to working closely with partners to co-create solutions and offer access to our technology and expertise. Our agreement with SiFi is fully geared towards achieving this goal,” said Adam Jones, Country General Manager, MENA Central, Mastercard.Mastercard’s agreement with SiFi marks the latest step taken by the technology company to empower the Kingdom’s burgeoning fintech community and transform Saudi entrepreneurship.Utilizing Mastercard’s expertise, ecosystem, network, and resources, SiFi will have the ability to issue corporate cards with ease — to SMEs and enterprises across the Kingdom, enabling them to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy.“With SMEs playing a greater role in powering the economy, we understand the importance of offering access to quality, responsive solutions that enable businesses and fintech’s to grow. Whether empowering entities to accept more payment cards and methods or simplifying controlling and tracking expenses, we equip SMEs with the tools to accomplish their business goals,” said Maria Medvedeva, Country Manager, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Mastercard.“We are in the business of empowering companies to take greater control of their expenses. By partnering with equally innovative entities, such as Mastercard, we aim to curate an advanced suite of offerings that resolve our customers' financial management challenges,” said Fahad Alfozan, Business Development Manager at SiFi.The partnership underlines Mastercard’s commitment to bringing one billion people, 50 million micro and small businesses, and 25 million women entrepreneurs into the digital economy by 2025. This is in keeping with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims of increasing the SME sector’s contribution to the Saudi economy to 35% by 2030 and raising SME lending to 20% of funding by the end of the decade.  The exclusive agreement will support more SMEs around the country, with SiFi issuing commercial cards to employees, providing real-time expense tracking capabilities, and automating accounting entries. By enabling more businesses to streamline operations, the partnership will help to save time and money, while improving compliance and visibility into spending.With the Fintech Saudi 21/22 Annual Report outlining that there are currently 147 active fintech’s in Saudi Arabia, Mastercard’s work with SiFi will contribute to the growth and development of the Kingdom’s SME and fintech sectors, providing more enterprises with the tools to scale and grow their businesses.

Dubai: The UAE’s Artificial intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office and Mastercard today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities and readiness in the region. An initial focus of the effort will be dedicated to battling financial crime, securing the digital ecosystem, and driving inclusive growth in the UAE and beyond.H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications emphasized the UAE government's dedicated efforts towards strategic collaborations with the private sector and leading international companies. These collaborations have been recognized as pivotal catalysts for expediting the adoption of Artificial Intelligence, a crucial component of the nation's journey towards digital advancement and prosperity.His Excellency pointed out the significance of bilateral cooperation. He emphasized the importance of realizing the aspirations outlined in the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031. This strategy aims to consolidate the UAE's position as a leading hub for Artificial Intelligence. Concurrently, it seeks to foster the development of comprehensive technology-driven frameworks within priority sectors.Furthermore, His Excellency praised Mastercard's efforts in adopting AI, as well as their inauguration of a global center dedicated to Artificial Intelligence and advanced technology within the UAE.Investing in Enhanced InnovationThe signing of this partnership comes as Mastercard unveiled its latest global Centre for Advanced AI and Cyber Technology in Dubai. In addition to developing AI-powered solutions to fight financial crime, the Centre will focus on securing the digital ecosystem and driving inclusive growth. It will also serve as a hub to nurture and hire local AI talent, including data engineers and data scientists, with a remit to accelerate AI innovation globally and service customers all around the world from the UAE.“AI plays a critical role in our operations, powering our products and fuelling our network intelligence to improve digital experiences, while reducing financial fraud and risk,” said Ajay Bhalla, president, Cyber & Intelligence at Mastercard. “The combination of this latest Advanced AI Centre and our partnership with the Government of the UAE will deliver greater value for our customers and ultimately reinforce trust in the digital ecosystem.”Mastercard's new centre – drawing on the company’s technical knowledge and expertise – will support a new Innovation Hub in the Emirate of Dubai. Under this program, governments and businesses from across the region will collaborate on new efforts to support the continued digital transformation."The UAE is a global leader in developing innovative technologies to foster economic growth and drive digital transformation. For more than 35 years, Mastercard has been investing in the UAE to harness the power of technology for the good of the nation. By embracing the power of AI through this new partnership, we are ushering in the next generation of transformative technology, and actively supporting the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031,” said Dimitrios Dosis, president, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard.The Middle East is undergoing a rapid technological shift. According to IDC, investments in digital transformation are expected to double over the next few years in