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Tabby Raises $233 Million, Valuation Rises to $6.5 Billion

Saudi Arabia-based fintech company Tabby has completed a $233 million Series F funding round at a valuation of $6.5 billion. The company, which offers “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) solutions in e-commerce and retail, will use the new capital to expand its operations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and to develop financial services beyond BNPL.

Blue Pool Capital Led Tabby’s Funding Round

Blue Pool Capital led the new funding round, with HSG, Wellington Management, and Arbor Ventures also participating. According to FinTech Futures, the company’s new $6.5 billion valuation is approximately double the $3.3 billion valuation it reached in its $160 million Series E round in February 2025. Reuters reported that the company had reached a valuation of $4.5 billion in its latest share sale in October 2025.

Reaches 25 Million Users in the E-Commerce Ecosystem

Founded in 2019 by Hosam Arab and Daniil Barkalov, Tabby today serves 25 million registered users and has an annualized transaction volume exceeding $18 billion. Major e-commerce and retail brands such as Amazon and Shein are among the company’s 70,000 partners. FinTech Futures also reports that the platform works with more than 65,000 global and local brands.

Expanding from BNPL into Financing, Cards, and Money Transfers

Having obtained consumer and SME financing licenses in Saudi Arabia, Tabby can provide businesses with working capital in addition to higher-value and longer-term consumer financing. The company also acquired SAMA-licensed digital wallet Tweeq, adding account, card, and money transfer services to its infrastructure. The Stored Value Facilities license obtained in the UAE has also paved the way for Tabby Cash, which has no account or card fees.

CEO Hosam Arab stated that the new capital will primarily be used to support deeper growth in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. While the company has been operating profitably since 2023, part of the funding round was allocated to provide liquidity to employees; share sales by current and former employees exceeded $100 million.

Artificial Intelligence Comes to the Fore in E-Commerce and Retail Shopping

Tabby’s 2026 consumer research also points to the role of artificial intelligence in e-commerce and retail shopping. According to the research, consumers prefer AI to assist in areas such as product comparison, search and discovery, and size recommendations based on past purchases, rather than completely taking over purchasing decisions.

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

Saudi Arabia-Based E-Commerce Platform Salla Acquires Paylink

Saudi Arabia-based e-commerce platform Salla has acquired Paylink, a fintech company that develops electronic payment solutions. The financial value of the deal was not disclosed. The acquisition was carried out as part of the company’s strategy to more comprehensively integrate its e-commerce infrastructure with payment and financial services. With the acquisition, the aim is to enable retail businesses to accept local and international payments across both digital and physical sales channels.

Salla Expands Its Payment Infrastructure with Paylink

Founded in 2017 by Ammar AlTwaijri and Abdulelah Alsayegh, Paylink is licensed by the Saudi Central Bank to provide e-commerce payment services and carries the “Saudi Tech” label. The company provides electronic payment solutions to entrepreneurs, SMEs, companies, and public institutions.

As part of the acquisition, Paylink’s payment infrastructure is planned to be integrated with Salla’s e-commerce ecosystem. This structure will cover payment acceptance and management across online and physical channels, as well as SoftPOS technologies, various payment methods, multi-currency support, and international collection options.

Serves More Than 65,000 Active Stores

Salla states that it serves more than 65,000 active subscription-based stores and that the sales volume generated through the platform has exceeded 45 billion Saudi riyals. In addition to online store setup, the platform offers payment, shipping, inventory management, and marketing tools within a single e-commerce ecosystem.

Salla Founder and CEO Nawaf Hariri stated that they view financial services as a natural extension of the company’s existing vision. Hariri said that with the capabilities provided by Paylink, they aim to develop smarter and more integrated payment solutions and enable merchants to receive payments from their customers at online or physical points of sale, both domestically and internationally.

E-Commerce Platform’s Acquisition Strategy Continues

The Paylink transaction represents a continuation of Salla’s strategy of bringing complementary technology companies into its organization. In 2025, the company acquired the digital advertising platform Sweply and integrated the service into its ecosystem under the name Salla Ads. This enabled merchants to manage and optimize their advertising campaigns directly through the platform.

Artificial Intelligence, Retail, and Financial Technologies in the Same Ecosystem

Within a structure where e-commerce platforms bring together retail operations such as payments, advertising, inventory, and marketing in one place, artificial intelligence-powered technologies are also among the technological components of the digital commerce ecosystem. With the Paylink acquisition, Salla’s stated focus is on expanding payment acceptance, financial services, physical points of sale, and cross-border collection capabilities.

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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Saudi Arabia Leads as MENA Startups Raise $96.1 Million in Two Weeks

Fintech dominates regional funding while Saudi Arabia and the UAE attract the largest share of venture capital

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) startups secured $96.1 million across 22 funding rounds during the second half of July 2026, highlighting continued investor confidence despite a more selective venture capital environment. Saudi Arabia emerged as the leading destination for capital, driven by strong fintech investment and ongoing government-backed innovation initiatives.

