Mohammed Kateeb, BSc and MBA.

Bank of Beirut announces its first-of-its-kind conference for Bekaa region, under the theme: “A BankTech Ecosystem from the Heart of the Bekaa.” This unique event brings together a wide array of experts and leaders from institutions, factories, and companies across the Bekaa region, in collaboration with the “Association of Bekaa Industrialists”. This conference is designed for professionals from the manufacturing and industrial sectors, seeking to understand how digital finance can be integrated into daily operations. The event will also showcase Bank of Beirut’s cutting-edge financial solutions, purpose-built for the needs of the industrial and commercial landscape. Key Highlights of the Conference: Expert-led sessions Real-life case studies Panel discussions Industry networking Stay tuned for the full agenda and speaker details—coming soon! #BusinessIntelligence #BusinessBankingIntelligence #BankOfBeirut #BusinessConference #BankTech #Innovation #Networking #HildaMaaloufMelki #Fintech #LebanonBusiness #BusinessConference #Fintech #ConferenceHighlights #expertinsights #Ecosystem #Beqaa

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Under Bahaa Abdul Hadi's leadership, QiCard has grown beyond a national payment solution into a regional fintech force. In this interview, Bahaa speaks with tahawultech.com about the company’s journey in driving digital transformation and financial inclusion across Iraq — and now, beyond borders. Read here: https://lnkd.in/dfinyweX

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#DidYouKnow? The #MiddleEastAndAfrica’s tech scene is booming, especially in the Gulf. As we are just closing Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, one main take away is that the #Gulf is pouring resources into AI, renewables, and digital infrastructure to diversify away from oil. The region’s retail financial services lag behind its digital adoption—credit is tough to get, and banks are cautious, but smartphone and e-commerce use are world-class. This gap has been a launchpad for companies like #Tabby, which has become a critical enabler in a $300 billion retail market by offering BNLP services that go beyond payments. Tabby’s success is no accident. The GCC rewards deep localization and regulatory savvy, not just flashy tech. Global fintechs often stumble here, but Tabby’s focus on compliance and local partnerships has created a strong moat, helping it scale in markets like #SaudiArabia and the #UAE. Africa’s digital economy is on a tear, with #Fintech revenue projected to hit $65 billion by 2030, powered by a 20% annual growth in internet penetration and surging mobile adoption. Over 60% of recent funding has flowed into payments and digital lending, with infrastructure and insurtech also gaining ground. #Nigeria is leading the charge, with deal value in Q4 2024 up 200% year-on-year, as the continent’s fintech ecosystem consolidates and matures. Flutterwave stands out as Africa payments powerhouse, connecting businesses across over 30 countries and enabling seamless cross-border transactions. This Silverbacks Holdings portfolio company (PortCo) has ridden Africa’s mobile payments wave, building robust infrastructure and forging partnerships with banks and global giants. Another Silverbacks’ PortCo now UAE based, Moove is rewriting the rules for mobility fintech in Africa. By offering vehicle financing to gig workers—especially ride-hailing drivers—Moove addresses a massive gap in access to credit and asset ownership. Its model is data-driven, leveraging ride-hailing platform data to underwrite loans, and it’s expanding rapidly across major African cities. Moove’s growth reflects a broader trend: fintechs are solving real-world problems for Africa’s emerging middle class and ultimately building Ai-centric solutions around critical services for global leaders like Uber and Waymo. Today this Africa born company operates from Lagos to Dubai to Mumbai, from London to Miami to São Paulo. Going #FromAfrica2TheWorld, it is one of the globe’s most dominant mobility fintech players with a presence in 20 cities across 5 continents. In the meantime, strategic M&A is picking up speed, with banks and regional platforms snapping up fintechs for their tech, user bases, and licenses, but also international tech giants seeking to snap top operators in our regions. In both the Middle East & Africa, the winners are those who build deep local roots, invest in compliance, and solve real pain points—reshaping finance, commerce, and daily life across our regions.

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𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬. Thank you to Chris Hamill-Stewart and AGBI - Arabian Gulf Business Insight for including Mr. Gevorkyan’s perspective in this recent feature on fintech in the Middle East. While only a portion of his commentary was included, the full insight reflected a core belief shaped by years in financial infrastructure: monetization looks very different at opposite ends of the financial spectrum. - In mass-market fintech, monetization depends on reach: lower fees, higher user volume, and financial education. - In private wealth, it’s the opposite: monetization is earned through discretion, relationship depth, and strategic alignment over time. Both approaches are valid. But they are not interchangeable. As Mr. Gevorkyan emphasized, fintech monetization cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader financial industry. Integration with stable capital and institutional structures is what makes growth sustainable. The real question is not just how fintech will scale, but how it will earn trust where capital demands care. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/erYMmKWa

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Qatar Financial Center Authority adopts #Tokenization for Islamic Bonds Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) chief executive officer Yousef Mohamed al-Jaida said digital investment platforms are providing automated, Shariah-compliant portfolios; while crowdfunding platforms are enabling ethical investments in real estate and social impact projects. "We have #tokenised #sukuk and digital takaful platforms that are not only enhancing transparency but improving settlement speed and risk-sharing in real time," he said, adding the extent of how emerging technologies, like #blockchain, can expand Islamic finance is "limitless". Smart contracts and #AI (artificial intelligence)-driven Shariah advisory tools can #automate compliance and auditing, while cross-border digital settlement corridors and tokenised real-economy assets can enhance efficiency and global access. "At the QFC, we are actively shaping this future. Through initiatives such as our Digital Assets Lab and the QFC Digital Assets Framework, we are building an enabling ecosystem for digital assets — from tokenisation and smart contracts to custody solutions. These efforts create a space where Islamic finance can harness innovation while remaining firmly aligned with Shariah principles," according to him. QATAR NATIONAL BANK #tokenization #transformation Link in the comments

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Another insightful piece by Dr. Mahmoud Mohie El Dine on debt sustainability and how the Global South remains burdened by a spiraling debt crisis. My personal reflection: while many argue that global debt exceeds the available assets to repay it, I believe the dislocation stems largely from a mismanaged asset base and vast unutilized resources, compounded by insufficient capital and weak debt management practices. Unlocking dormant assets and strengthening debt governance could be key to reversing the trajectory. #DebtSustainability #GlobalSouth #DevelopmentFinance #PublicFinance #EmergingMarkets #SustainableDevelopment #DebtCrisis #Governance #EconomicResilience

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