Financial
Fuse Finance: Simplifying Global Payments in the Middle East

Fuse Finance, led by George Davis, CEO & Founder, acts as a gateway to the Middle East for global businesses, facilitating payments without needing local entities, licenses, or currencies. Their API enables instant payouts, simplifying market entry and operational efficiency. With the MENA region’s fintech sector booming, Fuse’s unified interface addresses challenges in cross-border transactions by eliminating the need for local teams and ensuring compliance. Unlike other payment companies, Fuse focuses exclusively on the Middle East, integrating local expertise into its product. After launching in the UAE, Fuse plans to expand to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan.
Can you explain what Fuse is and how it supports global payments, e-commerce, and platform businesses?
Fuse Finance acts as the gateway to the Middle East for global businesses, helping payment companies, creator economy apps, employers of record and platform businesses to make payments in and around the region without needing to focus on local entities, licenses, and currencies. Clients leverage our API (Application Programming Interface) to make instant payouts into local markets without ever having to open a bank account, set up a company, or hold local currency, allowing us to support use cases that require efficient payments.
Why is there a critical need for a unified interface for global companies entering the MENA market?
The MENA region’s fintech landscape is experiencing a significant boom, with over 800 new fintech companies and startups – with a combined worth of $15.5 billion – entering the market. Many of these will rely heavily on cross-border transactions, however, the MENA region faces challenges in this area due to its varied local currencies, strict regulatory standards and sophisticated payment processing systems. Each of these aspects can be streamlined by our unified interface, which does away with the requirement for distinct local teams, entities, or licenses. For international businesses entering the MENA region, this strategy guarantees effectiveness, compliance, operational simplicity and efficiency, eventually encouraging smooth market entry and greater opportunities for expansion.
How does Fuse differentiate itself from other payment companies operating in the MENA region, and what unique value proposition does it offer to businesses?
Unlike other payment companies in the region, Fuse is built explicitly to enable global businesses to access the Middle East. Most payment companies focus on the local market, enabling local businesses to process payments, and for large global cross border payment companies the Middle East is a small addition to their product set, not a focus. Fuse is different – we take a global approach, allowing us to interface with many types of businesses in a way that simplifies access to the region, whilst having a complete focus on MENA. The Middle East requires a different approach to payments in Western countries but historically accessing local expertise requires heavy investment – with Fuse this expertise is baked into the product from day one. We believe it’s possible to build a big business with a hyperfocus on this region. For Fuse, the Middle East is not just the start of a wider global expansion, it’s the core of our business. As time progresses, we will increase our total addressable market not by focusing on other continents, but by increasing the ways global businesses can fund their accounts and access financial products in MENA. This focus allows us to become the global standard for moving money in the Middle East.
You launched in the UAE earlier this year, where is next for Fuse?
We are very excited about Saudi Arabia. KSA represents a huge opportunity for global businesses – a lot of our energy is devoted to our expansion to the Kingdom – many of our current clients are eager to launch their products in this market. We’ve been quietly working on several countries across the GCC and beyond, we will be launching Egypt and Jordan over the next few weeks
Financial
CFI Celebrated Women’s Month with Exclusive Suhoor Event

CFI Financial Group was honored to host last week a special Suhoor event in Dubai to celebrate Women’s Month and honor the incredible achievements of women in business and entrepreneurship. The exclusive event, which took place on March 13th, brought together a distinguished group of successful businesswomen, entrepreneurs, and media professionals for an inspiring evening designed to empower and connect women in the professional world.
The event featured a keynote by Carol Glynn, a renowned finance coach and chartered accountant, known for inspiring attendees to pursue sustainable careers and entrepreneurial efforts confidently. Glynn shared essential insights on empowering women to manage financial futures and advancing careers.
In addition to the keynote address, attendees were treated to a unique experience, as an illustrator designed personalized Ramadan keepsakes for each guest, adding a thoughtful and personal touch to the evening while celebrating the spirit of generosity during the holy month of Ramadan.
CFI remains committed to empowering women year-round by providing opportunities to grow, learn, and connect within their professional fields. This ongoing support helps women build sustainable careers and establish valuable networks, highlighting CFI’s dedication to fostering women’s advancement in business.
“We were thrilled to host this Suhoor event for Women’s Month and are proud to have fostered a space for learning and empowerment,” said Zarrin Baig, CFI’s Group Head of HR. “CFI is committed to financial literacy as a crucial tool for empowering women. We are grateful to our distinguished attendees for enriching our mission with their valuable insights, furthering our commitment to support women in their personal and professional growth, and building a more equitable future.”
The event was a resounding success, providing an evening of meaningful conversations, networking, and empowerment, reflecting CFI’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive community for women.
Financial
RemotePass and Wafeq Partner to Automate Payroll and Accounting for UAE & KSA Businesses

