Botim, the MENA region’s fintech-first platform, has announced a strategic collaboration between its financial services arm, Botim money, and Mastercard. The partnership aims to expand and accelerate embedded cross-border payment capabilities for its millions of users, powered by Mastercard Move.
This integration will enable Botim money users to send funds directly from the app in the UAE to over 150 countries worldwide, with flexible payout options including bank accounts, mobile wallets, or cash pickups.
Expanding Embedded Financial Services
By integrating Mastercard Move’s money movement capabilities, Botim money is strengthening its position as a leading fintech platform by offering fast, secure, and seamless international transfers. This feature allows users to complete transactions without leaving the Botim app, significantly reducing time and complexity.
Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Board Member of Astra Tech and CEO of botim, said: “Our collaboration with Mastercard strengthens our mission to unify communication and finance under one smart ecosystem. By embedding global remittances into botim, we’re making money transfer faster, safer, and more inclusive; especially for users who have limited financial access. This collaboration reiterates our commitment to making financial services accessible, intuitive, and empowering for everyone.”
Leveraging Global Payment Infrastructure
The partnership combines Mastercard’s extensive global infrastructure with Botim’s growing financial ecosystem. Mastercard Move, the company’s comprehensive portfolio of money movement capabilities, reaches more than 200 countries and over 95% of the world’s banked population, offering multiple payout methods to enhance financial inclusion.
Gina Petersen-Skyrme, Country Manager, UAE & Oman at Mastercard, said: “Cross-border payments serve as a lifeline between expats in markets like the UAE and their families back home. At Mastercard, we provide communities with fast, convenient, secure, and affordable ways to transfer money internationally. Our collaborations with innovative fintech players such as botim play a key role in promoting financial inclusion by bringing this essential financial service to people’s fingertips.”
Aligning with the UAE’s Digital Economy
This collaboration comes at a pivotal moment for the UAE’s fintech sector, which is projected to reach USD 6.43 billion by 2030. It directly supports the UAE government’s vision for a cashless, inclusive digital economy and aligns with initiatives from the Central Bank of the UAE to enable instant and interoperable payments across the nation.
Botim money is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE as both a Stored Value Facility (SVF) and Retail Payment Services (RPS) provider, reinforcing its credibility as it expands its suite of financial solutions.
About Botim
Botim, part of Astra Tech’s ecosystem, is a leading fintech company in the MENA region headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Built on its foundation as the UAE’s first free VoIP provider, Botim has evolved into a multi-layered, AI-native platform serving over 157 million users across 155 countries. Through its arms botim connect, botim money, and botim finance, the platform delivers integrated services designed to meet the needs of consumers, businesses, and communities in the MENA region.
Source: Zawya
