The deobank revolution: Pioneering a financial model for full user control

The deobank revolution: Pioneering a financial model for full user control

WeFi group CEO Maksym Sakharov believes the next leap in banking requires rebuilding the core system on-chain to give users real control over their wealth

Majid Al Futtaim lists $500m Sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai

Majid Al Futtaim now has $2.2bn in Sukuk listed on Nasdaq Dubai across four instruments

Five financial inclusion shifts set to reshape UAE workforce in 2026

Despite the UAE’s reputation for innovation, only 31 per cent of residents demonstrate basic financial literacy

Careem Pay adds Canada and Bangladesh to expanding remittance network

The expansion aligns with Careem Pay’s broader mission to simplify financial services in the region through a unified payments platform offering international transfers, P2P payments, bill payments and digital wallet features

DIFC joins world’s top five hedge fund hubs as manager count passes 100

Dubai’s DIFC hits milestone as hedge fund managers top 100

The number of hedge fund managers has more than doubled since the start of 2024, with 81 being ‘billion-dollar club’ funds

IHC raises stake in Invictus Investment to about 40% in Dhs420m deal

IHC raises stake in Invictus Investment to about 40% in Dhs420m deal

In H1 2025, Invictus posted a 164 per cent year-on-year increase in EBITDA to Dhs189.7m, while revenue rose 43 per cent to Dhs6.1bn

Arvind Ramamurthy, chief market development officer at ADGM

Inside ADGM’s rise as the new capital of private wealth

Over the past decade, Abu Dhabi’s relationship with family offices has transformed dramatically

The future of payments: Key trends that will shape 2026

The future of payments: Key trends that will shape 2026

Smart devices, cars and wearables are emerging as new endpoints for payment confirmation

Most GCC central banks follow Fed lead, lower key interest rates

GCC cuts interest rates as dollar-pegged economies track Fed policy

The central banks of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman also reduced key rates by 25 basis points

Abu Dhabi unveils FIDA to drive nextgen finance ecosystem-Image-for-illustrative-purposes-Getty-Images

Abu Dhabi launches FIDA cluster to drive next-generation finance push

By 2045, officials project the finance cluster will add $15.2bn to direct GDP, create 8,000 skilled jobs and attract at least $4.6bn in investment

Bitcoin MENA wraps up in Abu Dhabi, experts outline next phase of digital finance

Experts outline next phase of digital finance at Bitcoin MENA

A new addition to this year’s programme, the Bitcoin for Corporations Symposium, drew CFOs and treasurers seeking guidance on using Bitcoin as a reserve asset

SpaceX rocket

SpaceX targets 2026 IPO with valuation above $1tn, sources say

The company is expected to make around $15bn in revenue in 2025, increasing to between $22bn and $24bn in 2026

eToro launches UAE-Economy Smart Portfolio to expand global access to ADX and DFM-listed companies

The launch coincides with national strategies such as UAE Vision 2031 and Abu Dhabi Vision 2030

botim money, Binance sign MoU to explore crypto access for UAE users

botim money, Binance sign MoU to explore crypto access for UAE users

The signing at Binance Blockchain Week reflects Dubai’s emergence as a key hub for global blockchain and crypto activity

Circle secures ADGM license and appoints regional MD to accelerate MEA expansion

With the FSP license in place, Circle is now positioned to expand regulated payment and settlement use cases for businesses, developers, and financial institutions in the UAE

PaySelect enhances platform to streamline global transactions for UAE businesses

For payment providers, PaySelect acts as a high-quality acquisition channel, offering visibility to businesses actively searching for cross-border solutions

Outlook for 2026 from forex.com image for illustrative purposes_Getty Images

Global valuations peak as 2026 outlook turns cautious; UAE remains bright spot, shows report

Despite the more cautious global backdrop, the UAE continues to strengthen its position as an investment and innovation hub

Saudi Arabia's annual inflation rate slows to 1.9% in November

US fund manager Guggenheim plans deeper Saudi engagement, explores Riyadh office

Gulf states have accelerated efforts to diversify their economies away from hydrocarbons for longer-term sustainable growth, investing heavily in non-oil sectors like financial services, tourism, technology and manufacturing

Buying plane tickets with crypto: Emirates to explore the option

Binance achieves major regulatory breakthrough with ADGM approval

Binance.com is expected to begin its ADGM-regulated activities on January 5, 2026

UnionPay and Amazon Payment Services expand digital payments across MENA

Under the collaboration, merchants using Amazon Payment Services will soon be able to accept UnionPay cards

Syria plans new currency, digital payments push as growth rebounds post-war

The World Bank in July estimated that Syria’s gross domestic product would grow by a modest 1 per cent in 2025 after contracting 1.5 per cent in 2024

Moody’s upgrades Turkey’s ratings to B1 on tight monetary policy

Turkey’s Paribu acquires majority stake in CoinMENA in $240m deal

The transaction marks Turkey’s largest fintech transaction to date

Qatar eyes 3.4% non-oil growth, $100bn FDI by 2030

Qatar fund to reduce Sainsbury’s stake after nearly two decades

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has been a Sainsbury’s shareholder since 2007

Bank of Singapore's Ranjit Khanna on navigating family wealth in the Middle East

From virtual to structured family offices: Navigating family wealth in the Middle East

As investment strategies evolve, families in the region are starting to formalise their wealth management

The FSRA’s new playbook: Third-party risk, board oversight, and cyber resilience

The FSRA’s new playbook: Third-party risk, board oversight and cyber resilience

The FSRA’s framework is ambitious, but it’s also achievable. With the right strategy, firms can meet the January 2026 deadline and position themselves as leaders in cybersecurity resilience

The new map of opportunity:Mohanad Yakout Senior Markets Analyst Scope Markets Where the smart money Is going in the GCC

The new map of opportunity: Where the smart money Is going in the GCC

The Gulf’s growing web of treaties is creating a more stable, rules-based environment that global capital prefers
 

Dubai approves record Dhs302.7bn budget cycle for 2026–2028

Dubai approves record Dhs302.7bn budget cycle for 2026–2028

For 2026, Dubai has set expenditure at Dhs99.5bn, focused on development projects linked to the Dubai Plan 2033 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33

25 years and counting: ADX achieves key milestones

25 years and counting: ADX achieves key milestones

Since 2020, IPOs on the ADX have raised about Dhs59bn, supported by strong demand and steady economic growth

Mastercard's Prakriti Singh on integrating stablecoins into mainstream commerce

Mastercard’s Prakriti Singh on integrating stablecoins into mainstream commerce

Mastercard’s Prakriti Singh outlines how the agreement with Circle could reshape cross-border payments, remittances, and digital trade

Preservation to purpose: A new era of wealth planning in the Middle East

Preservation to purpose: A new era of wealth planning in the Middle East

With one of the world’s largest intergenerational wealth transitions underway, Middle Eastern families are combining tradition, innovation, and purpose to ensure their legacies endure