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Network International partners with Policy Bazaar to enable merchants with easy access to affordable insurance

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network policy bazaar

Network International (Network) has announced a strategic referral partnership with Policybazaar.ae, UAE’s leading financial services aggregator. The partnership aims to offer affordable insurance policies to Network International’s merchant base.

With this partnership, Network’s merchant customers can purchase insurance policies through the Network Expense Hub portal, Network’s real-time payment and expense tracking dashboard. Merchants who sign up for Network Expense Hub will therefore receive value beyond payments through data solutions and value-added services.

Free of charge for Network’s merchant partners, the Network Expense Hub is an intuitive dashboard that allows expense management, transaction visibility through real-time reports, flexible payment options and effortless payments to multiple beneficiaries.

Ronen Spivak, Group Head of Value-Added Services (VAS) – Acquiring, at Network, said: “Network has always been at the forefront of introducing diverse and innovative data solutions and value-added services for our merchants. The Network Expense Hub is a remarkable tool for making easier, transparent, and secure business expenses. We have added yet another critical service for merchants, to protect their business from risk by partnering with Policybazaar.ae. Given the recent floods and the damages to many businesses in the UAE, Network believes insurance adds value to the scope of services offered by the Network Expense Hub.”

Neeraj Gupta, CEO, UAE at Policy Bazaar, said, “At Policybazaar.ae, as one of the leading providers of financial services in the UAE, we are committed to driving innovation and delivering superior value to our customers. Our partnership with Network International marks a significant milestone in our mission to enhance the SME Insurance ecosystem. Through this collaboration, we will showcase our superior SME Insurance solution, enabling completely digital end-to-end online transactions. This partnership is designed to ensure that SMEs have the right prerequisites to thrive in a competitive market, providing them with seamless, efficient, and secure insurance solutions. Together, we are fostering an environment where SMEs can flourish, leveraging cutting-edge technology to streamline operations and drive growth. We are excited about the opportunities this partnership presents and remain dedicated to empowering SMEs with the tools they need for sustainable success.”

Network International has around 60,000 merchants in the UAE and over 120,000 merchants across the region, spanning several sectors including high-end retail, hospitality, electronics, jewellery, and hypermarkets, among others, that stand to benefit from this new instant payment solution.

Financial

RECENT DECISIONS BY THE UAE CENTRAL BANK

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Qashio Applauds Uae Central Bank’s Forward‑Looking Resilience Measures

Spokesperson: Armin Moradi, Founder and CEO, Qashio

This is a highly commendable initiative by the UAE Central Bank and a clear demonstration of forward-looking economic leadership.

The proactive resilience package reflects a strong level of preparedness and disciplined planning, reinforcing confidence in the UAE’s financial system at a time when global uncertainty remains a key consideration. Backed by substantial reserves, it sends a powerful signal of stability and prudent oversight.

What is particularly notable is the strength of the top-down support—ensuring that financial institutions are not only protected but also empowered to continue supporting businesses and the wider economy. This approach safeguards the momentum of growth while reinforcing trust across investors, partners, and the broader business community.

Ultimately, this initiative further strengthens the UAE’s position as a resilient and highly trusted economic hub, building on an already robust and dynamic business environment that continues to thrive.

Spokesperson: Abdulla Lahej, Chairman, Amaal

The recent measures by the Central Bank of the UAE signal a clear commitment to sustaining liquidity and credit flow across the economy. With over AED 920 billion in available liquidity and reserves exceeding AED 400 billion, banks are well-positioned to expand mortgage lending. Easing capital buffers and funding ratios will directly support homebuyers through improved loan accessibility and pricing. For the real estate sector, this will translate into stronger mortgage uptake, increased transaction volumes, and renewed investor confidence. Overall, these steps will reinforce market stability while creating favourable conditions for sustained property demand and long-term sector growth.

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BITCOIN STRUGGLES TO BREAK $74,000 RESISTANCE AS ETF INFLOWS RISE

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Bitcoin edged higher last week, gaining 11%, yet it continues to struggle to convincingly break through the $74,000 resistance level, according to Simon Peters, crypto analyst at eToro.

US bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $763 million in net inflows over the past week, helping to push prices higher. Strategy, the largest bitcoin treasury company by total holdings, also disclosed another significant purchase of 17,994 bitcoin for approximately $1.28 billion.

Looking ahead, the Federal Reserve meeting this week could prove pivotal in determining whether bitcoin breaks above the $74,000 level or experiences a correction. While markets had previously anticipated a dovish pivot, a sudden spike in oil prices due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East may prompt the Fed to reconsider its outlook.

“The consensus is for the Fed to hold rates on Wednesday, but if Chairman Powell signals in his press conference that the central bank is prepared to raise rates should oil prices remain elevated or continue rising, this could trigger a sell-off in cryptoasset prices,” said Peters.

The meeting will also see the release of the Federal Reserve’s latest “dot plot”, offering insights into where each Federal Open Market Committee participant believes interest rates should be by the end of the year, next year and over the longer term.

AI tokens surge amid Nvidia comments

Among the biggest movers in the crypto market over the past week were AI-related tokens TAO and FET, both rising 47% as investors rotated into the sector following bullish remarks about artificial intelligence by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Ahead of Nvidia’s GTC AI conference this week, Huang described AI as “essential infrastructure”, stating that every company and nation will build and use it.

