The fintech sector stands at the intersection of technology and finance, witnessing unprecedented growth fueled by advances in AI, blockchain, mobile applications, and data analytics. The leaders featured in this issue have not only adapted to this evolving landscape but have actively shaped it pioneering solutions that make finance more accessible, secure, and intelligent. Their innovations reflect a bold vision to simplify complex systems and redefine how individuals and businesses interact with money.
This special edition explores the journeys of these disruptors who have reimagined the financial paradigm, creating digital-first ecosystems, enhancing financial literacy, and fostering trust through technological integrity. Their commitment to innovation, regulatory compliance, and customer empowerment marks them as front-runners in building a more inclusive and sustainable financial future.
- Craig Moore – Beehive
Craig Moore, Beehive’s founder and CEO, has a rich history of entrepreneurship. Before founding Beehive, he built Butterfly Software, a data analytics company acquired by IBM. With Beehive, Moore aimed to transform SME financing by introducing a technology-driven P2P lending marketplace that cuts out traditional financial intermediaries, thereby reducing cost and complexity. Launched in Dubai with strong backing from industry leaders, including Rick Pudner, former Group CEO of Emirates NBD, Beehive was positioned to revolutionize SME lending in the region.
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- Aamir Fadel – Weyay Bank
The leadership of Aamir Fadel, who envisioned a seamless, accessible, and modern banking platform designed to meet the digital lifestyle of Kuwait’s youth. Recognizing the challenges young people faced with traditional banking, Fadel aimed to empower them with a convenient, secure, and entirely digital financial experience. Amir and his team partnered with the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) to leverage its expertise and reputation, ensuring strong security and banking infrastructure behind Weyay. Through this strategic backing, Weyay offers innovative services while maintaining trust and reliability for its users.
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- Esam Alnahdi – HALA Payments
Esam Alnahdi, co-founder and chairman of HALA, brings deep expertise from his background in economics, finance, and banking. His career began at leading banks such as Banque Saudi Fransi. Alongside his experience in founding multiple ventures across trading and technology, Alnahdi recognized the need for digital banking solutions customized for SMEs, the backbone of Saudi Arabia’s economy. Under his leadership, HALA has evolved into a major fintech player in the region.
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- Fahad Al Fawaz – BayanPay
Fahad Al Fawaz is a founder of BayanPay and a visionary entrepreneur with a strong background in finance and digital innovation. His leadership and insight have been central to BayanPay’s growth and reputation as a trustworthy digital payments provider. He envisioned BayanPay as a technology-first company that could support economic diversification and financial inclusion through efficient and secure digital payment solutions.
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- Faisal Toukan – Ziina
Faisal Toukan, the CEO and Co-Founder, brought startup and fintech experience to the venture, aiming to solve the longstanding challenges in the Middle Eastern payment landscape. Alongside Sarah Toukan and Andrew Gold, he envisioned a platform that would enable anyone to send money as easily as sending a text message. Despite regulatory hurdles in the UAE concerning digital wallets, Ziina aligned quickly with the Central Bank once the Stored Value Facility framework was established in late 2020, becoming the UAE’s first licensed peer-to-peer social payment app.
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- Hisham Al Falih – Lean TechnologiesÂ
Hisham Al-Falih wanted to create a way for developers to build financial services without the usual technical headaches of dealing with banks. His background in engineering gave him the skills to lead Lean Technologies in designing easy-to-use APIs that unlock important financial infrastructure. The goal was to help companies focus on serving customers better, not on complex banking systems. This vision has helped Lean grow into a trusted platform across several countries.
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- Majid Al Amri – Thawani Pay
Under Majid Al Amri’s leadership, Thawani Pay Omani fintech company, continues to lead Oman’s digital payment revolution. The firm’s broad service offerings, regulatory compliance, Visa credit card license, and innovative partnerships position it as a cornerstone of Oman’s fintech sector. Its success benefits users and merchants, driving forward the national agenda to create a vibrant, inclusive, and technology-driven financial ecosystem.
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- Marwan Hachem – YAP’s App
Marwan Hachem serves as the Group CEO, while Anas Zaidan is the Managing Director. Together with others from payments and fintech backgrounds, who aimed to replace paperwork and long waits with instant account opening and an app-first experience. The company launched in March 2021 after its founders partnered with RAK Bank to provide banking infrastructure and IBANs, allowing YAP to operate as an independent digital banking platform without a traditional branch network.
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- Omair Ansari –Â ABHI
Omair Ansari, Co-founder and CEO of ABHI, believes in doing things differently rather than chasing novel ideas. His global career exposed a common pain point: workers toiling hard but facing cash shortages from life’s surprises due to income-earning and payment timing mismatches, often leading to debt traps. Amid the 2021 pandemic’s financial strains, Omair and Co-founder & COO Ali Ladhubhai launched ABHI, a platform granting employees instant access to earned wages and ending reliance on loans or informal borrowing.
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- Saad Ishfaq – TESS Payments
Saad Ishfaq, A CEO and a visionary leader passionate about transforming Qatar’s financial landscape. Under his guidance, the company has grown from a startup into a leading fintech enabler, making secure digital payments accessible and easy for both businesses and consumers. Saad Ishfaq’s leadership has also attracted a landmark deal with Singapore-based Fingular, marking the first major foreign direct investment in Qatar’s fintech space. This partnership supports TESS Payments’ goal to expand its offerings and strengthen Qatar’s fintech ecosystem.​
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