Gulf Cooperation Council news and trends

AI Startups Find Financing Pipeline in Middle Eastern Sovereign Wealth Funds 
artificial intelligence // September 22, 2024

Sovereign wealth funds have reportedly become major players in the artificial intelligence (AI) funding race. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are turning to AI projects as a way to diversify their economies, CNBC reported Sunday (Sept. 22). In...

Paymob Raises $22 Million to Expand in Egypt and GCC Countries
Investments // September 11, 2024

Financial services enabler Paymob raised another $22 million to expand its offering in its core market of Egypt and its newer markets in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The $22 million Series B extension round follows a $50 million initial Series B funding round in...

Pluto Partners With Mastercard on Payment Options in GCC Region 
B2B Payments // November 30, 2023

Pluto, a provider of financial corporate spend management solutions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has partnered with Mastercard to provide B2B payment solutions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.  This collaboration will leverage Mastercard’s expertise in payment technology to enhance Pluto’s existing suite of solutions,...

Lulu Group Raising $2.72 Billion to Reposition Business for IPO
Investments // August 10, 2023

Abu Dhabi-based LuLu Group International, which owns one of the largest hypermarket chains in the Middle East, is reportedly raising 10 billion dirhams (about $2.72 billion) to refinance debt ahead of a potential initial public offering (IPO). This is being done to realign its capital structure,...

Quick Reads
Crypto.com Teams With Mastercard for Gulf States Card Program 

December 04, 2024
Crypto.com says it has obtained a license letting it issue cards on Mastercard’s network. The new program, announced Wednesday (Dec. 4), will let Crypto.com launch a Mastercard-powered card in Bahrain, letting its customers use their card at over 150 million in-store and online locations worldwide. “Users can easily fund their cards through the Crypto.com app using e-money wallets or third […]

AI Startups Find Financing Pipeline in Middle Eastern Sovereign Wealth Funds 

September 22, 2024
Sovereign wealth funds have reportedly become major players in the artificial intelligence (AI) funding race. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are turning to...

Paymob Raises $22 Million to Expand in Egypt and GCC Countries

September 11, 2024
Financial services enabler Paymob raised another $22 million to expand its offering in its core market of Egypt and its newer markets in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The $22...

Pluto Partners With Mastercard on Payment Options in GCC Region 

November 30, 2023
Pluto, a provider of financial corporate spend management solutions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has partnered with Mastercard to provide B2B payment solutions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.  This...