the Middle East. PwC estimates that AI will contribute $320 billion to the region and more than $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030. AI has the power to address some of today’s most pressing challenges, including reducing fraud while helping more people access financial services.Heritage of AI InnovationThis Centre in Dubai is the latest in a series of investments Mastercard has made in Advanced AI, with existing centres in the US, Canada and India. To date, Mastercard has made use of AI most significantly and successfully in its efforts to enhance cybersecurity and user experiences. By applying a sophisticated AI engine, Mastercard protects more than 125 billion transactions from fraud every year – at speed and scale.However, today we stand at the precipice of yet another transformative leap in technology, fuelled by the accessibility of generative AI. With its ability to create new content and predict a wholes series of next steps, it has the potential to transform customer experiences, enable personalized interactions and reshape industries.At Mastercard we are using generative AI for many purposes, including through synthetic transaction data to supercharge fraud detection and boost approval rates. Our Centre in Dubai will help us develop these new and ground-breaking use cases, and with this knowledge we plan to establish additional Advanced AI Centres across the globe, to drive continued innovation.

Dubai: Landvault, a leading metaverse tech company, marks its one-year anniversary, and reveals ‘Landvault 2.0’, a two-pillar approach to pioneer the next evolution of the internet. Landvault embarked on a transformative journey after recognizing existing restrictions and sentiment shifts. Following extensive market research, including feedback from over 500 potential clients, paired with invaluable lessons from the 2023 metaverse winter, the company has honed its focus on providing a richer, fairer internet through the concept of the "3D internet."Landvault experienced significant growth in 2022 as the metaverse rapidly evolved. Selling virtual worlds to Fortune 500 brands and having completed more than 200 projects for the world's largest companies, from Mastercard to Standard Chartered, and governments, Landvault has developed over 100 million square feet of experiences across platforms including The Sandbox and Decentraland.However, the subsequent metaverse winter caused a shift in market dynamics. Many brands treated their presence in the metaverse as an experiment, withdrawing once the initial buzz wore off. This situation compelled Landvault to reconsider the metaverse's value proposition and identify new customer needs. Building on the 'next-best to reality' vision, Landvault aims to pioneer the metaverse into the next evolution of media platforms - a 3-Dimensional internet. In response to this vision, Landvault’s research revealed three key requirements for the metaverse's success:High-fidelity content that users can relate to and connect with. Accessibility from all devices. For greater adoption, metaverse experiences must be easily discoverable and accessible.Positive return on investment (ROI) to attract long-term engagement and business interest.The company intends to lead the metaverse revolution in the MENA region by focusing on two key pillars:The first pillar entails constructing a robust technology stack that accelerates the creation and monetization of metaverse experiences. Landvault is creating proprietary tools that enable creators and brands to easily create high-fidelity content while ensuring seamless monetization opportunities.The second pillar focuses on bringing cutting-edge technology to the MENA region, where it will lead the charge in the metaverse industry. Landvault intends to introduce the concept of the 3D internet by establishing a strong presence in the region, offering a utility-driven approach beyond the metaverse hype. The company is already working with brands in the region and aims to further equip businesses and governments in connecting with the next generation of internet users while offering an output that matches the region's vision.As part of this transformative journey, Landvault has rebranded and launched a new website to reflect its renewed vision. While the metaverse builder, Landvault Studio, will remain an integral part of the company, it will now be powered by the innovative tech stack to provide an unparalleled user experience.Landvault CEO, Samuel Huber expressed his enthusiasm for this new direction, saying, "Our journey through the metaverse winter was a defining moment for Landvault." It compelled us to reconsider and reimagine our role in shaping the internet's future. We are on a mission to unleash the true potential of the 3D internet - defined by utility, and are ready to lead the change in the next era."As part of its expansion to strengthen its presence and drive 3D internet adoption, Landvault is actively seeking to appoint sales and business development professionals in the MENA region.Landvault is the largest metaverse builder with over 100 million square feet of virtual real estate, more than 120 full-time creators, and nearly 300 completed projects. We’ve been helping brands build and grow in gaming environments since 2017 and the metaverse since 2021. Landvault’s platform-agnostic proprietary technology and creative powerhouse builds and delivers tailored, data-driven, and optimized business solutions and insights. We help clients launch, optimize, and monetize metaverse experiences. Landvault’s mission is to accelerate the metaverse economy through technology with a vision of a fairer wealth distribution across the web. Landvault is actively using such a protocol, Matera, to make this happen. Connecting to Unity and Unreal via SDK, Matera enables creators to publish the content on the web (accessibility) seamlessly, index it on-chain, and tokenize it.