RemotePass and Wafeq have partnered to fully automate payroll accounting for businesses in the UAE and KSA. This integration seamlessly syncs payroll and financial data from RemotePass to Wafeq’s accounting system in real-time, eliminating manual entry, reducing errors, and ensuring compliance.
The two-way native integration eliminates manual entry ensuring accurate, efficient payroll reconciliation for businesses in the UAE and KSA on both platforms, resulting in an 80% reduction in payroll and expenses processing time.
“We’re excited to partner with Wafeq; our integration enables businesses in the region to put payroll processing and financial data synchronization on autopilot, allowing them to focus on growing their business,” said Kamal Reggad, CEO of RemotePass.
A Shared Vision for Scaling Businesses
RemotePass and Wafeq provide localized platforms tailored for businesses in the Middle East, serving many shared clients and addressing the unique challenges faced by companies in the UAE and KSA.
Key Benefits of the Integration:
- Seamless integration – Payroll data from RemotePass is automatically reflected and categorized in Wafeq’s accounting platform providing real-time financial visibility and improved accuracy
- Error-Free Financial Records – Manual reconciliation and categorization errors are eliminated, ensuring payroll accuracy in financial reports.
- Time-Saving Automation – Finance teams no longer need to manually input payroll data, reducing administrative work.
Empowering Businesses with Financial Automation
By integrating two leading regional SaaS solutions, companies in the UAE and KSA can now better manage payroll and financial records with greater efficiency. This collaboration is a significant step toward simplifying payroll accounting and helping businesses scale with confidence.
“At Wafeq, we are committed to empowering businesses with seamless financial automation. Our partnership with RemotePass allows companies in the UAE and KSA to streamline payroll accounting effortlessly, reducing errors and saving valuable time. This integration is a game-changer for finance teams looking to enhance efficiency while staying fully compliant with local regulations.” said Maher Aoun, VP of Sales and Business Development, Wafeq.
Financial
Empowering Women in Finance: Charu Chanana’s Journey from Inspiration to Leadership at Saxo Bank

From being inspired by her father’s financial acumen to becoming the Chief Investment Strategist at Saxo Bank, Charu Chanana shares her journey of expertise, and advocacy for finance, which has traditionally been a male-dominated industry.
Read the full interview in the upcoming edition of Financial Integrator, featuring insights from leading women shaping the future of finance.
Charu:
My interest in finance was sparked at a young age, thanks to my father, who had a strong background in accounting and finance. Growing up in a family that valued financial discipline and planning, I was always curious about how money worked – both in personal finance and also on a larger economic scale.
However, I also saw a contrast within my extended family, where many were not as financially savvy. This gave me an early glimpse into how a lack of financial literacy – especially among women – limited their ability to make the choices they want and still secure their future. Witnessing these challenges firsthand fueled my passion for making finance more accessible and empowering others to take control of their financial well-being.
One of the most rewarding experiences has been seeing the tangible impact of my work – whether it’s helping investors navigate uncertain markets, guiding women to start their investment journeys, or breaking down complex financial concepts into actionable insights. Every time someone tells me, “Because of your insights, I made my first investment” or “I feel more confident about my financial future,” it reinforces why I chose this path.
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