Nameer Khan

I have been watching the Saudi fintech space for a while now, and after attending the Fintech 24 event in Riyadh this month, I am convinced they’re on their way to building something big—possibly even the next India or China in fintech. What really stood out to me at the event was the sheer presence of decision-makers—top bankers, startups, VCs, and even industry leaders. It wasn’t just another fintech event; everyone was there because they were mandated to be there. That’s a rare thing to see, but it speaks volumes about how seriously Saudi Arabia is taking this. For any fintech ecosystem to grow, four things need to come together: regulators, banks, fintechs, and the right ecosystem players. And here in my view how Saudi Arabia is bringing it all together. 1. The Regulator: SAMA’s Forward Thinking The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) is playing a big role. They’ve rolled out their Open Banking Framework and created a Regulatory Sandbox that’s allowed over 60 fintech companies to test and scale.Saudi has also jumped up to 36th in global fintech rankings, which shows how fast they’re moving. 2. Banks Taking the Lead It’s not just fintech startups driving change—banks are leading the charge too. Riyad Bank launched 1957 Ventures to fuel fintech innovation, and Al Rajhi Bank has rolled out a digital bank. A recent KPMG report said 79% of Saudi banks are now working closely with fintechs, which is a major step forward in creating a collaborative ecosystem. 3. Fintechs Driving Agility and Innovation We’re seeing some impressive fintechs coming out of Saudi Arabia. Take Tamara for example—a buy-now-pay-later startup. Or Lean Technologies, which is making it easier for fintechs to connect with banks using their APIs. These companies are making big strides and showing just how much potential Saudi fintechs have. 4. Ecosystem Players Stepping Up And then you have the accelerators, VCs, and tech giants. Programs like Fintech Saudi and Misk Innovation are helping more than 100 startups get off the ground. On the funding side, STV and other VCs poured $400 million into fintech in 2022. Plus, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure are heavily investing in the region, providing the infrastructure needed for fintechs to scale. Saudi Arabia: A Unique Opportunity While fintech markets in places like India are maturing and investors are looking for profits, Saudi feels like it’s at a unique point as non binary market—full of untapped potential. With 70% of the population under 35 and the goal of hitting 70% cashless transactions by 2030, the opportunity here is huge. Saudi Arabia isn’t just copying India or China; they’re building their own path. From the government’s focus to the collaborative approach between banks, fintechs, and tech providers, it’s clear they are serious about becoming a fintech hub. For anyone in fintech, Saudi Arabia is a market you can’t ignore right now. (This pic is from 28k sq mtr The Garage startup district in Riyadh)

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After exploring the UAE's financial services industry, we are here as a management consultancy that knows how to uncover market opportunities to offer further advice and collaboration. Vanguards Majid Dodehaki

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Especially in the tech sector, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a leader in the GCC startup ecosystem. It has never been easier to turn ideas into successful businesses thanks to government initiatives such as interest-free loans. #uae #abudhabi #business #growth #startups #funding #government #strategy

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Aligned with the "We the UAE 2031" vision and the nation's aspiration to become a leading global hub for the new economy, the Ministry of Finance is spearheading a series of transformative and strategic projects. These initiatives, integrated into the 2023-2024 performance agreements for federal government entities, are designed to enhance the UAE's competitiveness on the world stage. By focusing on innovative and qualitative advancements, the Ministry aims to support the country's transition towards a sustainable and diversified future. These efforts underscore the UAE's commitment to fostering a forward-looking economy, equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of the next decade, ultimately reinforcing its position as a beacon of economic progress and innovation.