Riyadh : As part of its commitment to empowering women and championing female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia and the wider region, Mastercard has announced the launch of the second season of its award-winning podcast series ‘Her Voice’.Building on the success of the first season, ‘Her Voice’ Season Two will profile a diverse range of inspiring Saudi female pioneers, innovators, and business leaders, spotlighting their groundbreaking achievements and amplifying their unique, compelling stories.To further extend the value to SMEs across the Kingdom, Mastercard partnered with SAB to offer an outstanding female entrepreneur the opportunity to be featured in the final episode of the season.The winner will be chosen by Mastercard and SAB as the exclusive issuer for the nomination round, starting from May 17th. In addition to appearing on the podcast, the winner will receive a grant worth USD 30,000 to develop and scale her business. Meanwhile, the top 15 nominees will get to attend an SME masterclass co-hosted by the two partners.“At SAB, we realize the pivotal role of the banking sector in enabling SMEs to take their business to new heights. From facilitating access to financing to providing capacity-building opportunities, we are here to support them every step of the way. We are delighted to join forces with Mastercard to help build the next generation of future female entrepreneurs in the region,” said Yasser Al-Barrak, Chief Executive Officer of Corporate and Institutional Banking SAB.“As a company that works to build an inclusive digital economy, we are passionate about women’s empowerment. By charting the journeys of incredible female pioneers across various fields, ‘Her Voice’ aims to motivate women in Saudi Arabia and beyond to realize their full potential. Our audiences that have come to love the podcast in its first season are in for a treat. We are launching a new video format, introducing an interactive and competitive element, and offering added value to women-led small businesses in the form of an SME grant and masterclass in partnership with SAB,” Maria Medvedeva, Country Business Manager, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Mastercard.Set to premiere on May 21st, this season will switch to a video format and focus on designing a better world for everyone. In line with Mastercard’s efforts to connect people to their passions, each episode will explore a different passion point. The guests will chronicle their journeys in their own voices in conversation with the host, the trailblazing broadcaster Weam Al Dakheel – the first female anchor to present an evening news program on Saudi TV’s Channel 1.Mastercard has pledged to bring 25 million women entrepreneurs worldwide into the digital economy by 2025, connecting them to the digital tools, training, insights and solutions that will empower their business. Mastercard has also partnered with Women Choice to launch the Social Innovation Incubator (SII) For Women’s Employment. The program will help create one million jobs for women across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), supporting inclusive economic growth in the region.

