Fintech News & Trends

UAE Russia Trade Agreement Takes Effect, Boosting Services and Investment

The UAE Russia trade agreement, the new framework lowers market-entry barriers and strengthens investment protections across fintech, healthcare, logistics and professional services.

The UAE Russia trade agreement on services and investment has officially entered into force, creating a new framework designed to make cross-border business easier between the two countries.

The Trade in Services and Investment Agreement, known as TISIA, introduces clearer rules for market access, investment protection and professional services while targeting sectors with strong growth potential.

The agreement is expected to support companies operating across areas including fintech, healthcare, transport, logistics and corporate services.

It also strengthens the UAE’s broader strategy of expanding trade relationships beyond goods and positioning the country as a global hub for services, investment and international business.

Lower Barriers for Cross-Border Services

One of the central objectives of the UAE Russia trade agreement is to reduce regulatory barriers for companies entering each other’s markets.

The framework provides greater legal clarity for service providers and investors while simplifying some professional licensing requirements.

For companies operating internationally, these changes can reduce uncertainty and lower the administrative burden associated with market entry.

The agreement is particularly relevant for sectors where regulatory approvals and professional recognition can significantly affect expansion.

By creating a more predictable legal environment, the two countries aim to encourage greater participation from private-sector companies and investors.

Fintech and Digital Services Among Priority Sectors

Digital finance is among the sectors expected to benefit from the new framework.

The UAE has developed into one of the Middle East’s most active fintech and digital services markets, supported by financial centres, free zones and an increasingly sophisticated regulatory environment.

Closer services cooperation with Russia could create additional opportunities for payment companies, financial technology providers and business-to-business digital platforms.

For E-commerce companies, improvements in financial services, payments and professional support can also strengthen the wider infrastructure required for international expansion.

The agreement therefore has implications beyond traditional services trade.

It could also contribute to the development of stronger digital commercial links between the UAE, Russia and the wider Eurasian market.

Logistics and Transport Could Gain From Agreement

Transport and freight logistics are another major focus.

The UAE has positioned itself as an international logistics hub connecting Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Lower regulatory friction in services trade could support increased use of UAE ports, airports, free zones and logistics infrastructure by companies trading with Russia and Eurasia.

This could be particularly relevant for businesses using the UAE as a regional distribution or re-export hub.

Improved commercial links between service providers may also create opportunities in freight forwarding, warehousing, supply-chain management and transport technology.

For E-commerce operators, logistics efficiency remains one of the most important factors determining the viability of cross-border sales.

UAE-Russia Non-Oil Trade Reaches $20.4 Billion

The agreement comes against the backdrop of significant growth in economic ties between the UAE and Russia.

Non-oil bilateral trade reached $20.4 billion last year, highlighting the scale of commercial activity between the two markets.

The UAE has increasingly sought to diversify its international trade relationships through bilateral and regional agreements covering goods, services and investment.

The TISIA framework adds another layer to that strategy by focusing specifically on sectors where market access often depends on regulatory cooperation rather than tariffs alone.

Investment Protections Aim to Increase Business Confidence

The agreement also includes provisions designed to protect cross-border investments.

Clearer investment rules can provide businesses with greater confidence when entering new markets, particularly when establishing long-term operations, partnerships or joint ventures.

For both Emirati and Russian companies, greater predictability could encourage new investment in areas such as financial services, healthcare, logistics and professional consulting.

It could also facilitate partnerships between companies seeking to combine regional expertise, capital and international market access.

UAE Strengthens Eurasian Trade Links

The bilateral agreement also complements the UAE’s broader trade relationship with the Eurasian Economic Union.

The five-member bloc includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Stronger commercial links with Russia can therefore support the UAE’s wider ambition to deepen trade and investment ties across Eurasia.

For international businesses, the UAE increasingly serves as a gateway connecting Gulf markets to Central Asia, Europe, and emerging Eurasian economies.

The country’s logistics infrastructure, financial centres and free-zone ecosystem make it particularly attractive for companies seeking a regional base for international operations.

Services Trade Becomes More Important

Global trade agreements have traditionally focused heavily on physical goods and tariffs.

However, services are becoming an increasingly important component of international commerce.

Digital platforms, financial services, consulting, logistics, healthcare and technology are all playing larger roles in cross-border economic activity.

