Ghada Ismail

Speed is life in startup land. Getting your idea to market quickly can be the difference between leading the charge and watching someone else do it first. But let’s face it: building a product from scratch takes time, money, and technical resources that many founders simply don’t have, especially in the early days. That’s where white-label products come into play.

In effect, a white-label product is an off-the-shelf solution produced by one company and sold to another, which retails it and flaunts it as if it were theirs. It's the technology era's version of a bare piece of paper: you slap on your logo, your design, your dream, and you're in business.

White-labeling allows startups to quickly get started without having to reinvent the wheel. Instead of spending months on development, founders can focus on what really matters: building a great brand, growing rapidly, and gaining users.

Why Startups Prefer White-Label Solutions

White-labeling is a favorite tool for early-stage founders, especially those who are non-technical or those in highly regulated verticals such as fintech or healthtech. It's how you go fast without compromising quality or compliance.

Here's why it works so well:

• Quicker time-to-market: You can go to market in weeks instead of months.

• Lower costs: Skip the expensive development phase and save your money for scaling.

• Pre-integrated compliance: The majority of providers already comply with regulatory requirements in the industry, so you don't need to go through the legal trouble.

• White-label branding: Make the product fit your own brand; your image, your voice, your UX.

• Less development time: Spend less time developing and more time selling, marketing, and expanding.

It's a smart way to conduct a test in the real world without burning your runway.

Where White-Labeling Works Best

White-label models thrive in areas where the underlying functionality is analogous, and most crucial is how you brand and deliver value to your users.

Some of the most used industries where startups use white-label offerings are:

• Fintech: Digital wallets, BNPL (buy now, pay later) apps, insurance platforms, robo-advisors.

• E-commerce: Website builders, loyalty programs.

• Healthtech: Virtual clinics, appointment systems, patient portals.

• SaaS: Chatbots, invoicing platforms, analytics dashboards.

• Edtech: Learning platforms, online classrooms, exam tools.

Where a regulatory environment is strict, as in the case of Saudi Arabia, and sectors like fintech and healthtech are growing aggressively, white-label products allow startups to access markets rapidly without falling foul of regulation.

What to Watch Out For

No answer is ever perfect, naturally. White-labeling has its trade-offs, and here are some of them: 

• Limited control: You're working within someone else's template, so you could be restricted in what you can modify.

• Vendor dependence: Your product is dependent on the reliability and support of your white-label vendor.

• Scalability problems: As your business grows, you could end up having to switch to a custom-built system that can handle more users or special features.

• Insufficient differentiation: If you have more than one firm utilizing the same base product, your competitive edge has to come from branding, customer support, or add-ons.

The key is to use white-labeling as a stepping stone, not a long-term home. It's a great beginning, but you'll need to have an exit strategy when you outgrow it.

Wrapping Things Up…

White-label options represent a smart, strategic way in which startups are able to reach the market faster, spend less on developing out, and focus on growth. To many entrepreneurs, they're the magic ingredient to concept proofing and early traction.

But while a white-label product can help you get started, it won't make you successful. That's still up to you; how well you understand your users, how you build your brand, and how you adapt as you grow.

So if you're a founder with a vision and limited tech capabilities, or you operate in a tough, regulated space, white-labeling might be the go-to launch strategy for you to enter the market.

Kholoud Hussein 

In the evolving landscape of global business, the terms traditional commerce and entrepreneurship are often used interchangeably. While both involve the exchange of goods or services for profit, the differences between them run deeper, encompassing mindset, risk appetite, innovation, scalability, and value creation. Understanding these differences is critical for anyone looking to navigate today’s complex economic environment or start a business in a rapidly changing market.

1. Definition and Core Philosophy

Traditional commerce refers to the established methods of buying and selling goods and services, typically conducted through physical stores, franchises, or wholesale/retail distribution systems. These businesses often follow proven models with predictable processes and known markets. Examples include a local grocery store, a clothing shop, or a hardware store—operations where the focus is on efficiency, stability, and consistent customer service.

