B.TECH and mylo Launch Second Securitization Bond Issuance Worth EGP 1.76 billion to Support Fintech Expansion
mylo, the innovative fintech company born out of B.TECH,has completed its second securitization bond issuance of EGP 1.76 billion after obtaining regulatory approvals. The transaction highlights mylo’s strong financial position and ongoing expansion in responsible, sustainable digital finance solutions.
The issuance comprises tranches with a 12-month maturity, with EG Bank acting as the bond custodian. It comes as a continuation of the success of the first issuance, underscoring mylo’s ability to diversify its funding sources and support the growth of its Shariah compliant consumer finance portfolio.
Commenting on the milestone, Mohamed Khattab, Chief Executive Officer of mylo: “Successfully closing our second securitization bond issuance marks a significant milestone in mylo’s journey. It reflects the confidence of financial institutions in the strength of our business model and the quality of our underlying financing portfolio, and it supports our vision of establishing sustainable funding channels that enable us to expand the reach of our digital solutions.”
Khattab noted that the issuance will fuel mylo’s next expansion phase. The company intends to grow its user base, expand its merchant and brand partnerships, and further invest in the platform’s technology infrastructure.
It is worth mentioning that mylo is among the first consumer finance companies in Egypt to receive the Financial Regulatory Authority’s approval for fully digital onboarding, alongside a fintech license. The company offers flexible installment solutions with terms of up to 48 months through a network of more than 5,000 brands across 15 categories.
Stadiums to Screens: AFCON 2025 Reveals How MENA Watches Football
TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 has once again proven why it remains one of the most engaging and unpredictable tournaments in world football. As the competition progresses, its appeal is extending well beyond the pitch – shaping how audiences across the Middle East and North Africa choose to watch live sport.
From decisive penalties to tightly fought knockout matches, AFCON has delivered the kind of high-stakes football that keeps fans invested. Egypt won against Benin 3–1 in Round 16 to progress to the quarter-finals, Algeria too reached the quarter-finals this week, underlining the depth of talent across the tournament. Hosts Morocco advanced to the quarter-finals after a narrow victory over Tanzania. At the same time, Tunisia’s campaign ended dramatically via a penalty shoot-out, highlighting the fine margins that define the competition.
Away from the pitch, TOD finds that viewing behaviour across MENA tells an equally compelling story. Based on TOD data during the tournament, Smart TVs have emerged as the leading device for AFCON viewership, followed by smartphones. This points to a renewed preference for big-screen, shared viewing when it comes to premium live sport. Streaming platforms are complementing, rather than replacing, traditional viewing habits.
According to John-Paul McKerlie, VP of Marketing & Sales at TOD MENA, from a market perspective, AFCON has also played a clear role in driving new subscriptions. Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia are leading in new customer acquisition, reflecting the tournament’s deep cultural and footballing relevance across North Africa. TOD has also recorded substantial direct-to-consumer reach in the UAE, Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait, and Qatar; markets with high digital adoption and growing demand for premium sports content. Egypt has emerged as the strongest Country Pass market, followed by Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, signalling a growing appetite for localised, tournament-led offers.
AFCON continues to win on the pitch, but its broader impact is increasingly seen in how audiences across MENA choose to watch, engage with, and value live sport.
Dubai Clear and Nasdaq Dubai Receive European Securities and Markets Authority “ESMA” Tier 1 Recognition
Dubai Clear, a subsidiary of Dubai Financial Market (DFM), and Nasdaq Dubai, the Middle East’s leading international financial exchange, announced that they have been formally granted Tier 1 Third-Country Central Counterparty (CCP) recognition by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), effective 31 December 2025.
This recognition makes Dubai Clear and Nasdaq Dubai the only central counterparties (CCP) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to achieve ESMA Tier 1 status, underscoring UAE’s financial market infrastructure credibility and Dubai’s emergence as a globally recognised centre for internationally aligned post-trade services.
