As Saudi Arabia continues its journey towards its Vision 2030 with the National Transformation Program (NTP) 2020, one of the key measures outlined in Vision 2030, is a shift towards a digitized economy. While the focus is globally shifting to new and emerging Blockchain technologies which are integral to supporting and realizing digital economies around the world, the Middle East isn’t far behind.

Mobile payments are fast approaching a tipping point, with spending via smartphones accelerating according to the latest consumer spending data from Worldpay.

Colt Technology Services and PCCW Global, the international operating division of HKT, have collaborated with Clear, a blockchain start-up company, to demonstrate that inter-carrier settlement times can be reduced from hours to minutes by blockchain technology.

Mambu today announced that pioneering Nordic digital lender, Folkefinans, is leveraging the SaaS banking engine to power its long-term growth strategy. Folkefinans chose Mambu for its flexibility and scalability which allows the lender to keep focus on launching new products to meet changing customer and regulatory requirements.

Accuity, the leading global provider of risk and compliance, payments and know your customer solutions has been selected by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) to provide integrated global sanctions screening and data.

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE’s largest bank and one of the world’s largest and safest financial institutions, is going to use Accuity’s Fircosoft data and technology solutions to strengthen its transaction, customer and third-party screening processes.

 FIX Trading Community, the non-profit, industry-driven standards body at the heart of global financial trading, today announced the publication of Release Candidate 3 for FIX Orchestra for public review, to help the industry move further towards standardisation and automation of rules of engagement and deliver major efficiencies to the counterparty onboarding process.

Actis, a leading growth markets investor, today announced an investment in Pine Labs, India’s largest digital retail payments platform. Actis led on US $ 82million of funding joined by new investor Altimeter Capital. 

A new report from Osney Media and BackBay Communications reveals that improving cybersecurity is one of the key business priorities for asset managers this year in response to a greater perceived threat of cybersecurity attacks. The report, based on a survey of global asset managers being launched today at The Summit for Asset Management (TSAM) in London, reveals that cybersecurity improvements are a key business priority for 33% of asset managers.