Entrepreneurship, on the other hand, is the process of identifying gaps in the market and creating innovative solutions to meet those needs. It often involves building something from scratch—whether a product, service, or business model. Entrepreneurs tend to challenge the status quo, driven by a vision of change, disruption, or progress. Think of startups creating AI-driven platforms, ride-sharing apps, or clean energy solutions—ventures that did not exist a decade ago but are now reshaping industries.

2. Risk and Uncertainty

Traditional commerce is relatively lower-risk. It typically relies on established supply chains, customer behaviors, and product lines. Business owners in this space often invest in a known outcome—selling a popular product in a familiar location to a predictable customer base.

Entrepreneurship is inherently riskier. Entrepreneurs venture into uncharted territories, often with no guarantee of success. Startups may fail due to a lack of market demand, funding issues, or execution challenges. However, the potential rewards—both financial and societal—are significantly higher if the venture succeeds. This high-risk, high-reward nature defines the entrepreneurial spirit.

3. Innovation and Scalability

Innovation is the lifeblood of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs are problem solvers, constantly looking for ways to do things better, faster, or cheaper. They leverage new technologies, business models, or social trends to create value. A startup founder might disrupt traditional retail by launching an AI-driven personal shopping assistant or use blockchain to improve supply chain transparency.

In contrast, traditional commerce often relies on tried-and-tested models with minimal innovation. The primary goal is to improve efficiency and reduce costs. While some traditional businesses adopt new technologies, they usually do so gradually and reactively, rather than as a central tenet of their business strategy.

When it comes to scalability, traditional businesses grow linearly—more stores mean more revenue, but also more costs. Entrepreneurial ventures, especially those in the digital or tech sectors, can scale exponentially. A software startup can acquire millions of users worldwide with minimal incremental cost, creating opportunities for massive returns and global impact.

4. Funding and Financial Strategy

Traditional businesses are often self-funded or financed through bank loans. They generate revenue through daily transactions and focus on long-term stability and profitability.

Entrepreneurs frequently seek venture capital, angel investors, or crowdfunding. Their financial strategy is centered around rapid growth, market capture, and future valuation. Many startups operate at a loss in their early years, focusing instead on building a user base or technological edge before turning a profit.

5. Mindset and Motivation

The mindset of a traditional business owner is typically conservative. Success is defined by steady income, loyal customers, and local reputation. These businesses form the backbone of local economies, offering employment and stability.

Entrepreneurs, however, are driven by vision, ambition, and often a desire to change the world. They embrace uncertainty and are willing to take bold steps to realize their ideas. Their motivation often goes beyond profit—it includes solving meaningful problems, achieving scale, and sometimes even leaving a legacy.

Finally, while traditional commerce and entrepreneurship differ significantly, they are not mutually exclusive. They often complement each other in the broader economic ecosystem. Entrepreneurs create new markets and drive innovation, while traditional businesses provide the stability, infrastructure, and workforce that sustain daily financial life.

As economies around the world, including those in the Gulf and MENA regions, push for diversification and innovation, the line between the two is increasingly blurred. Many traditional businesses are adopting entrepreneurial thinking—digital transformation, e-commerce, and agile models—while entrepreneurs are learning the value of operational discipline and sustainable growth from their traditional counterparts.

Understanding these differences and synergies is vital for policymakers, investors, and aspiring business leaders who aim to foster a resilient and dynamic economy in the 21st century.

Ghada Ismail
 

The way we pay is changing. Again! From magnetic stripes to chip cards, mobile wallets, and wearables, each wave has brought more convenience and speed. Now, the next frontier may be something far more innate: the human palm.

Palm recognition technology, once confined to high-security settings, is making its way into everyday finance. With a simple wave of the hand, users can authorize payments, verify their identity, and access services with no phone or card required. Tech giants like Amazon have already introduced palm-scanning systems across retail, entertainment, and even healthcare. Pilots are also appearing across Asia and the Middle East, including rising interest in Saudi Arabia and the GCC.