The funding activity reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the region’s fastest-growing startup ecosystems, with fintech continuing to dominate investor interest. The Kingdom has benefited from regulatory reforms, digital transformation initiatives under Vision 2030, and increased participation from regional venture capital firms.

Saudi fintech remains the investment hotspot

Financial technology companies accounted for the largest share of funding during the reporting period, reflecting sustained demand for digital payment platforms, embedded finance, lending solutions and enterprise financial services.

Saudi Arabia captured the highest investment volume among MENA markets, while the UAE continued to maintain strong startup activity across fintech, AI and enterprise software. Egypt also recorded investment rounds, particularly in technology-enabled financial services and digital commerce.

Investors increasingly favoured startups demonstrating clear revenue growth, scalable business models and strong regulatory alignment, particularly within highly regulated sectors such as financial services.

AI and enterprise software continue attracting capital

Beyond fintech, artificial intelligence, SaaS platforms, logistics technology and digital infrastructure remained attractive sectors for investors.

The recent funding rounds indicate that venture capital firms are prioritising technologies capable of improving operational efficiency, automation and enterprise productivity as businesses across the region accelerate digital transformation.

Early-stage startups continued to receive the majority of investments, although investors maintained a cautious approach by concentrating capital in businesses with proven market traction.

Investment climate remains resilient

While regional venture funding has moderated compared with record levels seen in previous years, investor appetite remains healthy for startups operating in strategic sectors supported by government digital economy programmes.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to benefit from expanding venture ecosystems, sovereign-backed investment initiatives and an increasing number of international investors entering the region.

Recent industry data also shows fintech remains MENA’s largest funded sector during 2026, underlining the region’s ongoing transition towards digital financial services and cashless economies.

As capital becomes increasingly selective, startups with strong fundamentals, sustainable revenue models and regional expansion strategies are expected to remain the primary beneficiaries of venture investment throughout the remainder of 2026.

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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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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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Egyptian Fintech Unicorn MNT-Halan Eyes Major IPO as Valuation Approaches $1 Billion

Leadership team of Egyptian fintech unicorn MNT-Halan as the company explores a potential IPO in Egypt.

The potential public listing could become one of Egypt’s largest fintech IPOs and marks another milestone in the country’s rapidly evolving digital finance ecosystem.

Egypt’s first fintech unicorn, MNT-Halan, is reportedly exploring an initial public offering (IPO) that could value the company’s Egyptian operations at between $900 million and $1 billion, positioning it as one of the country’s most significant technology listings to date. The move could also elevate founder and CEO Mounir Nakhla among Egypt’s most prominent tech entrepreneurs.

Founded in 2018, MNT-Halan has developed into one of the Middle East and North Africa’s leading digital financial services platforms. Through its super app, the company offers unsecured consumer lending, buy-now-pay-later solutions, digital payments, e-commerce services, savings products, and financing for merchants and small businesses. Its technology-driven credit scoring system enables access to financial services for millions of underserved consumers who have limited relationships with traditional banks.

A Potential Milestone for Egypt’s Fintech Sector

The company is reportedly working with financial advisors, including Citigroup and EFG Hermes, as it evaluates a potential listing on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX). While no final decision has been announced, the IPO discussions reflect growing confidence in Egypt’s fintech ecosystem and increasing investor appetite for technology-driven financial services businesses.

MNT-Halan achieved unicorn status in 2023 and recently secured additional investment that reportedly lifted its overall valuation to approximately $1.4 billion across its regional operations. The company has expanded beyond Egypt into markets including Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth initiatives.

The potential listing arrives as Egypt’s capital markets seek to attract more growth-stage technology companies. Industry observers believe a successful MNT-Halan IPO could encourage other private technology firms to consider public market listings, further strengthening Egypt’s position as an emerging fintech hub in the region.

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Egypt’s First Integrated Digital Automotive E-Commerce Platform

In a landmark development for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) retail technology sector, Valu, Egypt’s leading universal financial technology powerhouse, has partnered with the digital automotive services marketplace, ElTawkeel.com. Executed through Valu’s specialised automotive financing arm, Valu Shift, this strategic alliance marks the official launch of Egypt’s first fully integrated digital automotive e-commerce platform dedicated exclusively to the brand-new car segment.

The groundbreaking initiative introduces a unified ecosystem where customers can browse, compare, book, pay for, and finance a new vehicle within a single, frictionless digital journey.

Overcoming Friction via Seamless Digital Automotive E-Commerce

Traditionally, purchasing a new vehicle in Egypt has been an offline, heavily fragmented process characterized by information ambiguity, tedious paperwork, and prolonged coordination between dealerships and financial institutions. By embedding Valu Shift’s fintech capabilities directly into ElTawkeel.com, the new platform fundamentally resolves these legacy pain points, establishing a high benchmark for the region’s digital automotive e-commerce sector.

The end-to-end digital architecture allows consumers to explore a diverse range of brand-new vehicles, leverage detailed comparison tools, and access transparent, official pricing. Most notably, buyers can now secure financing pre-approval within just one hour, eliminating the logistical bottlenecks that typically stall high-ticket retail transactions.