The Tier 1 designation enables Dubai Clear and Nasdaq Dubai to attract market participants and institutions from European Union Countries as clearing members, strengthening cross-border connectivity between both markets in Dubai and Europe’s capital markets and enhancing and to reenforce their role as a bridge between regional issuers and global investors.
ESMA’s decision confirms that Dubai Clear, regulated by the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), and Nasdaq Dubai, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), operate under regulatory frameworks aligned with the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). It reflects the strength and maturity of Dubai’s regulatory environment and its alignment with international best practices in risk management and market oversight.
Hamed Ali, CEO of Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai, said: “This milestone reflects the progress Dubai has made in building market infrastructure that global investors recognise and rely on. ESMA Tier 1 recognition strengthens Nasdaq Dubai’s ability to connect regional opportunities with international capital and supports Dubai’s Capital Markets Development Strategy by enhancing access, efficiency, and investor confidence.”
Fatma Bin Qedad, General Manager of Dubai Clear, said: “ESMA’s Tier 1 recognition marks a significant step in Dubai Clear’s international growth journey. It enhances our ability to support cross-border activity and deliver efficient, resilient clearing services aligned with global standards.”
As Dubai’s licensed central counterparties, Dubai Clear and Nasdaq Dubai play a central role in ensuring the resilience and integrity of the emirate’s post-trade environment, supporting the long-term growth and international integration of Dubai’s capital markets. The recognition highlights the growing cooperation between UAE and European regulators and reinforces Dubai’s long-term commitment to transparency, financial stability, and world-class market infrastructure.
QNB and Mastercard expand payment services in Syria
Mastercard announced that QNB Group, the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, was granted a Mastercard license to extend its issuing and acquiring activities in Syria, enabling it to provide Mastercard payment solutions – accepted locally and internationally- to individuals and businesses.
The move, which follows the memorandum of understanding signed between Mastercard and the Central Bank of Syria in September to support the modernization of the country’s digital payments infrastructure, will expand access to seamless, secure and innovative digital transactions.
The alliance marks an important milestone for Mastercard and QNB in their joint efforts to enhance digital banking experience, drive financial inclusion and create new opportunities through technology.
This collaboration also reflects QNB’s commitment to spearheading digital innovation across its international network and underscores QNB Group’s dedication to fostering more resilient growth in this high-potential market. Together, QNB and Mastercard aim to contribute to the evolution of Syria’s payments landscape.
“At Mastercard, we are deepening our commitment to Syria as early investors in a market undergoing meaningful transformation. By empowering our partner banks, we are enabling millions of citizens to access modern financial services and laying the foundations for a robust, future-ready payments ecosystem. Our work supports the country’s vision for sustainable economic progress, delivered with full respect for regulatory and compliance standards,” said Adam Jones, division president, West Arabia, Mastercard.
Valu Receives Final Approval from the Central Bank of Jordan to Launch Operations
Valu, the leading universal financial technology powerhouse in Egypt, announced today that it has received final approval from the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) to officially launch its services in Jordan under a Specialized Finance license, offering consumers convenient financing solutions. This approval follows the initial regulatory clearance granted in 2025. It represents a significant milestone in Valu’s regional growth strategy and long-term commitment to advancing financial inclusion in Jordan.
Valu plans to commence operations in Jordan during the first quarter of 2026, marking the beginning of its full-scale market rollout following the completion of all regulatory and operational requirements.
In conjunction with this significant milestone, Valu has announced its leadership structure to oversee its operations in Jordan. His Excellency Eng. Mothanna Gharaibeh, the previous Minister of Investment of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, has been appointed as the Chairman of Valu Jordan. Furthermore, Mohammad Al Yousefhas been appointed as the CEO for Valu Jordan. This approach reflects Valu’s commitment to strengthening corporate governance and enhancing operational efficiency through experienced local leadership.