As economies become more digital, regulatory compatibility can become as important as tariff reductions.

Agreements covering services, professional recognition and investment therefore have growing strategic importance.

The UAE Russia trade agreement reflects this shift by focusing on the regulatory environment businesses need to operate across borders.

The UAE Russia Trade Agreement Supports UAE Trade Ambitions

The UAE has set ambitious targets for expanding its non-oil foreign trade over the coming years.

The country aims to increase total non-oil foreign trade to $1.1 trillion by 2031.

Expanding international trade agreements is a major part of that strategy.

In addition to reducing barriers for goods, the UAE is increasingly developing frameworks that support investment, services and digital commerce.

These agreements can help UAE-based companies expand internationally while also encouraging foreign businesses to use the country as a base for regional operations.

Business Forums Expected to Follow

The implementation phase is expected to include greater engagement between the private sectors of both countries.

Government trade authorities are expected to support business forums and commercial meetings connecting Emirati and Russian companies.

These initiatives could help businesses identify partnership opportunities and better understand the new regulatory framework.

Companies operating across the two markets are also expected to review their compliance, investment and licensing structures to take advantage of the agreement.

UAE Expands Role as Global Trade Gateway

The activation of the UAE Russia trade agreement strengthens the UAE’s position as a commercial bridge between the Gulf, Russia and the wider Eurasian region.

By reducing regulatory barriers and improving investment protections, the framework could make it easier for companies to expand services and establish cross-border partnerships.

The UAE Russia trade agreement will ultimately depend on how quickly businesses make use of the new opportunities.

However, the agreement reflects a broader change in global trade strategy: growth is increasingly being driven not only by goods, but also by services, digital platforms, investment and professional expertise.

For the UAE, expanding these connections is becoming a central part of its ambition to remain one of the world’s leading international trade and business hubs.

Vietnam Unveils Digital Economy Strategy While Tightening Cryptocurrency Rules

Government sets ambitious digital transformation roadmap through 2045

Vietnam has approved a sweeping national strategy to accelerate its digital transformation while simultaneously introducing stricter regulations for cryptocurrency trading, underscoring the country’s push to build a secure, data-driven digital economy.

The National Digital Transformation Strategy for 2026–2030, with a vision extending to 2045, aims to modernise Vietnam’s digital infrastructure, strengthen data governance, and position the country as a leading regional digital hub. At the same time, authorities have announced tougher enforcement measures for cryptocurrency activities, including substantial fines for unlicensed trading and stricter compliance requirements for digital asset service providers.

Data governance becomes a national priority

Under the new strategy, Vietnam plans to develop integrated national databases, sector-specific digital networks, shared data platforms and centralised data warehouses built on common technical standards. The government also intends to improve cybersecurity through enhanced data protection systems and incident warning mechanisms.

Officials will implement lifecycle management for critical national databases to improve data quality while reducing long-term maintenance costs. Citizens are also expected to gain greater transparency through digital tools that allow them to monitor how their personal information is collected and used.

The government will invest heavily in digital talent development, with plans to train at least 50,000 public sector employees in data governance, analytics and artificial intelligence. Another 300,000 private-sector workers are expected to receive training in data-related skills and AI applications.

Higher education institutions will also play a key role, with more than 50 universities expected to introduce degree programmes focused on data science, AI, cybersecurity, high-performance computing and data governance. Vietnam also aims to develop a specialised workforce of at least 5,000 data experts by 2030.

Stricter oversight for cryptocurrency markets

Alongside its digital economy plans, Vietnam is significantly tightening oversight of cryptocurrency trading. Beginning September 1, authorities will enforce Decree 284/2026, which introduces financial penalties for individuals using unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges.

Investors trading through platforms not authorised by the Ministry of Finance could face fines ranging from VND30 million to VND50 million. Higher penalties of up to VND100 million may apply to individuals participating in crypto offerings restricted to foreign investors.

Crypto service providers will also face tougher compliance obligations. Companies that fail to provide accurate disclosures, violate licensing rules, or offer unauthorised digital assets could receive fines of up to VND200 million.

In addition, exchanges will be required to conduct Know Your Customer (KYC) checks for all users. Businesses that improperly collect, store or share customer account information will also face significant penalties as regulators strengthen safeguards against money laundering, fraud and data misuse.