As digital economies seek faster, safer, and more inclusive payment options, palm biometrics offer a compelling solution. But they also raise valid questions around privacy and surveillance. Is this frictionless future a leap forward—or a little too close for comfort?

Either way, the next era of financial access may be closer than we think—literally in the palm of our hands.

How Palm Recognition Works
Palm recognition systems use near-infrared light to scan the unique vein patterns beneath the skin; an internal signature nearly impossible to forge. The data is encrypted and stored securely, often in cloud-based environments. During authentication, users simply hover their palm over a scanner, and the system matches the scan to their registered biometric template in under a second.

Amazon has been a leading adopter with its “Amazon One” system, which combines palm and vein imagery for high-accuracy authentication. The technology integrates with existing payment networks like Visa and Mastercard, allowing users to link their palm to a digital wallet or bank account.

Fintech Use Cases Around the World

Amazon One in Whole Foods and Beyond

• Retail Rollout: Amazon One is now active in more than 500 Whole Foods Market locations across the U.S., following a nationwide expansion completed in 2023.
• Airports & Venues: The technology is also in use at major airports and sports stadiums, including retail outlets in U.S. terminals and venues like Coors Field.

Healthcare Innovation at NYU Langone Health

• In March 2025, NYU Langone Health began rolling out Amazon One for patient check-in, offering a contactless alternative at its clinics and hospitals.

International Developments

• Singapore: At the 2024 Singapore Fintech Festival, Tencent and Visa jointly piloted palm-based payments. After a one-time registration, customers were able to pay with their palm at participating cafes.
• China: In Beijing, passengers on the Daxing Airport Express Line can use palm recognition via WeChat Pay to enter the metro—no cards or phones required.

These examples show that palm biometrics are no longer experimental. They're entering the mainstream.

Why Fintech Is Embracing the Palm

Palm biometrics offer a mix of advantages that appeal to fintechs and users alike:

• Speed: Authentication is virtually instantaneous, reducing queues and wait times.
• Security: Vein patterns are internal and highly resistant to spoofing, offering stronger protection than fingerprints or facial recognition.
• Hygiene: Fully contactless, palm scanning is ideal for public environments—especially post-pandemic.
• Accessibility: Palm authentication offers a device-free option for people without smartphones or physical cards, improving financial access.

These benefits are especially relevant in emerging markets and among unbanked populations, where biometrics can play a crucial role in digital inclusion.

The Privacy Debate

Despite its promise, palm recognition raises valid privacy concerns. Since vascular patterns are immutable, a breach of biometric data could have long-lasting consequences.

Amazon states that palm data captured by Amazon One is encrypted and stored securely in the AWS Cloud, emphasizing that it is not shared with government agencies or advertisers. While this commitment offers some reassurance, privacy advocates remain cautious. The lack of universal regulation on biometric data storage, retention, and usage leaves room for concern—particularly in countries without strong consumer protection frameworks.

Building public trust will require transparency, user consent mechanisms, and robust oversight.

Regional Innovation: Palm Tech Expands Across the Middle East and Africa
In the Middle East and Africa, palm recognition is gaining traction beyond global tech giants. IDCentriq, a leader in biometric authentication, participated at Seamless Middle East 2025, held from 20–22 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre, where the company unveiled its ePalm palm-vein authentication technology, designed for secure, contactless identity verification in government and financial sectors.

Ali AlMeshal, CEO of PaymentsCo for the GCC, a regional subsidiary of IDCentriq, said: “Adopting technologies like ePalm will be crucial in fostering consumer confidence and driving growth in the digital payments landscape across the GCC.”

Led by Executive Chairman and CEO Muhanad Azzeh, IDCentriq is positioning ePalm as a homegrown solution tailored for the region’s shift toward cashless economies and digitally integrated public services.