H.E. Eng. Mothanna Gharaibeh, prior to serving as the former Minister of Investment, held the positions of Minister of Communications and Information Technology and the first Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship from 2018 to 2020. During that time, he was recognized for significantly advancing Jordan’s digital infrastructure. In addition to his public sector service, he also held various positions in the telecommunications sector, including leading Ericsson’s operations in Jordan with over 19 years of experience in the private sector across the Middle East, working with global multinational companies that serve local, regional, and global customers across technology, digital transformation, and public policy, providing profound expertise in economic development and investment-driven growth.
Mohammad Al Yousef, with over 18 years of experience in leading fintech, e-commerce, tech, and telecom in the region, will drive Valu’s local strategy, operations, and expansion, drawing on a proven ability to scale digital businesses and build high-performing teams. At his previous role in Arab Business Machines (ABM), Apple’s Middle East distributor, he grew Apple’s carrier business in Jordan, and as Zood Super App’s Country Manager, he launched e-commerce and BNPL with double-digit monthly growth. Earlier at Samsung Electronics Levant, he guided product strategy and e-commerce for a $1B+ portfolio. With startup and established corporate experience, he thrives in competitive markets and delivers strong commercial results.
Jordan represents a strategic growth market for Valu, underpinned by strong consumer demand for flexible, accessible financial solutions and a rapidly evolving digital payments ecosystem with ongoing support from the Central Bank of Jordan. With final regulatory approval secured, Valu is now positioned to fully roll out its platform, offering consumers responsible financing solutions across a wide range of sectors, including retail, electronics, healthcare, education, and other essential and lifestyle categories.
Valu’s financing offering is designed to enhance purchasing power while promoting responsible credit usage, enabling consumers to access goods and services without immediate financial pressure. For merchants, the platform delivers seamless integration, increased conversion rates, higher ticket sizes, and improved customer loyalty, contributing to sustainable business growth.
The company’s entry into Jordan exemplifies a remarkable journey, supported by extensive market preparation. This initiative features the recruitment of talented Jordanian professionals with deep expertise in finance, fintech, and market operations, highlighting Valu’s unwavering commitment to local employment, knowledge transfer, and the market’s flourishing. Moreover, Valu’s strategic partnerships with esteemed merchants and financial institutions across Jordan pave the way for a robust and sustainable market launch.
Habiba Naguib, Chief Market Expansion and Strategy Officer of Valu
Commenting on receiving the final approval from the CBJ, Habiba Naguib, Chief Market Expansion and Strategy Officer of Valu, said: “Securing final approval from the Central Bank of Jordan under a Specialized Finance license is a pivotal moment for Valu and a testament to the strength of our platform, governance model, and long-term vision for the market. Jordan is a key pillar in Valu’s regional expansion strategy. As we prepare to begin operations in the first quarter of the year 2026, our focus remains on driving financial inclusion through innovative, customer-centric products while investing in local talent and contributing meaningfully to the Jordanian financial ecosystem. We are also proud to have partnered with Hammouri & Partners Attorneys, whose expertise and dedicated efforts helped us in successfully securing the license.”
This latest milestone builds on Valu’s growing regional momentum, including its listing on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) in 2025, following Amazon’s direct stake acquisition in Valu, further solidifying its position as a leading fintech player committed to transforming digital finance across the MENA region.
Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2026 to Spotlight Africa’s Energy Growth Amid Low-Carbon Push
Africa’s integrated energy companies face a dual mandate: expanding energy access while reducing carbon emissions. This challenge will be the focus of the panel, “The Dual Mandate: Navigating Growth and Decarbonization in an Integrated Energy Sector,” at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris on April 22–23, 2026. The discussion will bring together energy executives, investors and policymakers to align strategy with the continent’s rapidly rising power demand and industrial ambitions.
The first priority for many integrated energy firms is scaling low‑carbon power. Across Africa, utility-scale solar, wind and hybrid systems are advancing in 2025 as public and private capital flows in. South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Program continues to attract private investment into large-scale solar and wind projects, while Morocco’s Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex demonstrates how concentrated solar power can supply baseload electricity. Panelists will examine how integrated companies can replicate these models in markets with limited grid infrastructure.