Balancing innovation with regulation

Vietnam’s latest initiatives reflect a dual strategy of accelerating digital innovation while strengthening regulatory oversight. The country aims to become one of the world’s leading digital economies by 2045, with ambitions to rank among the top performers in international digital government assessments and establish itself as a regional centre for cross-border data storage, processing and exchange.

By pairing large-scale investments in digital infrastructure and workforce development with tighter cryptocurrency regulation, Vietnam is seeking to create a more secure and trusted environment for digital economic growth while improving investor protection.

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NjiaPay Unveils One-Click Payments to Speed Up South Africa’s E-commerce Checkout

New solution aims to reduce cart abandonment and improve payment success for online merchants

South African fintech NjiaPay has introduced a new one-click payment solution designed to streamline e-commerce checkout experiences by enabling returning customers to complete purchases without repeatedly entering their card details or undergoing additional authentication steps.

The launch addresses one of the biggest challenges facing online retailers in South Africa – checkout friction – which continues to contribute to high cart abandonment rates. According to the company, its payment-provider-agnostic technology allows merchants to offer a seamless repeat-purchase experience regardless of which payment service provider (PSP) they use, eliminating the limitations of traditional one-click payment systems tied to a single provider.

Tokenisation replaces stored card data

The company, which is PCI DSS Level 1 compliant, said the approach enhances security because the stored token cannot be used outside the merchant’s own platform, even in the event of a security breach.

Rather than storing customers’ payment card information, NjiaPay uses secure tokenisation after a shopper completes their first authenticated transaction and consents to saving their payment details. The generated token is unique to each merchant, allowing future purchases to be completed with a single click while reducing the risk of exposing sensitive financial information.

Helping merchants recover lost sales

NjiaPay believes the solution can significantly improve conversion rates by removing unnecessary checkout steps that often discourage customers from completing purchases.

The company estimates merchants could see a 5% to 10% increase in successful card-on-file transactions through the simplified checkout process. The solution is particularly aimed at e-commerce businesses, subscription services and retailers with high volumes of repeat customers.

According to NjiaPay, South African ecommerce businesses experience cart abandonment rates of up to 83%, with payment failures, repeated form filling, redirects and authentication requirements among the leading causes. The company also noted that 3-D Secure authentication succeeds only around 80% of the time, creating additional friction during checkout.

Payment orchestration beyond a single provider

Unlike conventional checkout solutions, NjiaPay operates as a neutral payment orchestration layer that sits above merchants’ existing PSP infrastructure. Its API enables businesses to connect multiple payment providers through a single integration while intelligently routing transactions to improve payment performance.

The platform currently supports card payments, digital wallets and supported variable recurring payment methods, including Capitec Pay VRP. By giving merchants greater flexibility and reducing dependence on a single payment provider, the company aims to improve reliability while maintaining a fast and consistent checkout experience.

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Yalla Secures UAE Central Bank Approval to Expand Digital Payments

Yalla Financial Solutions has received in-principle approval from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) for a Retail Payment Services (RPS) Category II licence, marking a significant milestone in its regional expansion and positioning the company to broaden its digital payments offering in one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing fintech markets.

The approval, granted under the CBUAE’s Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes Regulation, allows Yalla to move closer to launching regulated payment services in the UAE once it fulfils the remaining regulatory requirements and secures its final licence.

Strengthening payment infrastructure

Following final regulatory approval, Yalla plans to expand its payment capabilities for consumers, merchants and enterprises across the UAE. The company aims to provide faster, more secure and locally compliant payment services while supporting the country’s ambitions to become a global hub for digital finance.

According to the company, the future portfolio will include:

Payment gateway services
Payment aggregation
Online and in-store merchant payment acceptance
QR code payments
SoftPOS solutions
Payment orchestration
Tokenisation services
Recurring payment capabilities
Value-added payment services

CEO highlights UAE fintech ambitions

Waleed Sadek, CEO and Founder of Yalla Financial Solutions, described the approval as an important milestone for the company.

He said the decision reflects Yalla’s commitment to building secure, innovative and compliant payment infrastructure while supporting the UAE’s vision of becoming one of the world’s leading digital economies. Sadek added that the company will continue working closely with the central bank to complete the remaining licensing requirements before launching its expanded services.

