UAE Leads MENA Fintech Innovation with 15 Companies on Forbes’ Prestigious Annual List
The Emirates has secured the top position in Forbes Middle East's Fintech 50 ranking, with fifteen companies recognised for their transformative role in regional financial technology.
The United Arab Emirates has consolidated its position as the fintech capital of the Middle East and North Africa, with fifteen companies named in Forbes Middle East’s annual Fintech 50 list. This achievement underscores the nation’s commitment to digital financial innovation and its emergence as a global hub for financial technology advancement.
The prestigious ranking, which recognises fifty companies at the forefront of MENA’s fintech transformation, has revealed that the fifty listed entities collectively processed transactions exceeding $260 billion throughout 2025. This substantial figure demonstrates the growing significance of these organisations in reshaping how consumers and businesses access, manage and transfer capital across the region.
The UAE’s fifteen representatives lead the overall standings, followed by Saudi Arabia with thirteen entries and Egypt with ten companies. The 2026 edition welcomed eighteen new entrants to the list, including Network International, Astra Tech, Digit9 and PRYPCO, reflecting the sector’s dynamic evolution and continuous emergence of innovative players.
Forbes Middle East’s evaluation methodology encompasses multiple performance indicators, including external investment secured, transaction volume handled, active user numbers, consumer reach achieved, geographic expansion, and demonstrable progress across innovation, growth and international expansion initiatives over the preceding twelve months. Notably, the ranking excluded fintech entities that maintain affiliations with exchange houses, telecom operators, traditional banking institutions and government bodies.
The rankings are led by Saudi Arabia’s Tabby, a shopping and financial services application that has claimed the top position for the second consecutive year. The platform processes more than $18 billion in annual transaction volume, reflecting exceptional market penetration and consumer adoption.
Egypt’s Fawry, a pioneer in electronic payments, secured second place, strengthened by its impressive customer base of 55.4 million monthly active users as of June 2026. The company’s sustained growth trajectory has established it as a formidable player in the region’s fintech landscape.
Completing the podium positions is Egypt’s MNT-Halan, which recently secured an investment round headed by Al Ahly Capital Holding, the investment subsidiary of the National Bank of Egypt. The transaction valued the company at $1.4 billion in June 2026, with the enterprise currently undertaking a divestment of twenty percent equity through an initial public offering on the Egyptian Exchange, scheduled for completion by mid-October.
Network International, the UAE-based digital payment and fintech solutions provider, achieved fourth position on the list, reinforcing the Emirates’ significant contribution to regional financial technology innovation.
Source: WAM News Agency