Saudi Arabia’s Palm Vein Scanner Market Gathers Momentum

In Saudi Arabia, the palm vein scanner market is gaining traction as demand grows for secure, contactless biometric authentication across key sectors like healthcare, finance, and government, according to a report issued by 6wresearch in 2023. The technology’s ability to provide precise, tamper-resistant identity verification using subdermal vein patterns makes it particularly appealing in a country prioritizing advanced security infrastructure.

The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated adoption, as institutions sought hygienic, touch-free solutions for access control and identity management. Today, palm vein scanners are increasingly being deployed in high-security environments and customer-facing applications where trust and privacy are paramount.

Still, challenges remain, particularly around ensuring accuracy, public acceptance, and robust data protection. Key players active in the Saudi market include Fujitsu, Hitachi, and M2SYS Technology, all offering solutions tailored to the Kingdom’s growing need for scalable, secure authentication systems.

The Road Ahead

Palm recognition is still novel, but its rapid global rollout suggests it's more than a passing trend. As companies like Amazon expand internationally, and as fintechs across Asia and the Middle East chase frictionless user experiences, palm biometrics are emerging as a serious contender in the future of digital identity.

In Saudi Arabia and beyond, the next big step in financial access may require nothing more than a wave of the hand.

No card. No phone. Just a palm.

Noha Gad

Arabic is one of the world’s most significant languages, with around 491 million speakers globally as of 2025. This makes it the fifth most spoken language worldwide and the fourth most used language on the internet. Being one of the oldest living languages, the Arabic language is spoken in 22 countries, primarily across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with additional recognition as a co-official language in countries like Chad and Eritrea.

Despite its broad reach, Arabic presents unique linguistic challenges for artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) as it is characterized by a complex morphology, rich grammar, and a high degree of diglossia. It also has 25 distinct dialects, ranging from Gulf Arabic and Levantine Arabic to Maghreb and Egyptian Arabic, each with its own phonetic and lexical variations.

This diversity makes it hard for AI systems to accurately understand and generate Arabic text and speech, requiring sophisticated models that can navigate both classical and colloquial forms.

The localization of Arabic AI has become a strategic imperative in Saudi Arabia as the Kingdom moves towards its Vision 2030, not only adopting technology, but also leading the creation of it. 

The convergence of Arabic’s linguistic significance, its inherent complexity, and the Kingdom’s push for technological leadership sets the stage for transformative developments in Arabic AI and NLP. These technologies are not only crucial for enhancing digital communication and services but also for enabling local businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital and globalized economy. 

Saudi Arabia’s efforts to lead the creation of Arabic AI

Recognizing these challenges and the strategic importance of Arabic AI, Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a regional leader in driving advancements in Arabic language technology. National strategies, such as the National Strategy for Data and AI (NSDAI), play a pivotal role in placing the Kingdom among the world’s top AI economies by 2030. Launched by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) in 2020, NSDAI aims to capitalize on data and AI for the Kingdom economically and socially through national combined efforts by all stakeholders. 

Through this initiative, the Kingdom aspires to build the foundation for competitive advantage in key niche domains in 2025, and compete on the international scene as a leading economy, utilizing and exporting data and AI by 2030.

Key objectives of NSDAI also include attracting investment worth SAR 75 billion in data and AI, and transforming the Saudi workforce with a steady local supply of more than 20,000 data and AI specialists and experts.

SDAIA also collaborated with NVIDIA to launch ALLaM, Saudi Arabia’s first-of-its-kind chat application that chats and responds to users' inquiries in Arabic. The application offers reliable information in all fields and provides updated summaries and suggestions on various topics. Furthermore, the authority partnered with global tech giants, such as IBM and Microsoft, to enhance the deployment of ALLaM.

King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL) is another key player in advancing Arabic AI in the Kingdom. In 2024, it launched the Arabic AI Center, the first specialized AI center for automated Arabic language processing. The center is dedicated to enhancing Arabic content in the fields of data and AI, and making it more competitive globally while driving research, applications, and capabilities in AI and the Arabic language.