Supporting digital commerce

Yalla currently operates across Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, offering digital payment solutions for consumers, merchants and financial institutions. The company said the UAE approval aligns with its broader strategy of investing in next-generation payment infrastructure, accelerating digital commerce and improving financial inclusion across the region.

The move comes as the UAE continues to strengthen its regulatory framework for digital payments, encouraging innovation while ensuring payment providers meet strict compliance and security standards. The country’s central bank has recently approved several fintech initiatives aimed at expanding the local digital payments ecosystem.

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UAE and Canada Conclude CEPA Negotiations

The United Arab Emirates and Canada have announced the successful conclusion of negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA. Once the agreement enters into force, it is expected to reduce customs tariffs, remove bureaucratic barriers, and expand market access for businesses in both countries.

The conclusion of the negotiations was announced during UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi’s visit to Canada. Al Zeyoudi was accompanied by a delegation of Emirati officials and business leaders. The announcement was made jointly with Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu.

Fastest Negotiation in the CEPA Programme

The UAE-Canada CEPA negotiations became the fastest agreement completed by the UAE since the programme was launched in September 2021. Canada also stated that the talks, which began last month, were the fastest trade agreement negotiations ever completed by the country.

Bilateral trade between the two countries reached approximately US$4.2 billion in 2025, representing a 21 percent increase compared with the previous year. Following ratification and entry into force, the agreement is expected to increase this volume and accelerate private-sector cooperation.

New Market Access for E-Commerce and Technology Companies

The CEPA is expected to create new trade and investment opportunities in areas including clean energy, advanced technology, data centres, aviation, agri-food, seafood, and critical minerals. The agreement is also projected to facilitate billions of dollars in trade flows into projects involving ports, mines, LNG facilities, and data centres.

Lower tariffs and simplified administrative procedures are also expected to support the cross-border operations of e-commerce and retail companies. For technology businesses, data centres, digital infrastructure, and advanced technology investments stand out as key areas under the agreement.

“We Are Opening New Horizons for the Business Community”

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said the agreement reflects the depth of the strategic relationship between the two countries and their shared determination to build a stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable economic partnership. He added that the CEPA would open new opportunities for business communities in both countries and expand investment and cooperation across priority sectors.

Maninder Sidhu said the agreement would allow Canadian companies to use the UAE as a regional commercial hub to grow their exports. He also stated that the CEPA would encourage investment from the UAE in projects supporting Canada’s long-term economic goals.

The new agreement will complement the existing Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between the two countries. Since the launch of its CEPA programme in September 2021, the UAE has secured agreements with 38 countries.

What have the past two years of UAE-Turkiye CEPA trade taught us?

Qatar’s Digital Payments and E-Commerce Continue Strong Growth in 2026

DOHA, Qatar – Qatar’s digital economy continues to gain momentum as new data from the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) reveals significant growth in e-commerce, point-of-sale (POS), and instant payment transactions during May 2026.

The latest figures highlight consumers’ increasing preference for digital payment methods and online shopping, reinforcing Qatar’s broader strategy to accelerate financial technology adoption and reduce reliance on cash.

Card Payments and E-Commerce Continue to Expand

Card transaction volumes climbed 24% year-over-year, reaching 72.34 million transactions in May 2026. POS payments remained the dominant channel, growing from 42.74 million to 53.82 million transactions compared with the same month last year.

Online e-commerce transactions also recorded robust growth, increasing from 9.45 million to 12.62 million, reflecting the continued expansion of digital retail and growing consumer confidence in online shopping.

In terms of value, total card transactions reached QR24.41 billion, while POS transaction value rose to QR9.82 billion, up from QR8.55 billion a year earlier. Online e-commerce transaction value remained stable at approximately QR3.91 billion, demonstrating resilient consumer spending through digital channels.

Digital Banking Transactions Accelerate

Beyond retail payments, Qatar’s digital banking infrastructure also recorded remarkable growth.

Transactions processed through the Tahweel interbank transfer system surged 58% in value to QR64.24 billion, while transaction volumes jumped 160% year-over-year, reflecting increasing reliance on electronic fund transfers across the country.

Fawran Sees Record Adoption

Qatar’s instant payment platform, Fawran, continued its rapid expansion throughout 2026.

Transaction value increased 159% to QR6.71 billion, while transaction volume climbed 149% to 4.1 million. Meanwhile, registered Fawran accounts reached 3.86 million, highlighting the platform’s growing popularity among consumers and businesses alike.