“This initiative marks an important milestone in further advancing Valu Shift’s role within Egypt’s automotive financing landscape,” said Mostafa El-Sahn, Chief Risk Officer of Valu. “Through our partnership with ElTawkeel.com, Valu Shift enables customers to receive financing pre-approvals within just one hour, delivering a fully digital and documented journey that removes the need to move between multiple entities to complete a vehicle purchase. By embedding financing directly within the new car-buying experience, we are simplifying a traditionally complex process while advancing greater transparency, efficiency, and accessibility across Egypt’s automotive market.”

Reorganizing Egypt’s Auto Market Through Digital Automotive E-Commerce

Beyond transactional speed, the platform is designed to structurally transform consumer behavior by offering comprehensive, native value-added services. Alongside flexible financing options, the interface integrates digital insurance solutions, allowing users to choose from competitive packages provided by leading insurance companies in real time.

This holistic approach shifts the industry from standard online listings to a robust digital automotive e-commerce ecosystem tailored specifically for modern, digital-first consumers.

“We are not just launching a car sales e-commerce platform; we are establishing a new model that completely reorganizes the automotive market in Egypt,” stated Ali Shaaban, Founder of ElTawkeel.com. “Our goal is to provide a transparent and integrated buying experience. We believe true digital transformation in this sector requires the integration of sales, financing, and insurance within one system, which is exactly what we have built at ElTawkeel.com.” Shaaban emphasized that Valu’s rapid, adaptable financing engine serves as the vital cornerstone required to build consumer trust and simplify complex multi-party procedures.

Scalable Fintech Backing the Future of Digital Automotive E-Commerce

The initiative relies heavily on Valu’s advanced financial technology stack and massive market footprint. As the first consumer finance-focused fintech company to list on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX: VALU.CA), Valu has maintained an aggressive growth trajectory. The company’s dynamic business model is further validated by a direct equity stake from global e-commerce giant Amazon.com.

Valu’s continuous scaling, including its recent expansion into Jordan under a specialised finance license from the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ), provides the operational stability required to handle high-volume, large-scale transactions on ElTawkeel.com.

As global B2B and B2C retail trends increasingly shift toward embedded finance, this partnership demonstrates how digital marketplaces can successfully capture value in high-value sectors. By combining industry expertise with fintech innovation, Valu and ElTawkeel.com have created a sustainable roadmap for the evolution of digital automotive e-commerce across the wider MENA region.

MercadoLibre Revenue Jumps 49% as E-Commerce Demand Accelerates Across Latin America

Latin American e-commerce and fintech giant MercadoLibre reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter revenue results, driven by rising online shopping activity and continued growth in its digital payments ecosystem. The company posted its fastest revenue expansion in nearly four years, reinforcing its position as one of the region’s most influential digital commerce platforms.

MercadoLibre generated $8.8 billion in revenue during the first quarter of 2026, marking a 49% year-over-year increase and surpassing analysts’ expectations of approximately $8.3 billion. The company’s performance was fueled by strong consumer demand across its marketplace operations as well as sustained momentum from Mercado Pago, its fintech and digital payments division.

Despite the strong top-line growth, profitability came under pressure as the company increased investments in logistics infrastructure, free shipping initiatives, and credit expansion strategies. Net profit declined 15.6% year-over-year to $417 million, falling below market expectations for the fourth consecutive quarter. Following the earnings release, MercadoLibre shares experienced a slight decline as investors reacted to margin pressures despite the revenue beat.

MercadoLibre Expands Its Regional E-Commerce Dominance

MercadoLibre continues to strengthen its leadership across Latin America, particularly in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina — its three largest markets. The company has been aggressively investing in fulfillment centers, delivery capabilities, and financial services to deepen customer engagement and compete more effectively against both regional and global rivals.The company’s integrated ecosystem has become a key competitive advantage. By combining e-commerce, logistics, digital payments, and credit services under one platform, MercadoLibre has managed to create a highly interconnected commerce environment for consumers and merchants alike. Analysts increasingly view this strategy as critical to sustaining long-term growth in the region’s evolving digital economy.

Mercado Pago also remains one of the company’s strongest growth engines. The fintech division continues to expand its user base by offering digital wallets, payment processing, consumer credit, and merchant financing solutions in markets where traditional banking penetration remains relatively low. This positions MercadoLibre at the center of Latin America’s accelerating transition toward digital finance.

While short-term profitability pressures persist due to aggressive reinvestment, many investors continue to focus on MercadoLibre’s long-term expansion potential. The company’s ongoing investments in logistics efficiency, customer acquisition, and financial services are widely viewed as strategic moves designed to strengthen market share and support future scalability.MercadoLibre’s latest results also highlight the broader resilience of the Latin American e-commerce sector, where rising internet penetration, mobile commerce adoption, and digital payment usage continue to reshape consumer behavior across the region.

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