Top 40 Fintech influencers to follow in the Middle East

Over the last couple of years, several changes in technology have an impact on financial and banking services as well. Now everyone is aware of the term FinTech which means usage of technology in the financial sector. Definitely, fintech influencers had their piece of share in making fintech an enormous thing by sharing their ideas and influencing the world of techno-finance. Along with several other nations, the Middle East also have seen many influencers who helped in Fintech growth.

Here’s a list of top Fintech influencers in the Middle East region (not in a specific order)

1. Raja Al Mazrouei

Raja Al Mazrouei is the Executive Vice President of FinTech Hive at the Dubai International Financial Centre(DIFC). She works with an aim to make DIFC as the region’s best innovative destination for Fintech.

2. Arif Amiri

Arif Amiri is the Cheif Executing Officer at Dubai International Financial Center(DIFC). He manages the strategic and operational functions of the center. Currently, DIFC is working towards the fintech development which is a part Arif’s vision for DIFC.

3. Leigh Flounders

Leigh Flounders is the Senior Vice President Head of Digital Strategy and Engagement at Emirates NBD. He bagged several awards till date, amongst which The 2017 South By Southwest(SXSW) Conference FinTech & Payments pitch winner deserves a special mention.

4. Craig Moore

Craig Moore is the founder of Beehive which is the first peer-to-peer lending platform in the Middle East and North Africa(MENA) region. Beehive was launched in November 2014, it connects businesses seeking finance and investors. Till date, it has provided finance to more than 32 SMEs.

5. Kanchan Kumar

Kanchan Kumar is one of the founders of Remitr. Remitr is an end-to-end money transfer platform which was started with an aim to make global payments simple. In the year 2016, it was recognized as one of the most promising startups in the UAE region. 

6. Suvo Sarkar

Suvo Sarkar is the Senior Executive Vice President and Group Head in Retail banking & Wealth management at Emirates NBD. He contributes to the growth of revenue, profits and customer base for the bank by setting new standards for product innovation. He also publishes a column on the changing paradigms in the banking sector. He is considered as a Finovate speaker in the Middle East.

7. Abdul Fahad Al Jouf

Abdul Fahad Al Jouf is the founder of PayTabs. PayTabs is a payment gateway that provides businesses to transfer funds to each other without any complications. Realizing the difficulties faced by the SME merchants in the MENA region to get a payment gateway, Abdul developed PayTabs. It provides payment solutions to all kinds of business be it small and medium enterprises, large scale organizations, etc.

8. Mirna Sleiman

Mirna Sleiman is the CEO and founder of Fintech Galaxy which is a digital crowdsourcing platform. It connects fintech entrepreneurs and investors. Mirna is the former award-winning financial journalist. She even guided several banks and governments on their digital transformation projects.

9. Sridhar Iyer

Sridhar Iyer is the Head of Mashreq Neo and Banking. Mashreq Neo is the digital banking application that is working with an aim to make banking easy and swift for the customers. This definitely makes a good addition to the growth of fintech in the UAE region.

10. Moussa Beidas

Moussa Beidas is the founder of Bridg, a smartphone app. It is an app which uses Bluetooth to make online payments. It is the first app that works on flight mode as well. Bridg is definitely one of the best fintech innovations. It makes the payment process simple. 

11. Sagar Sanap

Sagar Sanap is the AVP- Digital Sales Lead in Citi Bank. Being expertise in the field of Product strategy, Digital marketing, and campaign management, he is making a good share in the field of fintech.

12. Sam Quawasmi

Sam Quawasmi is one of the founders of the first equity crowdfunding platform Eureeca. It provides equity-based crowdfunding opportunity for the businesses. In the year 2013, Sam Quawasmi and Chris Thomas(Founder of Eureeca) were awarded “Innovator of the Year” award by Gulf Business Industry Awards in the UAE. 

13. Peter Smith

Peter Smith is the managing director, policy and strategy at Dubai Financial Services Authority(DFSA). DFSA regulates the financial services conducted from Dubai International Financial Center(DIFC) which works with a vision to drive the future of finance.