Qatar Strengthens Its Digital Economy

The latest figures demonstrate Qatar’s accelerating transition toward a digitally driven financial ecosystem, supported by expanding payment infrastructure, growing consumer confidence in electronic payments, and continued investment in financial technology.

As digital commerce, instant payments, and fintech innovation continue to advance, Qatar is reinforcing its position as one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing digital payment and e-commerce markets.

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The UAE’s First National Payment Card, Jaywan, Launched

The United Arab Emirates has launched the nationwide distribution process for Jaywan, the country’s first national payment card system. The cards, which will be introduced gradually by banks, licensed financial institutions, and exchange houses, will be usable in physical stores, on e-commerce platforms, at ATMs, and in compatible digital wallets.

The official launch of Jaywan was carried out by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of the UAE. The system is operated by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE.

Banks Offer Debit and Prepaid Cards

First Abu Dhabi Bank has launched the Jaywan debit card for eligible account holders. The card can be used for shopping at stores and local e-commerce sites in the UAE, withdrawing cash from ATMs, and accessing compatible digital wallets.

Commercial Bank of Dubai is also introducing prepaid Jaywan cards for retail customers. The cards, which can be used by loading funds onto them, will support contactless shopping, online payments, ATM transactions, and tokenization technology, which replaces card details with a digital identity in mobile wallets.

Retail and Financial Inclusion Targeted

Jaywan cards may be offered in debit, prepaid, and credit card formats. International use will depend on the type of card and the partner payment network. Al Etihad Payments is working with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and UnionPay on co-branded cards.

Cardholders are also expected to receive benefits in travel, retail, hospitality, and lifestyle categories. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed stated that Jaywan supports the goal of building a more efficient, resilient, and competitive financial sector, while advancing innovation and financial inclusion.

Jaywan Can Be Used for Online Shopping

Network International has expanded the acceptance of Jaywan cards to its e-commerce payment infrastructure. Through the integration, cardholders will be able to make payments at thousands of online stores served by the company in the UAE. Businesses that accept Jaywan transactions through Network International’s payment gateway will not be charged an additional fee. The company had previously added the card to its payment network for physical stores.

Pinar Alpay, Group Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Network International, stated that online payment support was the natural next step in the work carried out with Al Etihad Payments. Alpay said the integration would provide card users with a consistent payment experience across physical and digital channels.

Retail Sales in Türkiye Increased by 13.7 Percent Year-on-Year in May

Retail sales in Türkiye increased by 13.7 percent year-on-year and by 2.4 percent compared with the previous month in May 2026. According to the Trade Sales Volume Index data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute, total trade sales volume increased on a monthly basis while declining year-on-year.

Retail Sales Gained Momentum on a Monthly Basis

Trade sales volume increased by 0.7 percent in May 2026 compared with the previous month. During the same period, the sales volume of the wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles rose by 2.9 percent.

Retail trade sales volume increased by 2.4 percent month-on-month, while wholesale trade sales volume declined by 0.6 percent. As a result, retail sales returned to growth following the monthly decline recorded in April.

In April 2026, retail trade sales volume had decreased by 1.6 percent month-on-month, marking its first monthly decline since July 2025. The year-on-year increase during the same period was reported at 11.4 percent.

Total Trade Sales Volume Declined Year-on-Year

In May, total trade sales volume decreased by 1.4 percent compared with the same period of the previous year. The sales volume of the trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles declined by 1.7 percent year-on-year, while wholesale trade sales volume fell by 7.8 percent.

By contrast, retail sales increased by 13.7 percent year-on-year, becoming the subcategory of the trade sector that recorded growth.

Sales Data in E-Commerce and Artificial Intelligence Systems

Retail sales volume data is among the indicators used to monitor demand trends, product movements, and consumer shopping behaviour in physical retail and e-commerce operations.

AI-powered retail systems can use data such as historical sales, promotional periods, price changes, and e-commerce traffic in demand forecasting processes. Forecasts generated by these systems can be incorporated into stock planning, product procurement, and inventory management operations.

