The Middle East's Fintech 50

Geopolitical unrest has not stopped momentum in the MENA fintech sector: the region’s fintech companies attracted $708 million across 51 funding rounds in the first half of 2026, making fintech the largest investment destination by volume in that period. Payments continues to lead as the dominant segment, driven by ongoing demand for digital financial services.

"Geopolitical unrest has yet to derail MENA’s fintech momentum," the list notes, underscoring the resilience of the industry as investment activity and transaction volumes remain robust.

The newly published Fintech 50 ranks the region’s most significant fintechs by a range of operational and market metrics. Topping the list for the second consecutive year is Tabby, which the compilation highlights after reporting more than $18 billion in annual transaction volume and a valuation of $6.5 billion. Egypt’s Fawry and MNT-Halan occupy the second and third positions respectively, reflecting strong representation from established payments and consumer finance players.

The list features companies from 10 countries, with the United Arab Emirates the most represented market, accounting for 15 companies. Saudi Arabia follows with 13 entries and Egypt contributes 10 firms. A total of 18 companies are new entrants this year; those called out by name include Network International, Astra Tech, PRYPCO and Digit9. New entrants are marked with an asterisk on the ranking.

Top 15 fintechs in the region (select)

• 1. Tabby
• 2. Fawry
• 3. MNT-Halan
• 4. Network International *
• 5. Rasan
• 6. Thndr
• 7. Foodics
• 8. U Consumer Finance (Valu)
• 9. Astra Tech *
• 10. PRYPCO *
• 11. Digit9 *
• 12. Lendo
• 13. Tap Payments
• 14. MadfoatCom
• 15. Paymob

The methodology for assembling the list combined primary-source company data, statements and questionnaires. Evaluators considered a range of metrics, including transaction volume executed through digital channels in 2025, app downloads and active users, geographic footprint, growth and expansion, innovation in digital payments, consumer and business impact, and venture funding and valuation. The compilers excluded fintech arms owned by exchange houses, traditional banks, telecom operators and governments.

Several subsectors figure prominently across the ranked firms. Payments and digital wallets—represented by companies such as HyperPay, Paymob, Tap Payments and MadfoatCom—dominate the roster, while digital banking, lending and embedded finance are also well represented by the likes of Thndr, Sarwa and Beehive. Crypto and card-issuing players appear as well, with firms such as CoinMENA and NymCard included in the 50.

Looking ahead, the list signals that investor appetite and transaction activity remain significant drivers for the region despite external pressures. With $708 million in H1 2026 funding across 51 rounds and a mixture of veteran heavyweights and 18 newcomers, the MENA fintech landscape appears set to continue evolving—emphasising payments innovation, regional expansion and consumer-facing digital finance services as core growth vectors.