14. Philip King

Philip King is the Global Head of Retail Banking at ADIB. Prior to ADIB, he worked in several other well-known banks. ADIB launched MoneySmart which is the first digital community in the Middle East region. It also added “ADIB Express” to their app in order to provide instant digital services to their customers.

15. Richard Teng

Richard Teng is the CEO of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), Abu Dhabi Global Market(ADGM). The first Fintech Regulatory Laboratory Framework in the MENA region was developed in ADGM under the supervision of Richard. He works in the development of Fintech ecosystem in Abu Dhabi region. 

16. Wai Lum Kwok

Wai Lum Kwok is the Executive Director of Capital Markets, Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), Abu Dhabi Global Market(ADGM). He is known for his efforts and supervision in the development of Fintech in ADGM.

17. Promoth Manghat

Promoth Manghat is the CEO of UAE Exchange. He leads the global operations team of UAE Exchange center. He supervises in expanding UAE Exchange all over the world besides the day-to-day operations of his team.

18. Jayesh Patel

Jayesh Patel is the head of Liv. account of Emirates NBD. Liv. account is the first digital banking account in the UAE region. This account was launched by taking millennials and digital lifestyle into consideration. Liv account is one of the best add-ons to Fintech growth in the UAE. 

19. Stelios Michaelides

Stelios Michaelides is the head of Digital Banking in Commercial Bank of Dubai(CBD). CBD Now is a digital banking product that was launched under the supervision of Stelios. It uses the latest technologies which promote in the safe and simplest way of banking for the customers.

20. Siddiq Farid

Siddiq Farid is the CEO and one of the founders of SmartCrowd. SmartCrowd is a real estate crowdfunding platform in the UAE. It is the only company that is regulated by the DFSA(Dubai Financial Services Authority) and the first company in UAE that supports digital real estate investments.

21. Tanvir Shah

Tanvir Shah is the Managing Director of The Partnerships Consulting. He supervises on banking, payments, fintech strategies, etc. in the MENA region. His works have been recognized by several popular publications like The Banker Middle East, Cards International, etc.

22. Lynnette Abad

Lynnette is the Director of Research and Data at PropertyFinder group. Having technology and real estate as her professional passions, she’s been working on PropTech for maximum time in her career. 

23. Mark Chahwan

Mark is one of the co-founders of Sarwa. Sarwa is an online financial advisor that helps customers in finding investment opportunities with good returns and low-risks. It was recognized as one of the top 20 fintech companies by Forbes and the first startup to have an innovation license by the Dubai International Financial Center.

24. Mike Cunningham

Mike has been spending most of his career in the FinTech sector. He works as an independent mentor at DIFC(Dubai International Financial Center) Fintech Hive. Besides that, he is the CEO of BankClearly a startup which invented a new way of banking.

25. Omar Soudodi

Omar Soudodi is the managing director at PayFort. PayFort is a payment gateway platform which provides a secured and safe payment facility for online shoppers. It has won several awards in the MENA region along with the Best Fintech Company in the year 2016 by The Entrepreneur. 

26. Usama Zafar

Usama Zafar is the Head of Digital & Direct Marketing in ADIB. He has 13+ years of work experience in well-acclaimed domestic and international companies. He is considered as a growth hacker with accomplishments of billion dollars in annual sales of the companies he worked.

27. Nameer Khan

Nameer Khan is not only a fintech influencer but also an insurtech. He is a founding board member of MENA Fintech Association which helps in shaping the future of financial services in the UAE.

28. Ola Doudin

Ola Doudin is the Cofounder and CEO of BitOasis which is digital asset exchange and wallet. It allows individuals to purchase, sell and trade digital assets. Along with the digital wallet and trading services, they also offer consulting services to the organizations.

29. Omar Rana

Omar Rana is the co-founder and director of strategy and finance in Finalytix. Finalytix provides financial advice and wealth management of a company. Omar is also a global fintech speaker who was invited to talk at various conferences.

30. Omeed Mehrinfar 

Plug and Play Tech is a platform that connects Startups and the world’s largest corporations. Omeed Mehrinfar is the regional director of such an innovative platform that helps the startups, investors, etc connect with each other. Plug and Play Tech work on the main objective to catalyze technological advancement.