GCC Inflation Data Announced; Recorded at 1.8 Percent in 2025

The GCC inflation rate in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries was recorded at 1.8 percent in 2025. According to data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf, GCC-Stat, the rate remained below 2 percent for the second consecutive year, despite a limited increase from 1.6 percent in 2024. The report stated that this outlook reflected the impact of economic policies implemented to contain inflationary pressures and maintain price stability.

GCC Inflation Remained Below the Global Average

The GCC inflation rate remained below the global average of 4.2 percent and the 5.3 percent recorded in emerging economies. Inflation was recorded at 3.2 percent in Japan, 2.6 percent in the United States, 2.5 percent in the European Union and advanced economies, and 2.1 percent in the Eurozone.

Housing and miscellaneous goods and services accounted for approximately 73 percent of the overall increase in consumer prices across the region. Prices rose by 5.4 percent in miscellaneous goods and services and by 4 percent in housing.

Prices increased by 2 percent in recreation and culture, 1.6 percent in restaurants and hotels, 1.2 percent in food and beverages, 1 percent in education, 0.6 percent in tobacco, and 0.4 percent in clothing and footwear. No change was recorded in healthcare, communications, furniture, and household goods, while transportation prices declined by 0.2 percent.

Price Data Gains Importance in Retail and E-Commerce

Consumer prices are among the data sets monitored by AI-powered demand forecasting, price optimisation, and inventory planning systems used in retail and e-commerce. Artificial intelligence applications can generate retail forecasts by using sales history, e-commerce traffic, campaigns, and various demand indicators.

The GCC inflation rate increased from 1.5 percent in 2020 to 2.4 percent in 2021 and peaked at 3.2 percent in 2022. After declining to 2.3 percent in 2023 and 1.6 percent in 2024, the rate stood at 1.8 percent in 2025.

Brazil Recorded the Highest Rate Among Trading Partners

Among the GCC countries’ major trading partners, the highest inflation rate was recorded in Brazil at 5 percent. Brazil was followed by the United Kingdom at 3.9 percent, Japan at 3.2 percent, India at 2.8 percent, the United States at 2.6 percent, Germany at 2.2 percent, South Korea at 2.1 percent, Italy at 1.5 percent, and France at 0.9 percent. Inflation in China was reported at zero.

While the 2.1 percent decline in global food and beverage prices helped limit imported inflation, it was reported that the 15.2 percent increase in natural gas prices and geopolitical tensions continued to pose risks. The report stated that similar inflation rates below 2 percent created a favourable environment for economic and monetary integration and provided fiscal space for reforms and development spending. It also emphasised the need to harmonise statistical methodologies and strengthen policy preparedness against external shocks. (GCC inflation data)

Tabby Secures Consumer and SME Finance Licenses in Saudi Arabia, Expanding Beyond BNPL

Saudi fintech unicorn Tabby has obtained consumer finance and SME finance licenses from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), enabling the company to offer longer-term financing options for consumers and working capital solutions for businesses. The move marks a significant step in Tabby’s evolution from a buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider into a broader digital financial services platform.

Tabby announced that the new licenses will allow eligible customers in Saudi Arabia to finance purchases exceeding SAR 2,000 ($533), with financing limits reaching up to SAR 50,000 and repayment terms of up to 12 months. The company’s extended financing plans are already available across selected merchant partners, including Noon, IKEA, Almosafer, flynas, Fitness Time, and Almanea.

New Licenses Open Higher-Value Financing Categories

The expanded financing capabilities enable Tabby to move beyond its traditional short-term BNPL model, which primarily covered lower-value retail purchases. The company can now support larger transactions in categories such as education, travel, healthcare, furniture, used vehicles, and short-term accommodation.

The financing products are structured under Shariah-compliant Murabaha agreements, with costs disclosed upfront and fixed throughout the repayment period. According to the company, customers will not face compounding charges or late fees.

The SME finance license also allows Tabby to provide working capital to merchants operating on its platform, particularly small and medium-sized e-commerce businesses that often struggle to access financing through traditional banking channels. By leveraging transaction and merchant data from its ecosystem, Tabby aims to offer more tailored financing solutions and improve credit assessment capabilities.

Tabby currently serves more than 25 million registered users and over 65,000 businesses across the GCC, with Saudi Arabia representing its largest market. The new regulatory approvals align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives of increasing financial inclusion, promoting fintech innovation, and expanding access to transparent credit solutions for consumers and businesses.

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