The region’s fintech ecosystem gathered to celebrate its brightest stars at the 4th edition of the MENA Fintech Awards, held on December 10th at the ADQ Arena during Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2025. Organised by the MENA Fintech Association in collaboration with ADFW, the awards ceremony recognised the companies and leaders driving transformative change across the financial technology landscape.
Honoring Excellence Across the Fintech Spectrum
The awards platform is a flagship initiative celebrating excellence, innovation, and impact in the MENA region’s burgeoning fintech sector. This year’s winners were selected for delivering groundbreaking solutions in key areas like AI, digital lending, payments, and blockchain.
Checkout.com was crowned Fintech of the Year, while other notable winners included Tamara for Best Digital Lending Platform, Tap Payments for Best Payments Solution, and Crypto.com for Best Blockchain-Based Solution.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Best AI in Fintech: Smart Bricks
Best Banking Partner: Ruya Bank
Best Blockchain-Based Solution: Crypto.com
Best Corporate Solutions: Aquanow
Best Cybersecurity / Fraud Prevention Solution: Black Cell Middle East
Best Digital Lending Platform: Tamara
Best Embedded Finance Solution: Paymentology
Best Financial Education Initiative: Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE)
Best Fintech Marketing: Paysky
Best Fintech Onboarding: Azakaw
Best Innovative Payment Technology: Geidea
Best KYC Solution: Sumsub
Best Mobile Payments Solution: Yalla Super App
Best Open Finance / API Ecosystem Solution: Ozone API
Best Payments Solution: Tap Payments
Best RegTech Solution: Uqudo
Fintech of the Year: Checkout.com
A Jury of Industry Titans
Submissions from across the region underwent a comprehensive assessment based on impact, innovation, scalability, and contribution to the industry. The prestigious jury panel for 2025 was chaired by Prashant K. (PK) Gulati, Chairman Emeritus of TiE Dubai, and included Sherine Kabesh, Co-Founder of Flash; Ajay Chaudhary, Senior Information Technology Advisor at Jeel; Ronit Ghose, Head of Future of Finance at Citi; and Hasan Sami Bayansar, Deputy CEO of insha Ventures.
Elevating MENA on the Global Stage
Nameer Khan, Chairman of the MENA Fintech Association and Founder of Fils, commented on the significance of the awards and the calibre of this year’s winners.
“The MENA Fintech Awards recognise the companies and innovators who are not only advancing financial technology within our region but also positioning MENA as a leading hub on the global fintech stage,” Khan said. “These winners exemplify excellence, innovation, and vision, driving transformative solutions that enhance financial inclusion, foster sustainable growth, and elevate the region’s impact in the global financial ecosystem.”
About the MENA Fintech Association
The MENA Fintech Association (MFTA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering an open, inclusive, and forward-thinking fintech community for the Middle East and North Africa region. It serves as a platform that connects fintech stakeholders, champions innovation, and supports the growth and development of the regional ecosystem through events, research, and advocacy.
Source: Fintech News Middle East