Despite the low-carbon push, oil and gas remain central to Africa’s energy mix and industrial growth. Integrated companies are adopting practices to reduce emissions while sustaining production. Nigeria’s Gas Flare Commercialization Program, which issued permits in December 2025 to capture 250–300 million cubic feet of flared gas per day, is projected to attract $2 billion in investment, generate nearly 3 GW of electricity and cut about 6 million tons of CO₂ annually. Methane leak monitoring, enhanced oil recovery with CO₂ capture and flaring reduction are also being implemented across Nigeria, Angola and Ghana, extending field life while improving environmental performance. These measures show that responsible hydrocarbon development can support a transition strategy while maintaining investor appeal.
The panel will also explore hydrogen, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and bioenergy as tools to strengthen integrated energy portfolios. Green hydrogen projects in Morocco aim to supply clean fuels while anchoring industrial ecosystems, from green steel to sustainable aviation fuels, and positioning the region as a renewable export hub. In southern Africa, Namibia’s HyIron Oshivela green hydrogen facility reached a milestone in 2025 by producing its first zero‑emission hydrogen using solar power and battery storage, and is now set to support low‑carbon iron production. These examples illustrate how hydrogen can drive industrial decarbonization beyond electricity generation.
The IAE 2026 Forum will allow financiers, energy executives and policymakers to assess investment-ready opportunities arising from these strategies. Hybrid systems that combine gas and renewables offer models for projects that deliver both financial returns and ESG outcomes. Speakers will also discuss how integrated companies can leverage Africa’s abundant renewable resources, significant hydrocarbon reserves and growing power demand to promote economic development alongside emissions reductions. Decisions made today on technology deployment, asset management and investment prioritization will shape the sector for decades.
In short, the panel will demonstrate that Africa’s energy transition is not a choice between growth and decarbonization. Integrated companies that scale low‑carbon electricity, manage hydrocarbons responsibly and deploy advanced technologies will create compelling investment opportunities, reduce energy costs and support industrial and manufacturing development across the continent. For investors attending the forum, the discussion offers a roadmap to commercially viable projects aligned with global climate goals.
Forbes Middle East Unveils the 2025 30 Under 30 List Highlighting Region’s Rising Trailblazers
Egyptians top the list with 19 honorees, followed closely by 18 Saudis and 15 Lebanese.
Commerce and finance leads the way with 42 rising entrepreneurs and innovators.
The average age of listees is 26.9 years.
Forbes Middle East has revealed its eighth annual 30 Under 30 list, celebrating the region’s most dynamic young leaders, innovative creators, and catalysts for change. These trailblazers are redefining what success looks like in MENA, from athletes achieving milestone victories to researchers pushing the frontiers of science.
The Class of 2025 features 90 entries representing 113 individuals across three categories: commerce and finance, social impact, sports and lifestyle, and science and technology. Each category comprises 30 entries, with commerce and finance leading with 42 individuals, followed by social impact, sports and lifestyle with 36, and science and technology with 35.
To qualify for the 2025 list, candidates had to be under 30 years old as of December 31, 2024, meaning anyone born in 1995 or later was eligible. Candidates could be of any nationality but were required to have their primary ventures or initiatives based in the MENA region. If multiple cofounders from the same business qualified, they were counted as a single entry. The list is presented in alphabetical order.
The 2025 honorees span 24 nationalities, with Egyptians leading at 19, followed by 18 Saudis, 15 Lebanese, and six Emiratis and Jordanians each. These rising talents are based across 18 countries, with the UAE hosting 34, Saudi Arabia 25, Egypt 15, and Lebanon 11. The average age across the list is 26.9 years old.