Dubai: Dubai is set to host the first-ever Dubai FinTech Summit on May 8 and 9 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE. The Summit will be organised by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading international financial hub in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region. The event will take place at Madinat Jumeirah and will bring together over 5,000 global FinTech C-suite executives and technology experts to discuss the latest innovations and challenges in the sector. The global FinTech sector is rapidly growing and is predicted to be valued at $305 billion globally by 2025, according to Research and Markets, an intelligence and market analysis firm. In the MEASA region, the industry is expected to double in value from $135.9 billion in 2021 to $266.9 billion in 2027, according to the 2022 report by DIFC FinTech Hive. The Dubai FinTech Summit will offer a unique platform for startups, investors, and industry leaders to connect and capitalise on the growing FinTech market in the region and beyond. The MENA region’s FinTech startup and venture capital landscape is booming, with over 800 FinTech startups worth $15.5 billion, according to data by dealroom.co. Dubai alone is home to over 20% of the world’s FinTech businesses, according to the UAE Fintech Market – Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028) Report by Mordor Intelligence. The FinTech Summit will feature a series of panel discussions, fireside chats, and over 100 FinTech exhibitors. Mastercard’s 2022 Digital Payments Index report reveals that digital payments are gaining traction in the MENA region. More than 85% of respondents reported using at least one emerging payment method in the past 12 months, indicating a shift away from cash-based transactions. Among MENA countries, the UAE stands out as being ready to embrace a cashless society. According to the event’s co-host sponsor Visa, 52% of UAE consumers are already cashless or plan to be by 2024. The Summit will feature a lineup of distinguished speakers from both local and international arenas. Notable speakers include HE Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy; Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered; Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple; Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Bank Singapore; Jenny Johnson, President and CEO of Franklin Templeton; and Brian Armstrong, CEO and Co-Founder of Coinbase, among others. Mohammad Alblooshi, Head of DIFC Innovation Hub and FinTech Hive, underscored the importance of the Dubai FinTech Summit. “Nearly 60% of all FinTech companies in the GCC are currently based in the city. With the industry growing at an unprecedented rate, it is crucial for stakeholders to gather and discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The Dubai FinTech Summit promises to bring together the most prominent figures in the industry, with an agenda that will captivate and inspire audiences worldwide.” The Summit will offer attendees a platform to participate in discussions and exchange ideas on emerging trends, regulatory frameworks, and future possibilities. The event will feature discussions on a range of topics, including ‘Building the Economies of the Future’, ‘Crypto and the Evolving Regulatory Framework’, ‘The World of Finance: Where are the Women?’, and ‘Building a Resilient and Sustainable Financial Sector in the Age of Disruption’. Participants will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights on these critical issues from industry leaders and experts. The panel discussions will offer a platform for experts to share their insights on current and future issues in the FinTech industry and explore how they can shape the future of the financial sector. The agenda promises to be informative and insightful, providing valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration among participants. 

Cairo: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Mastercard that aims to drive digital transformation through partnerships with innovative FinTech companies.The partnership between DIFC and Mastercard will provide FinTech start-ups and established companies with access to Mastercard's network and expertise, as well as DIFC's world-class financial ecosystem. The collaboration will focus on creating new payment solutions and digital services, as well as enhancing existing ones.“At Mastercard, we are committed to driving innovation through collaboration between different players in the financial ecosystem. The collaboration between FinTech companies and established players would enable us to drive digital transformation. We are delighted to participate in DIFC’s programmes to accelerate innovation in the financial technology sector with the aim of boosting the country’s digital economy,” said Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA, Mastercard.Mastercard’s collaboration with DIFC underpins the objective of the financial hub’s first global Venture Studio – DIFC Launchpad – which seeks to fast-track the growth of the UAE’s financial ecosystem and serve as a business enabler for venture studios, allowing them to set up and scale from DIFC. Venture studios build start-ups, taking them from the concept stage to launch while providing capital and guidance through the incubation period. They also help start-ups to grow using internal capabilities and external networks.The DIFC Launchpad programme expects to support the launch of more than 200 new ventures, with over 100 of them being scale-ups that will collectively create over 8,000 new jobs and attract over $544 million in venture capital.Mohammad Alblooshi, Head of Innovation Hub at DIFC, said: "At DIFC, we are committed to fostering innovation and growth in the FinTech sector, and our strategic collaboration with Mastercard is a testament to that. By leveraging Mastercard's expertise and network, we can empower FinTech start-ups and established companies to create new payment solutions and digital services that enhance the region's financial ecosystem. Together, we aim to fast-track the growth of the UAE's financial sector and serve as a business enabler for venture studios, bringing about significant benefits to the FinTech sector in the Middle East.”The collaboration between DIFC and Mastercard is expected to bring about significant benefits to the fintech sector in the Middle East, providing them with the tools and resources needed to drive innovation and growth in the region's digital economy.