These comments have renewed interest in on-chain, decentralised AI networks, pushing tokens such as TAO and FET higher.

Mastercard launches crypto partner program

Mastercard has launched its Mastercard Crypto Partner Program, a new global initiative bringing together more than 85 companies across the crypto ecosystem, including exchanges, stablecoin issuers and blockchain development teams.

The program aims to foster dialogue and collaboration as the crypto sector continues to mature. Participants will work with Mastercard teams to combine the speed and programmability of blockchain technology with Mastercard’s merchant network spanning more than 210 countries.

The initiative builds on Mastercard’s existing digital asset activities, including its Start Path blockchain track, Engage platform and Crypto Card program.

Bitcoin reaches 20 million supply milestone

Bitcoin reached a historic milestone last week when the 20 millionth bitcoin was mined, marking the issuance of more than 95% of the cryptocurrency’s total capped supply of 21 million coins.

The milestone was reached on 10 March at block height 931200, 17 years after the network first launched. Due to Bitcoin’s halving schedule, the remaining one million coins are expected to take approximately another 114 years to be mined, with the final bitcoin projected to enter circulation around the year 2140.

Crossing the 20 million milestone again highlights Bitcoin’s scarcity dynamics. With demand continuing to outpace the new supply issued daily by miners and many holders unwilling to sell at current prices, the market could be positioned for a significant move higher over the coming months and years.

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ABA Legal Highlights UAE’s Legal Framework as Catalyst for the Next Wave of Foreign Investment

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In alignment with the UAE’s ambitious vision to evolve into a global hub for business and foreign capital, ABA Legal, a boutique corporate law consultancy headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE, has announced its bold and strategic expansion of Legal Structure Mapping – a refined core advisory specially mentoring FDI and investors in interpreting and navigating the UAE’s investor-focused legal framework across the region. The move strengthens the firm’s positioning as one of a kind legal resource for foreign investors seeking clarity, compliance, and structured market entry within the UAE.

The United Arab Emirates has rapidly evolved into a leading destination for global business and foreign capital. According to recent government and industry reports, the UAE continues to rank among the top global destinations for foreign direct investment inflows, driven by continuous legal and regulatory modernization. ABA Legal observes that legal clarity, regulatory certainty, and structural reforms are increasingly central to investor decision-making, with businesses placing greater emphasis on well-defined legal pathways, ownership structures, and enforceability before committing capital to new markets.

Commenting on the evolving landscape, Ms. Geethalakshmi Ramachandran, Managing Counsel at ABA Legal, said “The UAE’s legal framework today is not only progressive but highly responsive to global investor expectations. The shift toward full foreign ownership, stronger dispute resolution systems, governance reforms, and IP protection has significantly enhanced legal certainty. At ABA Legal, our core service now is guiding foreign investors through these reforms with clarity and precision, ensuring they can structure, enter, and operate in the UAE market with confidence and long-term security. We aim to become the Legal Mentors for FDIs and Investors UAE interest”

A New Era of Legal Reform

The UAE has entered a new era of legal reform designed to strengthen transparency, predictability, and investor confidence across its commercial ecosystem. One of the most significant developments has been the overhaul of foreign ownership regulations. Sectors that previously required majority UAE national ownership have been widely liberalized, enabling 100% foreign ownership across a growing range of industries, including technology, manufacturing, and professional services. From a legal standpoint, this marks a structural realignment of the corporate framework, giving investors greater control over governance and operations while reducing compliance ambiguity and intermediary dependence. The reforms align the UAE with global best practices and reinforce its appeal for long-term, high-value investment.

Strengthening Contract Enforcement and Dispute Resolution

Investor confidence is closely tied to enforceability and legal certainty. The UAE has modernized commercial laws and strengthened dispute resolution mechanisms to create a secure environment for international business. Specialized courts operating under internationally recognized standards and common law principles, alongside stronger integration with global arbitration systems, ensure disputes are resolved efficiently and impartially. This protects contractual rights, lowers legal risk, and supports long-term cross-border investment strategies.

Governance, Transparency, and Investor Protection

Governance, transparency, and investor protection have also been enhanced through stricter corporate reporting, anti-money laundering, and financial compliance frameworks. These measures reduce regulatory uncertainty and strengthen market credibility by embedding internationally recognized standards into law. Investors benefit from a more stable, accountable, and transparent operating environment.

Free Zones: Tailored Legal Advantages: Free zones continue to play a central role in the UAE’s foreign investment strategy, offering tailored legal and regulatory advantages such as full foreign ownership, capital repatriation, customs exemptions, and flexible employment and residency structures. Designed around priority sectors, these zones combine flexibility with legal certainty and reduced administrative burden.

Modern Commercial Laws, Digital Economy Support, and IP Protection

Recent updates to commercial company regulations, data protection laws, and intellectual property protections further support digital economy and innovation-driven businesses. Together, these reforms create a resilient and adaptable legal ecosystem that not only attracts foreign capital but enables sustainable, knowledge-based growth; with ABA Legal supporting investors through structured legal guidance in this evolving framework.

For global investors seeking stability, transparency, and strategic opportunity, the UAE’s legal framework is more than supportive, it is a dynamic engine for capital inflow, innovation, and knowledge-based economic development, with ABA Legal serving as a strategic legal mentor in this journey.

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