Latest from Fintech News ME
Fintech News ME
3 hours ago
- Business
- Fintech News ME
Property Finder Appoints REA Group CEO Owen Wilson to Board
Property Finder, a Dubai-based property portal, has appointed Owen Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of REA Group, to its Board of Directors. Wilson brings extensive executive and operational experience, including nearly a decade at REA Group. He joined the Australia-based company as Chief Financial Officer before being appointed Chief Executive Officer. REA Group, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) with a market capitalisation of approximately US$ 20 billion, is known for operating an Australian property platform. The company is majority-owned by News Corp and was previously a shareholder in Property Finder. During his tenure, Wilson led REA Group through a period of consistent growth and international expansion. The business has gained a reputation as one of the most advanced digital real estate companies globally. Wilson's appointment to Property Finder's Board reflects the company's focus on strengthening governance, enhancing innovation, and continuing to develop its services for home seekers, buyers, and partners in the region. Owen Wilson said: 'I've long admired Property Finder's bold vision and the transformative role it plays in reshaping real estate across the MENA region. Under Michael's leadership, the team's relentless focus on innovation, customer experience, and data-driven decision-making closely aligns with the values I've championed throughout my career. I'm excited to support Michael and the Board as the company embarks on its next chapter of growth and continues to shape the future of property search.'
Fintech News ME
6 hours ago
- Business
- Fintech News ME
BridgeWise Launches SignalWise to Deliver AI-Powered Investment Alerts
BridgeWise, an AI-driven investment intelligence platform, has introduced SignalWise, a new personalised alerts and insights system aimed at digital trading platforms and financial advisors. The tool is designed to support more informed decision-making by providing timely, relevant market intelligence tailored to individual investor behaviors and portfolios. Unlike traditional alert systems, SignalWise combines real-time event detection with AI-powered predictive analysis. It offers a layer of contextual insight, drawing on historical data and statistical analyses to help users interpret market activity across asset classes such as equities, ETFs, mutual funds, forex, crypto indices, and commodities. The system delivers insights in multiple languages and aligns notifications with user interests and activity levels. Ayush Khatri, Regional Head for the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) at BridgeWise, commented, 'In today's climate of geopolitical uncertainty, guesswork has no place in investing. Confident investment decisions require clear data-driven intelligence that builds trust. SignalWise delivers an AI-empowered investment experience that transforms real-time market data into intelligent, contextual alerts, equipping investors to navigate volatility with precision and act decisively across multiple asset classes.' With its regional headquarters in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), BridgeWise has strengthened its presence in the MENA region, supported by a strategic investment from Emirates NBD. The company is now introducing technologies such as SignalWise and its AI-based investment chat and analytics platform to the UAE's growing financial services sector. SignalWise allows trading platforms and advisors to engage more effectively with investors by delivering customized notifications via email, SMS, push messages, or in-platform tools. This approach has reportedly led to increased user engagement, including an average click-through rate of around 15% on alerts, a revenue increase of approximately US$3 per notification, and higher client deposit activity attributed to the alert system. BridgeWise intends to expand SignalWise's functionality in the coming months, including integrating the tool with Bridget, its AI-powered investment chat assistant, which offers regulatory-compliant investment recommendations.
Fintech News ME
a day ago
- Business
- Fintech News ME
UAE Central Bank and China's CIPS Partner to Enhance Cross Border Payment Efficiency
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and CIPS, the operator of China's Cross Border Interbank Payment System, have signed a MoU to strengthen cooperation in payment infrastructure and improve the efficiency of cross border transactions between the UAE and China. Under the agreement, both parties will collaborate on initiatives aimed at supporting the use of their respective payment systems for transactions between the two countries. The partnership will also cover areas such as risk management, compliance, and the exchange of expertise to enhance the security and stability of cross border payment infrastructure. Saif Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services at CBUAE, said, 'We look forward to keeping pace with developments in the global payments landscape and leveraging technology and innovation to stimulate economic and trade growth, develop the financial services sector in both countries, create innovative financial solutions for cross border payments settlement, and facilitate transactions and reduce costs. This will contribute to enhancing the promising prospects for sustainable development and achieving the mutual interests of the two countries.' Xiangyang Wu, Vice President of CIPS, said, added, 'This MoU reflects our shared desire to strengthen cooperation, exchange expertise, and leverage digital advancements to streamline the processing and settlement of cross border financial payments more smoothly and efficiently between the two countries, and enable stakeholders to easily access payment services. This will facilitate the achievement of our common goals and support the continued prosperity of both our economies.'