Dubai: Dubai First, which offers consumer services under First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), is proud to announce its exciting partnership with Wasim Akram, the legendary Pakistani cricketer and Mastercard’s global brand ambassador. The collaboration will offer customers exclusive benefits, world-class financial solutions, and unique experiences.Dubai First is known for its forward-thinking approach and its range of first-to-market products and services. The partnership with Mastercard’s global ambassador is set to inspire even more customers to adopt the brand's mobile-first credit cards, which provide efficiency, transparency, and instant gratification.This collaboration brings together the best of both worlds, with Mastercard's global acceptance, unparalleled security features, and exciting offers and Wasim Akram's reputation as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket. Customers can look forward to exclusive benefits and experiences and the opportunity to engage with Wasim Akram.Gina Petersen, VP and Country Business Development Lead for the UAE & Oman, Mastercard, said: “The Mastercard Priceless platform offers a wealth of experiences that connect people to their passions, including sports. Our Global Brand Ambassador Wasim Akram, a great sportsman and role model, continues to inspire Mastercard card holders to pursue excellence in their chosen fields. We are delighted to provide the customers of Dubai First with an opportunity to engage with him.”Haroon Durrani, Head of Dubai First Cards & Digital, FAB, said: "We are thrilled to partner with Mastercard and have Wasim Akram as our brand ambassador. With his reputation as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket, and his credibility as a Mastercard ambassador, we are eager to collaborate with Wasim Akram and to bring exciting benefits to a wider audience and a new generation of customers."Wasim Akram shared: “I am always happy to come back to the UAE – a place that holds fond memories of many cricket wins for me and the home of many of my dear friends. Over the past few years, it has been a pleasure to raise awareness about Mastercard’s Priceless campaign, which is very close to my heart. I look forward to collaborating with Dubai First and giving its customers a few Priceless surprises as we bring people closer to their passions.”Dubai First offers a wide range of credit cards that cater to different needs and preferences, including cashback cards, travel cards, and rewards cards. With competitive rates and exclusive offers, Dubai First is committed to providing its customers with the best possible financial solutions.?

Bringing together the journeys of some of the world’s most inspiring female leaders in arts, sports, politics, hospitality, financial services and beyond, Mastercard has unveiled a coffee-table book, ‘Lasting Legacy - Honoring 25 Visionaries to Celebrate 25 Years of Priceless’. Launched during Women’s Month 2023, the book marks the 25th anniversary of Mastercard’s renowned Priceless platform, which has been connecting people to their passions for a quarter of a century.Mastercard is committed to creating a more equitable world for all and this project marks the company’s latest milestone in unlocking opportunities and celebrating the role of women in society. By exploring the role of these trailblazers, the book aims to inspire readers to take action in their own lives and communities to close the gender gap and create a more inclusive future.The legacy piece highlights the journeys and impact of women including Raha Moharrak, Adventurer; Sconaid McGeachin, Director of Communications and Marketing at COP28 UAE & Former Senior Vice President Communications at Expo 2020 Dubai; Ambareen Musa, Founder & CEO of Yabi by Souqalmal; Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General of Emirates Nature-WWF; Nona Gaprindashvili, Chess Legend, and Ola Doudin, Co-founder & CEO of BitOasis, among others.“This book has been a true labor of love for us, and a testament to the women who are driving progress and uplifting communities around the world. It is our hope that the stories in ‘Lasting Legacy’ will encourage readers, regardless of their gender, to pursue their passions and make a positive impact on society, to inspire generations to come,” said Beatrice Cornacchia, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard.“Throughout my journey, I was always surrounded by extremely amazing women from whom I draw inspiration from. Ranging from family, friends to the team that makes Sarah’s Bag. Never underestimate the power of being inspired. It’s the drive behind every remarkable project.” – Sarah Beydoun, Founder & Creative Director of Sarah’s Bag.‘Lasting Legacy - Honoring 25 Visionaries to Celebrate 25 Years of Priceless’ represents the evolution of Mastercard's Priceless platform, which has progressed to reflect the company’s ongoing transformation and the changing world of consumers. As Priceless marks 25 years, Mastercard continues to tap into people’s passions as it enables opportunities for people the world over to pursue their passion and purpose.The book will be available from 14 March 2023, and be available online, across libraries, universities, schools, and on BooksArabia.com.