31. Osama Al Rahma

Osama Al Rahma is the CEO of the Al Fardan Exchange. Al Fardan Exchange is a well-known exchange center in the UAE. Apart from the Al Fardan Exchange center, he is a board member of certain well-acclaimed companies like Foreign Exchange and Remittance group, 2 the point, who is responsible for the development of strategies. 

32. Tim Buckler

Tim Buckler is the Digital Sales Manager in Emirates Islamic Bank. With 9+ years of experience in the field of digital finance, his strategies mainly focus on developing overall e-commerce experiences. He helps in building the digital channel that eventually drives towards the customer and product gain.

33. Preeti Mundhra

Preeti Mundhra the Head of Marketing and Partnerships at the Liv. Digital Bank is one of the best fintech influencers in the UAE through Liv. account which is one of the best initiatives in the fintech space. 

34. Shaheen Alkhudhari

The founder and CEO of the well-known rent and property management platform, Ajar Online is Shaheen Alkhudhari. This platform helps homeowners manage their properties by offering a quick online rent collection facility. This makes the process of receiving or sending rent very easy.

35. Khalid Saad

Khalid Saad is the CEO of Bahrain Fintech Bay. Bahrain Fintech Bay is the first fintech hub in Bahrain and largest fintech hub in the MENA region. He is also the Executive Director of Fintech Consortium which helps in growth and acceleration of Fintech ecosystems.

36. Sonny Zulu

Sonny Zulu is the Managing Director and Head of Retail Banking at Standard Chartered Bank. He is known for delivering outstanding performance at work which helped in the growth of profits, revenue, etc.

37. Eric Modave

Eric Modave is the Chief Operating Office in Arab Bank who is in charge of all the IT operations, Enterprise Digital Innovation, data management, etc. for the bank. Prior to the Arab bank, he worked at top-noted banks in other regions.

38. Denit Varghese

Denit Varghese is the Senior Digital Planner at Carat. With long career experience in the field of digital marketing, his motto of looking at the long term success rather than short term returns makes him the best at the industry.

39. Bogdan Maranu

Bogdan Maranu is the Associate Media Director at Spark Foundry. It is a start-up that melds an innovative business approach with resources and capabilities. 

40. Omar Bin Brek 

Omar Bin Brek is the founder of the UAE Fintech Startup Foloosi. Foloosi facilitates consumer to business payments with advanced technical solutions. This is definitely a good add-on to fintech realm.

Other than these, there are several other influencers who are helping in the growth of Fintech in the Middle East and North Africa(MENA) region.

Source: https://www.mymoneysouq.com/financial-blog/top-40-fintech-influencers-to-follow-in-the-middle-east/

Foloosi has Raised “pre-seed” funding

Foloosi, a UAE Fintech startup facilitating consumer-to-business card payments through several ways by enabling businesses to display QR code, share Payment Links and API integrations makes it possible to accept card payments without the need of a POS machine.

Foloosi has raised an undisclosed amount of pre-seed fund from Angel fund investor Rashed Alfalasi in May 2019.

Co-founders Omar Bin Brek and Mohan K with an in-house team of 6 has managed to get the idea off the ground and continue to serve as a valuable start-up in the UAE market.

United Arab Emirates has the highest banking penetration rate in the middle east region. Though in contrary, according to UAE central bank figures (in 2017): 75% of the whole UAE economy is based on cash transactions. Furthermore, compareit4me.com survey (2018) show that 85% of online orders are processed through cash-on-delivery option as a method of payment. Residents need more advanced and modern options in line with the UAE's 2021 vision.(https://magnitt.com/news/uae-fintech-startup-foloosi-raises-pre-seed-funding)

Foloosi will enable a digital economy empowerment for local businesses, operating merchants and most importantly the e-commerce sector. Foloosi will feature a wide range of advanced technological products on its modern platform – including the core function of ‘Scan to Pay’ feature, which allows a business to accept card payment by displaying QR code technology.

Just-in also, Foloosi has launched its new product ‘Point of Sale’ for small and medium sized businesses. This dedicated POS system will provide merchants a wholly complete system including digital checkout eyeing fora huge potential in the GCC market.

