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Forbes Middle East Unveils Its Fintech 50 2026

Forbes Middle East has revealed its annual Fintech 50 list, highlighting 50 companies at the forefront of MENA’s fintech transformation. Collectively, they processed more than $260 billion in transactions in 2025, reflecting their growing role in how consumers and businesses access, manage, and move money across the region.

The ranking considers several metrics, including external investment, transaction volume, active users, consumer reach, geographic footprint, and progress in innovation, growth and expansion over the past year. Fintech entities affiliated with exchange houses, telecom operators, traditional banks and government institutions were excluded from the ranking.

Saudi-based shopping and financial services app Tabby tops the list for the second consecutive year. The company processes more than $18 billion in annual transaction volume and raised $233 million in a Series F round at a $6.5 billion valuation in September 2026. It has also continued its regional expansion, securing new licenses in the UAE and Saudi Arabia that enable it to broaden its product offering.

Egyptian e-payments pioneer Fawry lands in second place, bolstered by its customer base of 55.4 million monthly users as of June 2026. It is followed by Egypt’s MNT-Halan, which secured an investment round led by Al Ahly Capital Holding, the investment subsidiary of the National Bank of Egypt, at a valuation of $1.4 billion in June 2026. The company is currently divesting a 20% stake through an IPO on the Egyptian Exchange that is set to close by mid-October.

This year, the list features companies from 10 countries, with the UAE’s 15 companies leading the way, followed by Saudi Arabia with 13 entries and Egypt with 10. The list welcomes 18 new entrants, including Network International, Astra Tech, Digit9 and PRYPCO.

The Middle East’s Fintech 50:  Country Breakdown
UAE 15 Bahrain 1
Saudi Arabia 13 Iraq 1
Egypt 10 Oman 1
Jordan 2 Yemen 1
Morocco 2 Qatar 1
Bahrain/UAE 2 Saudi Arabia/USA 1

 

 

The Middle East’s Fintech 50 – Meet The Top 10

 

1 | Tabby

Shopping and financial services app

HQ: Saudi Arabia

 

2 | Fawry

Financial services platform

HQ: Egypt

 

3| MNT-Halan

Lending, BNPL and payments platform

HQ: Egypt

 

4| Network International

Digital payment and fintech solutions

HQ: UAE

 

5| Rasan

Insurtech and fintech company

HQ: Saudi Arabia

 

6| Thndr

Investment platform

HQ: Egypt

 

7| Foodics

Restaurant operations and financial management platform

HQ: Saudi Arabia

 

8| U Consumer Finance (Valu)

Financial technology company

HQ: Egypt

 

9| Astra Tech

Consumer technology company

HQ: UAE

 

10 | PRYPCO

Fintech platform

HQ: UAE

About the Writer

Ashraf Alhady

Ashraf Alhady

CEO of ARQAM

Ashraf El Hady is the CEO of Arqam Magazine, leading the platform’s operations and media development. Arqam delivers news coverage across a range of topics for readers in Egypt and the wider region.

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