Fintech News ME
a day ago
- Business
- Fintech News ME
OCTA Secures US$20 Million to Expand SME Financing in Saudi
OCTA, a fintech platform based in the UAE, has secured a US$20 million credit facility from the Sukna Fund for Direct Financing (SFDF). The funding will support OCTA's goal to offer short-term working capital financing directly through its platform, enabling SMEs in Saudi Arabia to access credit more easily. Unlike traditional lending models that require separate applications and banking integrations, OCTA enables financing from within a business's invoicing and payment systems. This allows companies to access funds as soon as invoices are issued or payables are due, helping to avoid the common 60 to 90 day cash flow delays. 'Most SMEs don't fail because they lack revenue, they fail because their cash is locked up,' said Jon Santillan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of OCTA. 'Our partnership with Sukna Fund allows us to bring financing directly into the heart of daily operations, where businesses need it most.' The credit facility is delivered through OCTA's proprietary platform, which integrates with a company's existing financial systems. Repayments are automated and linked to real-time collections or scheduled payouts, aligning funding with actual cash flow and reducing the operational burden on SMEs. Since launching in 2024, OCTA has positioned itself as a contract to cash platform, managing invoicing, payments, collections, and now embedded credit. The platform is designed to improve SME liquidity, streamline operations, and reduce reliance on traditional financial institutions.
Fintech News ME
2 days ago
- Business
- Fintech News ME
Qi Teams Up with K2 Integrity to Boost Iraq's Financial Compliance Standards
Qi, also known as International Smart Card and based in Iraq, has entered into a strategic partnership with K2 Integrity, a United States-based advisory firm specialising in compliance and financial crime prevention. The agreement is intended to enhance the financial compliance standards across Qi's operations in the UAE, Jordan, and Iraq. Under the terms of the partnership, K2 Integrity will establish a large operations and compliance office in Jordan, which will be integrated into Qi's broader compliance framework. Qi's back office in the UAE will also be used by K2 Integrity as a space for testing and developing new products and services. The collaboration represents a step towards upgrading Qi's internal controls and establishing a compliance model aimed at supporting the wider Iraqi financial system. The partnership comes at a time when Iraq is focusing on economic reconstruction and reintegration into the global financial system. Transparency and outdated compliance infrastructure have been areas of concern, affecting the country's reputation with international institutions and investors. Qi has taken action by working with K2 Integrity, a firm recognised for its work in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards. The initiative aims to address these challenges and contribute to broader efforts to improve financial integrity in Iraq. 'This is not just about one business group,' said Bahaa Abdul Hadi, Chairman of International Smart Card, which operates the Qi Card platform. 'This is about Iraq and its economic future. We believe in leading by example as we did in the past. We are investing heavily to ensure our systems, people, and partners meet the highest global standards of financial integrity.' He added that the partnership reflects Qi's commitment to aligning Iraq's electronic payments infrastructure with international compliance expectations. The collaboration will span 36 months and will be carried out in three phases. K2 Integrity will be responsible for evaluating and revising Qi's financial crime compliance framework, providing training to personnel across all levels, taking over operations to implement international best practices, and eventually transitioning the programme to be managed internally by Qi. The scale of this initiative is expected to have a national impact. As Iraq's largest electronic payment provider, Qi works with government agencies, banks, and global financial networks. The compliance systems developed through this partnership are likely to influence broader regulatory and industry standards in the country. K2 Integrity, based in New York, has a track record of advising governments, multinational institutions, and major banks. Its team includes former officials from the US Treasury with experience in designing global compliance and financial crime prevention strategies. The firm's involvement in Iraq reflects a level of confidence in the country's direction on financial reforms. 'Qi is setting the tone for a new era in Iraq,' said Chip Poncy, Global Head of Financial Integrity at K2 Integrity. 'By committing to global standards and transparency, Qi is building not just resilience, but regional leadership in financial compliance.' The initiative is viewed as a significant development in Iraq's efforts to improve compliance frameworks, foster investor trust, and support financial stability. It is also expected to facilitate cross-border transactions and improve access to financial services, supporting the country's broader economic goals.