Foloosi enables businesses to go for a complete digital transformation including paperless receipt checkout, which helps the society become greener.

“With the support of our strategic investors, we are accelerating the developmentof our products further in this digital world and this is a great opportunity to improve in the advanced technology experienced by our users” says Foloosi CEO Omar Bin Brek.

Rashed Alfalasi says, "I invested in Foloosi because I believe the future will be cashless and that Foloosi is one of the companies that will emerge to lead this effort because of its great team and their strong vision. With dedication and the right strategy, Foloosi can build the cashless society and will provide payment solutions that serve all kind of businesses."

For more information about Foloosi, Kindly visit https://www.foloosi.com/point-of-sales-software-uae, info@foloosi.com

Online Payment Gateways For UAE

What is Payment Gateway?

Payment gateways are a standout amongst the most essential highlights of any online internet business store. The principle inspiration driving the achievement of any online business is, the means by which well clients are changing over. Presently for clients to really purchase anything from your site, first they need trust in your store. Payment gateways can assist you with developing that trust. As indicated by Woocommerce having an appropriately set-up payment gateway door framework makes dependability as well as essentially drops the relinquished truck rate.

To get your bit of pie it is critical for you to invest some energy in choosing which payment gateways passages you should offer on your store. There are such a significant number of choices for payment gateways entryways that it winds up hard to pick one as you need to see your own comfort just as clients. We have recorded beneath probably the best Payment gateways with their upsides and downsides, this will assist you with deciding what you need and what you don’t.

In UAE, payment gateway is provided only for those who owns a business or run a reputed website/ app. Payment gateway will not be provided for the individuals, merchants who run a business without a website.

List of Payment Gateways in UAE

1.Foloosi

Foloosi Technology, a payment gateway UAE brings to you easy to use options that are designed to be accessible, convenient and simple backed by reputed partners to provide security and a credible and reliable customer experience.

For Android :
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foloosi.customer&hl=en

For iOS :
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/foloosi/id1424241732?ls=1&mt=8

Foloosi Technology, online payment gateway UAE provides a convenient way for a user to make in – store payments and can be used at business listed with the Foloosi Technology service provider.

2. Telr

At first known as Innovate Payments, it was once considered as a standout amongst the best new businesses of UAE. Telr offers its administration in excess of 120 monetary forms around the world. One of the remarkable highlights of Telr is that they offer their administrations in creating nations like Indonesia and Pakistan. Their yearly support cost is $ 95, $27 and $13.5 for section, little and medium dimension accounts separately.

There is additionally no charges on the settlement to the trader represent the section level arrangement. Their administration charges are referenced underneath.

3. CashU

CashU was set up in 2002 with the sole motivation behind serving clients in UAE yet it has now turned out to be exceptionally mainstream in Europe also. Strangely CashU offers free record creation and has the support charge of 1$ every year which is least in the market. There per exchange charges relies upon the measure of exchange. A total rundown of the considerable number of charges can be found here.

Recently CashU has additionally begun their virtual charge card administration with the coordinated effort of MasterCard. UAE inhabitants with an enlisted CASHU record will almost certainly make their Virtual MasterCard Prepaid Card immediately, to make payment gateways on web based business entryways that acknowledge MasterCard.

4. PayFort

Payfort is a standout amongst the most broadly utilized payment gateways doors in UAE district. They as of late changed their valuing plans. Presently Payfort is just offering two valuing choices starter and Enterprise. For starter bundle, the month to month expense is 420 AED while for every exchange they charge 2.94 + 1.84 AED. Endeavor bundle is specially put together which depends with respect to the size of your business.

With the coordinated effort of SOUQ.com(Now possessed by Amazon), an online web based business monster in UAE, PayFort has likewise propelled their Card-On-Delivery(COD) administration. Fundamentally, Card-on-conveyance implies that payment gateways on-conveyance clients will currently have a decision of paying with money or via card. The conveyance operators can process all significant credit and charge cards utilizing a versatile card machine.