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🌍💡 The 2024 MEA Fintech Report showcases a rapidly evolving landscape where innovation is driving economic development. With fintech hubs from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to Nigeria and Egypt, the region is transforming financial services, embracing real-time payments, super apps, and even exploring the metaverse. 🚀 Key highlights include: ⭕Real-Time Payment Systems: Instant payments like Saudi SARIE and Qatar's new system reshape transactions. ⭕Rise of Super Apps: Platforms integrating payments, banking, and lifestyle services enhance convenience and engagement. ⭕Digital Identity Systems: As in the UAE, efficient ID systems are pivotal for customer service and financial security. ⭕Sustainable Finance Focus: With COP28's emphasis on green initiatives, financial institutions are urged to transition to sustainability. ⭕AI and Regulation: AI is a game-changer, but establishing responsible frameworks is crucial. The MEA fintech scene remains a frontier for groundbreaking opportunities and challenges, setting the stage for future innovations that could redefine global financial practices. #Fintech #MiddleEast #Africa #EconomicDevelopment #Payments #Sustainability #AI #DigitalTransformation #SuperApps #Metaverse #TechInnovation #FinancialInclusion #FintechTrends #DigitalEconomy #EmergingMarkets #FinancialTechnology #SmartFinance #GlobalInnovation #TechEcosystem #VCInvestment #Startups #DigitalFinance #EconomicGrowth #RegTech #InsurTech #WealthTech #FintechCommunity #TechLeadership #Blockchain #FintechRevolution #ShariaFinance #GreenFinance #FutureOfFinance #FinancialServices #DigitalBanking #InnovationEconomy #SmartCities #VentureCapital #AIinFinance #Saudiarabia #UAE #Qatar #GCC

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Is MENA the New Growth Hub? The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is experiencing remarkable growth, attracting significant foreign direct investment and fostering a thriving startup ecosystem. There are many reasons why we can say YES: ➡️ Booming FDI: In 2022, FDI inflows reached approximately $37 billion, with projections exceeding $40 billion by 2025. Key sectors attracting investment include technology, renewable energy, and infrastructure. ➡️ Flourishing Venture Capital: Venture capital investment exceeded $3 billion in 2022, projected to reach $4 billion by 2025. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are leading this surge, fueling a dynamic startup ecosystem. ➡️ Thriving Startup Scene: Over 7,500 startups currently operate in MENA, with significant funding rounds across various sectors. 🔵 Top Sectors: Fintech leads the way, securing over $1.3 billion in funding in 2022, followed by e-commerce, health tech, and edtech. 🔵 Unicorn Growth: The number of unicorns (startups valued at over $1 billion) is also on the rise, with nearly 19 as of 2023. ➡️ Renewable Energy Investment: MENA is making significant strides in renewable energy, with projected investments of $100 billion by 2030, primarily in solar and wind energy projects. ➡️ Young and Dynamic Population: Over 60% of the MENA population is under 30, creating a vibrant and innovative entrepreneurial culture. The numbers speak for themselves: MENA is not just emerging; it's exploding onto the global stage as a powerhouse of innovation and investment. ⚠️ I'll be in Dubai and Riyad in Feb. Please connect if you would like to meet! #MENA #Growth #Investment #Startups #Innovation #RenewableEnergy #Fintech #EmergingMarkets

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Delighted to collaborate and work with Paul Cushion on #ArtificialIntelligence in the #UAE article for Entrepreneur Middle East. How can governments drive economic growth and productivity with #GenAi, and how we, business owners, residents and citizens, can make sense of the transformation, adopt and thrive. Plenty of intriguing business insights, combined with a bit of history, philosophy, and human psychology. The link to the article can be found below. #weekly #read #recommendation

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Businesses across industries in the Middle East are keen to unlock AI’s power, and 36.84% have begun initial adoption, according to a new white paper. The report says that 46.67% of users engage AI to retrieve information, while 33.33% rely on AI for customer service interactions, underlining how the tech is being integrated into business on a daily basis. Other companies remain more cautious, however, and 39.22% do not believe that Gen AI is yet capable of managing complex queries, says the white paper from MIT Sloan Management Review, in collaboration with Astra Tech.