Among this year’s standout achievers are Palestine’s Asar Jaradat, Nuclear Physics Researcher & PhD Fellow at CERN (The European Organization for Nuclear Research); the Saudi cofounding team of Ejari – Yazeed Al-Shamsi, Fahad Albedah, Khalid Almunif, and Mohammed Alkhelewy; the Egyptian cofounders of 2oolameme Sarah Abouelkhair and Abdelrahman Selim; Jordanian footballers Ali Olwan, Mousa Al-Tamari and Yazan Alnemat; the Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna; and Lebanese fashion designer Jean Pierre Khoury. These individuals exemplify the innovation, leadership, and ambition driving the next generation of MENA changemakers.
Forbes Middle East conducted a rigorous evaluation to identify the region’s most promising young talent. Applicants could nominate themselves or be nominated by others, and hundreds of submissions were assessed by the research team. Through multiple rounds, roughly 200 candidates were shortlisted, after which external judges with expertise across industries reviewed and recommended entries for the final list. Evaluation combined qualitative and quantitative measures, considering candidates’ influence on industries, markets, and communities, as well as tangible achievements such as funds raised, revenues, awards, deal values, audience reach, and social media presence.
Valu Partners with Tactful AI to Enhance Customer Experience Through Unified Engagement, AI-Driven Automation and Advanced Insights
Valu, Egypt’s leading universal financial technology powerhouse, announced today a strategic partnership with Tactful AI, a regional leader in AI-powered customer experience transformation, aimed at delivering faster, smarter, and more personalized customer interactions across Valu’s digital ecosystem.
Through this collaboration, Valu will leverage Tactful AI’s capabilities to unify and automate customer engagement across multiple touchpoints, including WhatsApp, its website, mobile application, and social media channels. The platform will also provide Valu with deeper insights into customer interactions, enabling faster response times, reduced operational friction, and an enhanced customer journey while maintaining a strong human touch.
Founded in Egypt and operating across the Middle East, Africa, the United Kingdom, and Europe, Tactful AI delivers an advanced, agentic customer experience platform that combines real-time conversational analytics, AI-powered engagement tools, a no-code automation studio, and unified omnichannel engagement and journey insights. The platform enables organizations to enhance customer satisfaction while improving operational agility and efficiency.
Commenting on the partnership, Mohamed Elmasry, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tactful AI, said: “We are proud to partner with a homegrown fintech powerhouse like Valu as it continues to scale its vision of inclusive and accessible finance across the region. This partnership goes beyond technology; it represents a shared commitment to raising the standard of customer experience in financial services. With Tactful AI, Valu can accelerate its services, engage smarter, and gain deeper insights into customer needs at every interaction”.
Mohamed Mounir, Deputy CEO of Valu, added: “At Valu, our customers remain at the core of everything we do. As we continue to expand and innovate, we are investing in intelligent platforms that enable us to anticipate customer needs and respond proactively and seamlessly across all channels. Tactful AI’s solution empowers us to deliver this with greater precision, scalability, and regional relevance”.
The partnership reflects a broader evolution within Egypt’s technology ecosystem, highlighting how locally founded companies are developing globally competitive solutions tailored to regional markets. Both Valu and Tactful AI share a common vision of leveraging innovation to deliver meaningful, scalable impact.
The Art of Disappearance: Parvara Elevates Immersive Experiences in the Mountains of Fujairah
Where architecture recedes, silence becomes structure, and luxury is defined by what remains unseen.
On the slopes of Jabal al-Hamri, a new sanctuary has emerged by choosing not to appear. Parvara, the mountain retreat already recognised for reimagining the rhythms of stillness and presence, now unveils the philosophy at the heart of its creation; a commitment to “the art of disappearance,” where architecture, service, and luxury dissolve into the landscape until all that remains is experience. This approach positions Parvara as one of the few destinations in the region where refinement is expressed not through display, but through deliberate absence.
Parvara centres its philosophy on the belief that stories are not meant to be told, they are meant to be lived. Each stay follows a gentle, predetermined rhythm that removes the weight of planning and allows guests to enter a narrative shaped by nature, ritual, and presence. Every journey becomes a different kind of story, one that unfolds quietly through experience rather than explanation.