5. PayTabs

A Bahrain based specialist co-op which beat the rundown of best business new companies In 2016 aggregated by Forbes.They are putting forth their administrations in 168 monetary standards. You can set up total PayTabs framework in under 24 hours. There is various ways you can incorporate PayTabs like Plug-in, iFrame, SDK or direct joining by utilization of API. At present, they are charging 2.85 % + 1 AED per exchange.

The setup cost is $400 while every withdrawal costs up to $15. Paytabs isn’t charging any month to month or yearly support expense.

Source: https://www.foloosi.com/blog/list-of-payment-gateways-for-uae

Payment Gateway UAE – Foloosi Technology

              Payment gateways are a standout amongst the most essential highlights of any online internet business store. The principle inspiration driving the achievement of any online business is, the means by which well clients are changing over. Presently for clients to really purchase anything from your site, first they need trust in your store. Payment gateways can assist you with developing that trust. As indicated by Woocommerce having an appropriately set-up payment gateway door framework makes dependability as well as essentially drops the relinquished truck rate.

To get your bit of pie it is critical for you to invest some energy in choosing which payment gateways passages you should offer on your store. There are such a significant number of choices for payment gateways entryways that it winds up hard to pick one as you need to see your own comfort just as clients. We have recorded beneath probably the best Payment gateways with their upsides and downsides, this will assist you with deciding what you need and what you don’t.

In UAE, payment gateway is provided only for those who owns a business or run a reputed website/ app. Payment gateway will not be provided for the individuals, merchants who run a business without a website.

How  Foloosi Performs In Payment Gateway UAE?

Foloosi Technology, a payment gateway UAE brings to you easy to use options that are designed to be accessible, convenient and simple backed by reputed partners to provide security and a credible and reliable customer experience.

Foloosi Technology, online payment gateway UAE provides a convenient way for a user to make in – store payments and can be used at business listed with the Foloosi Technology service provider.

Source: https://www.foloosi.com/blog/list-of-payment-gateways-for-uae/

List of Payment Gateways For UAE

1. Telr

At first known as Innovate Payments, it was once considered as a standout amongst the best new businesses of UAE. Telr offers its administration in excess of 120 monetary forms around the world. One of the remarkable highlights of Telr is that they offer their administrations in creating nations like Indonesia and Pakistan. Their yearly support cost is $ 95, $27 and $13.5 for section, little and medium dimension accounts separately.

There is additionally no charges on the settlement to the trader represent the section level arrangement. Their administration charges are referenced underneath:

2. Foloosi

Foloosi Technology, a payment gateway UAE brings to you easy to use options that are designed to be accessible, convenient and simple backed by reputed partners to provide security and a credible and reliable customer experience.

Foloosi Technology, online payment gateway UAE provides a convenient way for a user to make in – store payments and can be used at business listed with the Foloosi Technology service provider.

3. CashU

CashU was set up in 2002 with the sole motivation behind serving clients in UAE yet it has now turned out to be exceptionally mainstream in Europe also. Strangely CashU offers free record creation and has the support charge of 1$ every year which is least in the market. There per exchange charges relies upon the measure of exchange. A total rundown of the considerable number of charges can be found here. Recently CashU has additionally begun their virtual charge card administration with the coordinated effort of MasterCard. UAE inhabitants with an enlisted CASHU record will almost certainly make their Virtual MasterCard Prepaid Card immediately, to make installments on web based business entryways that acknowledge MasterCard.

4. PayFort

Payfort is a standout amongst the most broadly utilized installment doors in UAE district. They as of late changed their valuing plans. Presently Payfort is just offering two valuing choices starter and Enterprise. For starter bundle, the month to month expense is 420 AED while for every exchange they charge 2.94 + 1.84 AED. Endeavor bundle is specially put together which depends with respect to the size of your business.

With the coordinated effort of SOUQ.com(Now possessed by Amazon), an online web based business monster in UAE, PayFort has likewise propelled their Card-On-Delivery(COD) administration. Fundamentally, Card-on-conveyance implies that installment on-conveyance clients will currently have a decision of paying with money or via card. The conveyance operators can process all significant credit and charge cards utilizing a versatile card machine.