The Arabic AI Center targets empowering researchers and developers to harness advanced technologies for processing the Arabic language through five advanced labs: Linguistic and AI Modeling Lab, Data Preparation and Linguistic Resources Lab, Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab, Audio and Visual Processing Lab, and Researcher Workspace Lab.

How Arabic AI and NLP empower local businesses?

Industry Applications

The applications of Arabic AI and NLP span various fields. For instance, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can enhance customer services by providing personalized and dialect-aware support, improving user satisfaction and accessibility. In retail and e-commerce sectors, sentiment analysis and feedback mining help businesses understand customer needs and trends.

Finance companies, such as Mozn, harness Arabic NLP engines to advance fraud detection, compliance, and risk management. Additionally, Arabic AI and NLP can promote e-government in Saudi Arabia by enhancing communication and faster, clearer interactions for citizens navigating government portals.

Economic and Social Impact

• Boosting local content. Advancing Arabic AI and NLP tools can increase the availability and quality of Arabic digital content across various sectors.
• Inclusivity and digital literacy. Arabic-first AI tools ensure broader access and participation in the digital economy. 
• Entrepreneurship and innovation. Local developers and startups leverage Arabic AI to build hyper-localized solutions, fostering a vibrant tech ecosystem.

Arabic AI and NLP are projected to deliver substantial economic benefits to the Kingdom over the coming decade. According to PwC, AI could contribute 12.4% of GDP (around $235 billion) by 2030, underscoring the transformative potential of AI across multiple sectors of the Saudi economy. Additionally, the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) suggested that with a 20% annual growth in the AI market, Saudi Arabia’s GDP is projects to see an uplift of 0.6% above baseline growth by 2030.

On the employment front, AI’s impact is nuanced but promising. While simulations indicate that about 20.5% of current jobs could be automated, the potential for new job creation exceeds this at 23%, leading to a net employment increase of roughly 2.5% by 2030. Saudi Arabia currently focuses on training and certifying thousands of AI specialists to keep pace with this trend, aiming to build a workforce capable of sustaining and expanding the AI ecosystem. Additionally, Arabic AI and NLP are driving significant social transformation by enhancing accessibility, inclusivity, and cultural relevance in digital interactions. 

Key Challenges

• Linguistic diversity and complexity. The complex morphology and rich grammar of the Arabic language pose significant hurdles for AI development. The language features dozens of dialects, requiring AI models to be dialect-aware for authentic communication. Also, Large Language Models (LLMs) must be trained to think in Arabic, not just translate from English or other languages, to capture cultural and linguistic nuances effectively.
• Data scarcity and quality. Although Arabic is the fourth most spoken language in the world, it accounts for less than 1% of internet content. Many existing Arabic LLMs rely heavily on English data, which reduces their efficacy in handling complex Arabic reasoning and dialects. Saudi initiatives, such as ALLaM, play a pivotal role in building large, culturally relevant Arabic datasets to overcome this scarcity.
• Strategic sovereignty and ethical considerations. Building sovereign Arabic AI models is instrumental to ensure that AI systems reflect regional values, cultural norms, and legal frameworks. The Saudi Vision 2030 emphasizes AI sovereignty, promoting models trained on local data governed by regional laws to maintain trust and autonomy.

Saudi Arabia is rapidly advancing toward becoming a global leader in Arabic AI and NLP, driven by its ambitious Vision 2030 and substantial investments in AI infrastructure and talent development. The Kingdom accelerates its efforts to expand generative AI capabilities specifically tailored for Arabic content, including dialectal and classical forms.

The development of sovereign Arabic LLMs like ALLaM, integrated into global technology platforms and supported by advanced data centers powered by the Kingdom’s unique energy resources, positions Saudi Arabia as a regional powerhouse and a significant player on the global AI stage. 

Ghada Ismail

Lean Technologies has become one of the standout players in MENA’s fintech space, building the infrastructure that helps businesses offer modern financial services. With its latest funding round, the company is entering a new chapter, focused on expanding its reach, deepening partnerships, and shaping the region’s Open Finance future.

