Abu Dhabi, UAE – 8th September, 2026 – The MENA Fintech Association (MFTA), the region’s leading not-for-profit fintech industry body and globally ranked among the top fintech associations, has welcomed Wise, the global technology company building the best way to move and manage the world’s money, as a new corporate member. The partnership brings together Wise’s global payments infrastructure and MFTA’s regional network to support the continued evolution of cross-border payments and financial connectivity across MENA.
Wise joins MFTA as international money movement becomes increasingly central to the region’s digital economy. Growing trade, digital commerce, workforce mobility, and cross-border business activity are driving demand for payment infrastructure that is faster, more transparent, and more cost-effective.
Serving around 19 million customers globally, Wise processed more than $240 billion in cross-border transactions during the last financial year, helping customers save more than $3 billion in fees. Its infrastructure connects directly to domestic payment systems across multiple markets, enabling faster international transfers while reducing complexity and improving transparency.
Beyond its consumer and business offering, Wise Platform enables banks and financial institutions to embed international payment capabilities into their own products and services. This allows financial institutions to provide faster, more transparent cross-border experiences while leveraging Wise’s global payments infrastructure.
The partnership comes at an important time for MENA, where financial institutions, fintechs, regulators, and businesses are working to modernize payment infrastructure and strengthen the region’s connection to global financial markets. As part of its engagement with MFTA, Wise will contribute its expertise to initiatives focused on payments, financial infrastructure, cross-border commerce, and digital financial inclusion.
Mohamed Mansour, CEO of Wise UAE, commented:
“Joining the MENA Fintech Association marks a key step in Wise’s continued engagement in the UAE and across the wider region. As more people and businesses live, work and trade across borders, the need for international payments that are fast, transparent and low-cost has never been clearer. We look forward to working with MFTA, regulators, policymakers and industry partners to support an open, connected and more transparent ecosystem, and to help make moving money internationally more convenient for customers across the region.”
Nameer Khan, Chairman of the MENA Fintech Association and Founder of Fils, added:
“The way money moves across borders is becoming increasingly important to the competitiveness of modern economies. As trade, talent, and capital move more seamlessly between markets, the infrastructure supporting these flows must evolve with them. Wise has demonstrated at significant global scale what faster, more transparent international payments can look like, and we look forward to bringing that expertise into our network and supporting the continued development of more connected payment ecosystems across MENA.”
As part of the MFTA network, Wise will collaborate with banks, fintechs, financial institutions, regulators, and technology providers across the region. The collaboration will support dialogue around cross-border payments, payment infrastructure, digital inclusion, and the technologies enabling more efficient global money movement.
Together, MFTA and Wise aim to contribute to a more connected financial ecosystem where businesses and individuals can move money across borders with greater speed, transparency, and accessibility.
About Wise
Wise is a global technology company building the best way to move and manage the world’s money. With Wise Account and Wise Business, people and businesses can hold 40+ currencies, move money between countries and spend money abroad. Large companies and banks use Wise technology too, creating an entirely new network for the world’s money.
In fiscal year 2026, Wise supported around 19 million people and businesses, processing over $240 billion in cross-border transactions and saving customers over $3 billion.
About the MENA Fintech Association
The MENA Fintech Association (MFTA) is an inclusive, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting open dialogue and innovation within the MENA fintech community. MFTA supports a diverse network of fintech startups, SMEs, financial institutions, technology companies, investors, and regulators, serving as a trusted platform to shape policy, foster collaboration, and accelerate the future of finance across the region.
Interested in knowing more? Reach out to us at marketing@mena-fintech.org
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