Some guests find their story in stillness: dawn yoga where the day opens slowly, afternoons drifting between water and rest, and firelit dinners where time softens and the smallest details of living become vivid. Others step into a story of movement, sunrise treks, wadi walks, and the pulse of guided activity that restores the body’s rhythm and reconnects them to the physical world.
Solo travellers move into an inner story, shaped by meditation, sunrise trails, and reflective silence that makes their inner world visible again.
Culture becomes a lived narrative in Echoes of the Emirates, where desert light, ancestral rituals, UNESCO landscapes, and the deep aromas of heritage form chapters that can only be understood through experience, not description. And for those seeking reconnection, the Digital Detox journey becomes a story of returning to the senses, walking mindfully, dining by fire, and rediscovering presence without screens or interruption.
Across all these paths, Parvara offers the same truth: the most meaningful stories are not the ones we recount, but the ones we feel. Here, life is not organised or managed; it is lived, fully and quietly, in a way that stays long after the journey ends.
Mintiply Capital to lead AED 1.2bn F&B and e-commerce investment deal in GCC
Mintiply Capital, an investment banking advisory firm specialized in managing and structuring investment transactions, is set to lead an AED 1.2 billion investment opportunity for one of the GCC’s fastest-growing food and beverage groups.
The firm is currently advising on the strategic exit process for this diversified F&B group, providing guidance across the full transaction lifecycle, from valuation and deal structuring to investor onboarding and regulatory coordination. Mintiply Capital is supporting the positioning of the asset for acquisition by presenting the opportunity to qualified regional and international investors, ensuring a seamless transition of ownership and helping maximize value for all stakeholders.
The opportunity encompasses a diversified F&B and e-commerce ecosystem featuring multiple verticals across supermarkets, cafés, bakeries, catering, and digital food delivery. With more than 10 years of existence, the group rapidly expanded, evolving from a niche retail concept into a multi-brand network of multiple stores, multiple concept cafés, and an integrated online delivery platform.
Noel Hatem, Chief Operating Officer at Mintiply Capital
“This initiative represents a landmark opportunity for investors to participate in a truly integrated F&B and e-commerce ecosystem in the GCC,” said Noel Hatem, Chief Operating Officer at Mintiply Capital. Hatem added: “Beyond strong financial returns, this project offers regional investors access to a high-growth, diversified business with proven scalability, a robust operational model, and the potential to shape the future of the F&B and e-commerce landscape in the region.”
“The market is evolving rapidly, and we are offering a structured, high-potential investment that combines strong fundamentals with clear growth and scalability across the region,” Hatem concluded.
Built on a model that combines premium quality with competitive pricing, the group has successfully positioned itself between high-end gourmet retailers and value-driven supermarkets capturing a broad consumer base and doubling its market alpha in just two years. Its product portfolio is complemented by a growing range of branded and private-label offerings.
The ecosystem also includes a fast-scaling e-commerce platform that has become a cornerstone of its customer engagement strategy, enabling consistent growth across both physical and digital channels.
As part of this transaction, Mintiply Capital is also advising on the structuring process of the acquisition framework for incoming investors, providing guidance on the design of the investment vehicle, guiding on regulatory compliance across jurisdictions, and conducting operational, financial, and commercial due diligence. Mintiply Capital is also advising on the development of a comprehensive deal structure that enables new investors to seamlessly acquire the group’s full ecosystem.
With Gulf’s M&A activity expected to surpass $115 billion in 2025, the appetite for strategic acquisitions across the UAE and Saudi Arabia has never been stronger. According to the EY MENA M&A Insights 9M 2025 report, M&A activity in the region rose 23% in the first nine months of the year, with 649 deals. Strong investor interest and an improving economic environment fueled the growth, with cross-border transactions driving 54% of deal volume and 76% of deal value, which is the highest level in five years.
By curating this opportunity, Mintiply Capital reinforces its commitment to connecting global capital with regional success stories identifying high-performing businesses ready for strategic ownership transitions and long-term growth acceleration.
