The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region solidified its position in 2025 as a global hub for financial services innovation, driven by ambitious government initiatives and the acceleration of digital payments infrastructure.
The UAE, in particular, is deemed to be on the verge of a digitisation “inflection point,” according to Islam Shawky, co-founder and CEO of payments provider Paymob. Paymob, which secured a full operating licence from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates in 2025, plans an aggressive expansion to capture the market. Shawky noted the huge government push and national initiatives to boost the digital economy, adding that Paymob expects to surpass its Egyptian GDP processing figures in less time in the UAE due to the higher degree of digitisation.
A key driver for this anticipated 2026 growth is the adoption of instant payment platforms. For Paymob, interacting with Aani, the UAE’s instant payment platform, overcomes the primary disadvantage digital payments have compared to cash. Shawky stated, “However, Aani gives us the same advantage that cash does—instant settlement. As a result, we’re very bullish about Aani and the prospects of it in the UAE”. The country’s interconnected government systems also lower the cost and friction of onboarding new merchants through simpler Know-Your-Customer (KYC) compliance.
The ambition of the region was showcased at major events in late 2025, including Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) and Fintech Forward 2025 (FF25) in Bahrain. The latter, hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), was themed “The Era of Integration: The Maturing Age of Fintech,” and resulted in 38 strategic agreements. FF25 also saw the successful pilot of a Google Cloud infrastructure for payments involving leading Bahraini banks and BENEFIT, enabling instant digital transactions.
Dalal Buhejji, Executive Director of Financial Services at the Bahrain EDB, highlighted the importance of this collaborative environment, saying, “We are proud to welcome UK delegation to Bahrain as part of this partnership with DBT, a testament to our island nation’s growing reputation as a gateway for innovation and cross-border collaboration”.
The regional momentum extends to digital asset infrastructure, with major global players establishing a physical presence. At ADFW 2025, Galaxy Digital, a Nasdaq-listed digital assets firm, and the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) announced the opening of offices in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). H.E. Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the ADGM Academy, affirmed the region’s focus, stating, “Through platforms like Fintech Abu Dhabi, we are not only anticipating what’s next for the sector but actively building it”. This concentration of investment and regulatory focus positions the MENA region to lead the global charge in payments and financial infrastructure throughout 2026.