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🚀 Accelerating Financial Inclusion in the #GCC: Fintech Innovation Powered By Digital / Crypto Currencies🌍 Digital / Crypto currencies are revolutionizing the GCC’s financial landscape, driving economic growth and fostering prosperity. ✨FinTech in the GCC✨ Recent years have seen an uptick in fintech activity in the region, and especially in the GCC. This is particularly true across the GCC, with many initiatives already bearing fruit. Government-backed incubators & accelerators have surged in the past decade, alongside regulatory sandboxes and financial free zones. Between 2018 - 2024, the number of fintech hubs in the GCC rose from just one to four, including the Abu Dhabi (ADGM) Bahrain FinTech Bay, Fintech Saudi | فنتك السعودية, DIFC Innovation Hub & others. Fintech startups disrupt traditional, rigid financial systems and open up banking & financial services to all segments of the population. These innovations remove many barriers to access for low-income workers, including the migrant workers on which industries like construction depend in the GCC. In fact, some fintech companies are targeting products & services to this very demographic. The central banks of the GCC have established an innovative cross-border payment scheme, the GCC Real Time Gross Settlement System, which allows for frictionless money transfers between the six countries. Governments across the GCC play a crucial role in this transformation, actively supporting fintech & crypto through regulatory sandboxes and cross-border payment systems. 🇦🇪For example in UAE – where 90% of the population are foreign nationals, mostly on low incomes – has taken a leading role in widening access to financial services with tech-driven initiatives Initiatives like, the Central Bank of The UAE recently launched the Financial Infrastructure Transformation program, which includes issuing a central bank digital currency (CDBC) & is designed to advance financial inclusion highlight advantages of CDBC, enhancing transparency, security & efficiency in financial transactions 🇶🇦 Qatar Joins the Fintech Revolution: In a significant move, Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) has recently unveiled its digital assets regulations. This progressive step opens new opportunities for crypto exchanges (VASP) to operate within a secure, well-regulated environment. As the region continues to align its regulatory frameworks, establishing clear guidelines for virtual assets, the GCC’s vision for a unified innovative fintech ecosystem is moving closer to reality, positioning the region as a global fintech powerhouse ✨The GCC’s fintech future looks brighter than ever, opening doors for startups & established players alike ➡️For inquiries regarding VA(Crypto) licenses in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Drop us a line⬇️ Contact@cryptosconsultancy.com #Vision2030 #Fintech #GCC #MENA #Blockchain #Dubai #Bahrain #Qatar #CDBC #QFC #VARA #ADGM #Crypto#Compliance #Licensing #VirtualAssets

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📣 Thrilled to be a speaker at AIM Congress under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi! 🇦🇪Join us in #AbuDhabi from May 7-9, as we explore the pivotal shifts in tech, geopolitics, and sustainability shaping the global economy.🌍 💡Here’s what’s in store at AIM Congress 2024: • Global Leadership Presence: Engage with over 25 government ministers, 45 city mayors, and 12 central bank governors. A unique opportunity to hear from global policymakers on the future of economic strategies. • Rich Dialogue and Expert Insights: With 900+ speakers and 450+ sessions, dive deep into topics from investment strategies to innovative solutions. • Unmatched Networking: Connect with 12,000+ delegates from 175 countries. Perfect for forging strategic partnerships and initiating global projects. • Focused Tracks on Crucial Sectors: Special sessions on SMEs, technological innovations, and the future finance landscape. • Spotlight on Key Growth Sectors: I’ll be discussing exciting developments in edtech, gaming, streaming, and the impact of Gen Z in the metaverse. 🔗 Don’t miss this chance to be part of a transformative journey in the investment world! #technology #innovation #future #economy #finance #digitaltransformation #investing #investors #abudhabi #uae #venturecapital #gaming #esport #metaverse #web3 #edtech #economy #business #networking #government #leaders #entrepreners

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The Middle East's journey into a digital age from 2024 to 2029 is driven by IoT integration and the rise of smart cities. Discover how these innovations are shaping a new era of digital progress. Learn more: https://buff.ly/49UdiH6 #TechRevolution #Industrytech

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The Founders Majlis presents Startup Masterclass – powered by Workinton Qatar Join us for a high-impact Startup Masterclass designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage founders, and side-hustlers. 📅 Date: 9th January 2025 ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 Location: Workinton, Qatar 🎟️ Fee: Free (Limited to 15 participants) 🌟 What’s in it for you? A step-by-step guide to build an MVP and attract your first 100 customers. Proven strategies to secure funding and craft pitches. Tips to build a personal brand that attracts customers and investors. An exclusive Q&A with angel investor Adrian Pinto, who has funded 60+ startups. 💡 Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Gaurav Sachdeva, Co-Founder & CEO of The Founders Majlis, who has mentored over 60 startups in the region. Walk away with actionable tools, practical insights, and a clear roadmap to kickstart or scale your startup. See you there! Avneet Kaur

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AI as the moderator, the MC, of the MENA InsurTech Association at the #MenaInsurtechSummit I am speaking later today about Board Diversity for better decision making. Great boards can literally make the difference for a startup of surviving and even thriving. Why? Boards are the guardians of the longer term strategy. But what makes a great board? That will be our discussion later. But for now, I am just tickled to be introduced by an AI. Which is of course very fitting for a Tech Startup Conference. I look forward to more changes in this space. #board #governance #diversity #startup #AI