5. CCAvenue

Begun in India, CCAvennue is currently a mainstream installment entryway choice in UAE. They likewise offer zero setup expense choice however that it accompanies an expansive month to month upkeep charge of $54.45. They additionally charge 3% on each exchange. CCAvenue is positively a costly alternative however they likewise offer a few free administrations like misrepresentation anticipation and all day, every day available to come back to work support. They additionally bolster all significant online business stages.

6. CyberSource

CyberSource is a piece of surely understood global firm VISA. They work in excess of 190 nations around the world and offer numerous arrangements. CS additionally bolsters computerized installment techniques, for example, Apple Pay and Android Pay, just as territorial advanced wallets, for example, Alipay, and KCP. The following are the subtleties of their administration charges:

7. PayTabs

A Bahrain based specialist co-op which beat the rundown of best business new companies In 2016 aggregated by Forbes.They are putting forth their administrations in 168 monetary standards. You can set up total PayTabs framework in under 24 hours. There is various ways you can incorporate PayTabs like Plug-in, iFrame, SDK or direct joining by utilization of API. At present, they are charging 2.85 % + 1 AED per exchange.

The setup cost is $400 while every withdrawal costs up to $15. Paytabs isn’t charging any month to month or yearly support expense.

8. Checkout

Working since 2010 checkout began their administration in UAE in 2014. They are charging 0.95% + 20 pennies for each exchange for European cards and 2.90% + 20 pennies on non-European cards. They acknowledge all the real Mastercards around the globe. They are additionally offering a standout amongst the best extortion the board frameworks which they named as “Crystal Risk Management System”.

9. 2Checkout

While 2Checkout is a USA based specialist co-op however it is exceptionally prevalent in MENA locale. They are charging 3.9% + 45 pennies for each exchange while serving in 87 monetary standards. They are additionally charging 1.5% for the clients outside UAE and $25 for each chargeback. These expenses may look high and yet, there is no set-up charge just as no month to month support expense.

10. HyperPay

Hyperpay is fundamentally a Saudi Arabia based installment door however they offer their administration in UAE also. HyperPay has in excess of 100 accomplices from a wide assortment of banks to surely understood Visa organizations. It likewise offers extremely simple coordination with real online business stages i.e WordPress and Magento. HyperPay offers a standout amongst the best and very secure extortion the board framework.

Source: https://www.foloosi.com/blog/list-of-payment-gateways-for-uae/

Foloosi Digital Wallet UAE

Regardless of whether it was an internet browser that recollected that you credit card or a millennial customer purchasing an espresso with their cell phone, chances are you’ve most likely run over some type of Digital wallet amid your shopping in the previous year. Digital wallets are proceeding to pick up footing all inclusive just as in the Middle East and it’s gradually changing the manner in which we consider payments.

In this blog we are going to see about digital wallet and what’s happening in the right now that may lead to a digital wallet revolution in the coming years.

What is a digital wallet?

·         An application on the mobile phone that processes electronic payments

·         A mobile device that has a secure element associated with it that allows important financial and personal data to be stored on the phone

·         A service that lets users integrate payment, loyalty, account history, and financial instruments all in one application

·         A service that is usually targeted to cardholders, although some offers do focus on merchants

A digital wallet is basically precisely what it sounds like: a “wallet” that lives on an digital platform, (for example, a cell phone or internet browser) rather than in your pocket or tote. The innovation gives an advantageous method to arrange your installment strategies and eventually pay for merchandise and ventures without the need to convey anything over your cell phone.

How do digital wallets work?

A customer can utilize all of their stored information simply by opening an app on their phone, entering in a PIN, password or fingerprint and then selecting the information they need to access. The app then utilizes information transfer technology such as Near-Field Communications (NFC) to interact with mobile wallet ready payment terminals.

·         Mobile wallets store your credit or debit card securely

·         They may also store your loyalty cards, coupons, tickets, etc

·         They communicate with terminals using a variety of technologies

That’s where you come in as a small business owner. Without a device that receives mobile wallet information, you won’t be able to take advantage of this increasingly popular payment mechanism.

Source: https://www.foloosi.com/blog/foloosi-middle-east-and-digital-wallet/