In this interview, Mehdi Tazi, Chief Operating Officer at Lean, shares with Sharikat Mubasher what the company’s latest milestone means for its next phase, how it’s supporting everyone from early-stage startups to large enterprises, and why MENA’s fintech landscape is capturing global attention.

1. Lean’s recent $67.5 million Series B is one of the largest fintech raises in the region. What does this milestone represent for the company’s next phase?

It marks a significant step forward in our journey. We’ve spent the last few years building critical infrastructure, earning trust, and laying the groundwork for Open Finance in the region. With this raise, we’re accelerating product development, expanding regional coverage, and helping more businesses embed modern financial services into their platforms. We’re here to lead this next chapter, responsibly and at scale.

When we started Lean 5 years ago, we were struck by the lack of fintech penetration in the Middle East and inspired by the immense potential to create a unified fintech infrastructure platform that can reduce barriers to entry. We aspired to make financial data sharing seamless and accessible, while enabling instant, low-cost payments. Today, we have connected over one million user accounts and processed more than $2 billion in transactions and thanks to the support of forward-thinking regulators in the UAE and KSA, the region is leading the way with open banking standards that unlock amazing new possibilities.

2. What makes fintech in the MENA region an attractive investment opportunity for leading investors like Sequoia and General Catalyst, and what does their involvement say about the region’s venture capital landscape?

Fintech in MENA is evolving quickly and the fundamentals are stronger than ever. In Saudi Arabia, the number of licensed fintechs has grown from 89 in 2022 to over 200 by mid-2024. In the UAE, fintech accounted for nearly 40% of all venture funding in H1 2024, making it the region’s most heavily backed sector. That kind of year-on-year growth reflects a market that’s no longer catching up, it’s building from the ground up.

At the same time, the underlying infrastructure hasn’t kept pace. Demand for modern financial experiences is rising, but legacy systems are still holding many businesses back. That’s where Lean comes in, and why investors like Sequoia, General Catalyst, and Bain Capital are here.

Their involvement isn’t just a vote of confidence in Lean. It signals that global investors see MENA as one of the few regions where foundational fintech infrastructure is still being built, where companies can define the rails, not just build on top of them. That’s the opportunity, and that’s the bet.

3. How does Lean’s API platform reduce barriers to entry for fintech founders across MENA?

Historically, founders in MENA had to navigate months of bank integrations and fragmented infrastructure before launching a product. Lean removes that friction. With one secure API, businesses can access real-time bank payments and financial data without compromising on compliance or user trust.

Careem moved from costly card payments to seamless A2A bank transfers using our infrastructure. DAMAC sped up its payment processing by 24x, reducing wait times from hours to minutes to improve its collections process.

We are not just providing APIs. We are removing technical and regulatory barriers so that fintech teams can build meaningful solutions that help people manage money more efficiently and transparently.

4. How do you adapt your offering for large enterprises versus emerging fintechs?

At Lean, we start with the same powerful platform, but we shape how we deliver it around the needs of each customer.

Emerging fintechs are often looking to move quickly and experiment. They value speed, flexibility and a partner who can help them build fast. Larger enterprises, on the other hand, look for depth. They need systems that are secure, scalable and able to work smoothly within their existing set-up.

What makes the real difference is not just the technology, but the people behind it. We do not hand over a product and step away. Our teams work closely with our customers, helping them integrate the platform, adapt workflows, and get real value from day one. We bring the care and attention you would expect from a trusted partner, not just a provider.

This hands-on approach means our customers never feel left on their own. Whether it is a fintech launching something new or a major enterprise rolling out across regions, we are right there with them, making sure the solution fits, performs and grows with them.

Everything we do is shaped by one belief - when our customers succeed, so do we.

5. You’ve now processed over $2 billion in transactions through your platform. What operational strengths or strategic decisions helped you achieve that scale?