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‘Qatar’s GDP poised to hit QR791bn by year-end’ DOHA: Qatar’s economy is shifting towards a positive trajectory of growth with large-scale investments from the region and beyond. Global macro models and analysts at Trading Economics noted that the GDP in Qatar is anticipated to amount to $217.05bn (QR791.23bn) by the end of 2025. The country has witnessed buoyant economic and infrastructural developments over the past years in order to host global events and sporting tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Formula One, the upcoming Basketball World Cup in 2027 and the 2030 Asian Games. Officials recently highlighted the estimates of the average economic GDP growth rate for the years 2025-2029, stressing that the annual growth in the current year is expected to see growth upsurge to 2.4 percent, in addition to 2026 by 5.2 percent, in 2027 by 7.9 percent and in 2028 by 3.5 percent increase. In 2029, it is expected that the economic growth will be in the range of 1.6 percent as the average over the five years will be 4.1 percent. They underscored that Qatar will witness a leap in its growing economy to 7.9 percent in 2027, from around 2.4 percent in the current year due to the start of production in the LNG expansion projects, and its gradual increase from 2026 until 2030 to reach the targeted levels of QatarEnergy, explaining that this gradual surge will be positively reflected in the country’s well-positioned economy. The Qatari economy is one of the swiftly-enhancing economies globally as industry leaders point out that high growth rates have been maintained due to the high cost of hydrocarbons on the world’s commodities markets. However, these prices are anticipated to remain reasonably stable while Qatar’s exports of gas continue to increase. However, the majority of the increase in the GDP growth comes from the rise in sales of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The country is noticing exceptional growth in its GDP over the past few years. As per IMF reports, Qatar is drawing both foreign and local investments, especially in infrastructure-related projects and construction activities. Industry leaders emphasise that the Qatari government is currently diversifying the economy across various sectors including banking and finance, tourism, executive education, and technology, which contributes heavily to the GDP growth. With the implementation of the Third National Development Strategy (NDS-3), Qatar is poised for a remarkable transformation and growth from a hydrocarbon-based economy to a diversified and knowledge-based economy by the decade-end. As per its key econometric models, researchers at Trading Economy further accentuated that in the long-term, the Qatari economy is projected to trend nearly $221.82bn (QR808.62bn) in 2026 and $226.70bn (QR826.41bn) in 2027.

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Enjoyed the first panel discussion as part from #VISIONGOLFE 2024 –happening now in #Paris at the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty , which include HE Safa Sharif A.Khaleq ,HE Suliman Almazroua , Sherif Shawki, CPA , Marc Lhermitte , Bruno Bonnell and Moderated by Cornelius Matthes Great things are happening in #KSA as part of the National Vision 2030, with the largest targeted #renewable energy initiative in the world aiming for 50% by 2030, and entire cities achieving zero carbon and zero waste. In #Bahrain, there are 80 active business registration entities, significant progress in #fintech, and a great success story with Export Bahrain , which has achieved more than 1 billion dollars in exports within 5 years. In #Kuwait, National Vision include increasing the number of university students to over 40,000, expanding healthcare capacity to 8,000 beds, and boosting the economy by over 25% through renewable energy initiatives. The growth occurring in #GCC countries surpasses that of any other regions in the world. Not targeting this market would be a significant strategic mistake. Business France Middle East CCI France Qatar - French Business Council Pierre Ramirez , Efi FRAGER , Carole K. , Sandrine Lescaroux #Entrepreneurship #France #Qatar #Startups #MiddleEast #Innovation #VisionGolfe2024 #FranceGCC #Healthcare

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A big thank you to Entrepreneur Middle East for sharing my thoughts on "Strategic Unprofitability". Totally humbled seeing my insights being covered. After all, this is only possible when you have industry experience. Special thanks to David Ross - VUCA Strategist. Peacemaker. Author Curious about how startups and businesses(small or big) being in the red might actually be a smart move? Give the article a read (Pg 47-49) and see for yourself! https://lnkd.in/dMkRjCWc   #meydanfreezone #entrepreneurship #startuplife #businessstrategy #industryinsights #businessgrowth #markettrends #entrepreneurmiddleeast #startupstrategy #businesssuccess #smartbusiness #growthmindset #innovationinbusiness #longtermsuccess

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