From day one, we focused on building payment infrastructure that solves real business problems; instant settlement, lower fees, and improved reliability, making payments viable at scale. While some businesses accepted bank payments, they faced slow, non-instant payments and spent hours on reconciliation, limiting their ability to scale. Others needed instant payment options but lacked a reliable alternative to costly card payments.

Our first priority was to digitize and streamline this flow, replacing legacy systems with an account-to-account payment experience that is instant, reliable and cost-effective. This was not just about improving efficiency. It was about creating a genuine alternative to legacy payment systems. At the same time, we invested in reliability, compliance and transparency so our clients could scale on a platform built for long-term trust. This focus on practical value and operational resilience is what enabled us to reach more than $2 billion in transaction volume. More importantly, it’s what allows our clients to scale with confidence.

6. With more than a million accounts connected via secure APIs, what does this tell us about user trust and the adoption of financial connectivity in MENA?

It tells us that users are ready, as long as the experience is built the right way.

Connecting a financial account is a high-trust action. We have spent years refining our consent flows, strengthening our infrastructure, and working closely with regulators to make that process as seamless, secure and transparent as possible.

The result is clear. More than one million accounts have been connected through Lean. That shows people are open to trying new financial experiences when the value is obvious and the infrastructure feels trustworthy.

We are also seeing strong engagement with our clients. For example, more than 50% of users on platforms like Sarwa, the all-in-one investment platform, choose to pay via Lean. That level of share of wallet shows not just adoption, but real trust and stickiness.

And it goes beyond convenience. For some of our clients, Lean is helping to drive genuine financial inclusion. Many expats arrive in the region with little or no credit history. Because we can help underwrite them using bank data, they can now access financial services they might have struggled to get before. We have seen this impact within our own team, where access to financial services has transformed individual lives. It is not just meaningful, it is personal, and it matters.

7. Lean supports over 300 companies across sectors, from ride-hailing to e-commerce and real estate. How are you tailoring your offering to serve such a broad client base?

We take a customer-first approach. Our strength lies in understanding the pain points and building infrastructure that solves them. Whether it is a digital wallet, a ride-hailing app or a property developer, we begin by focusing on the core problems rather than promoting product features.

Let's take Tabby as an example. They needed a better way to approve users with limited credit history. Credit bureau data wasn’t cutting it, and manual uploads were too slow. With Lean, they connected directly to customers’ bank data, improving approval rates by 8.9%, unlocking 50% more high-risk users, and reducing default risk by 4x.

e& money was dealing with high card fees and poor payment conversion. We helped them move to instant A2A payments, eliminating the card layer, saving $800,000 a year, and doubling customer return rates.

Tawuniya’s pain was operational. Claims were delayed due to manual verification and misrouted disbursements. We automated the process end-to-end, cut disbursement time by 50%, and helped them reach a 94.8% transaction success rate.

These outcomes are the result of targeted infrastructure solving real business problems in a scalable, measurable way.

8. What advice would you offer to startup teams building products in heavily regulated spaces like financial infrastructure?

Regulation is not an obstacle. It is part of the product. In a space like ours, trust and compliance are fundamental. My advice is to build for scale from day one. That means getting the right controls in place early, staying close to regulators, and understanding the operational implications of every decision you make. Moving fast is important, but moving responsibly is what keeps you in the game long-term.

9. What strategic priorities will define Lean’s next phase of growth?

We’re focused on three things: expanding our payments and data infrastructure, deepening adoption across key sectors, and supporting the market as Open Finance comes into shape.

The opportunity is significant. In MENA alone, the Arab Monetary Fund projects Open Finance to grow from $1.65 billion in 2022 to nearly $12 billion by 2027. As countries like the UAE and KSA move from policy to implementation, businesses are looking for partners who can help them adapt and build.

We’ve spent the past five years doing exactly that: building trusted infrastructure, integrating with banks, and working closely with regulators. Today, we’re helping over 300 enterprise clients like Careem, DAMAC, and e& money go live with real-time payments, account verification, and secure data access.

With the growing momentum, we’re well positioned to lead this next phase and scale impact across the region.