About this episode
Aug 18
Why Islamic Fintech Is Still Being Underestimated
Islamic finance is growing globally, but the companies pushing it forward are not always the ones talking about it the loudest.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Abdullo Kurbanov, CEO and Co-founder of Ayan Capital, shares how he helped build Alif from a $200,000 start i ... Show More
52m 55s
Aug 11
The $80 Billion SME Lending Opportunity Banks Keep Missing
SMEs are central to the UAE economy, yet access to credit remains one of their biggest challenges.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Hassan Reda, Co-Founder & CPO of CredibleX, and Anand Nagaraj, Co-Founder & CEO of CredibleX, unpack why SME lending has remained difficul ... Show More
51m 44s
Jul 28
Why Most Digital Banks Will Never Make Money
Digital banks have spent years chasing customer growth. But scale alone does not create profitability.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Simon Loong, Founder and Group CEO of WeLab, explains what it takes to build a successful digital bank across Asia.He shares why lendi ... Show More
55m 50s
Jun 2023
#26- Raja AlMazrouie (CEO of UAE Etihad Credit Insurance) on fear being an illusion
Raja AlMazrouie is currently the CEO of UAE Etihad Credit Insurance. Prior to this, Raja was one of the founding leaders of the DIFC Fintech Hive, the MENA region's first fintech-focused startup enabler, at a time when fintech wasn't yet "sexy."Raja has repeatedly challenged the ... Show More
38m 24s
May 2025
'Backing bold ideas' Insurance for the next gen | Joseph Ziolkowski at Dubai FinTech Summit
15m 14s
Feb 2022
605. Insights: Looking ahead to the future of fintech in UAE
Our expert hosts, Benjamin Ensor and Tristan Brandt, are joined by some great guests to delve into the fintech landscape in UAE.
The Middle East is home to a number of exciting fintech companies and the UAE has rapidly established itself as a leading hub for fintech startups i ... Show More
42m 54s
Sep 2025
998. Insights: The new rules of underwriting - Live from Money20/20 Middle East
About this episode: In this episode of Fintech Insider Insights by 11:FS, recorded in partnership with AdalFi and live at the very first Money20/20 Middle East in Saudi Arabia, host David Barton-Grimley explores a critical and fast-evolving frontier in financial services: the fut ... Show More
48m 33s
May 2025
Serving the 1 Billion Underbanked with Dignity & Impact | Maxim Chernuschenko and Saad Ishfaq at Dubai FinTech Summit
14m 37s
Jun 2025
Emirates NBD: New, Bold, & Decisive | Saud Al Dhawyani at Emirates NBD Fintech Summit
25m 43s
Sep 2022
Experiment. Explore. Limitations… Remove them. The learnings... Don’t forget to enjoy them! With Raja Al Mazrouei | Executive Vice President @ DIFC Fintech Hive | MENA Fintech Leader of the Year | Top 100 women in Fintech |
Today in the HeronCode studio we are joined by Raja Al Mazrouei. She is the Executive Vice President of Fintech Hive in DIFC where she oversees the regions first Fintech Accelerator, which brings together Financial Institutions, Government Entities, Technology partners and Entrep ... Show More
30m 26s
Dec 2024
Maya Rahal of Alfanar Venture Philanthropy on impact investment opportunities in the MENA region
“I would like to invite impact investors to look at the region as an opportunity for revival” After 20 years of leading effective capacity building across social enterprises in the MENA regional through venture philanthropy, Alfanar are now launching the first regional impact inv ... Show More
31m 42s
Dec 2024
Evolving Digital Transformation and CX Strategies: Insights from Industry Leaders
Local Insights: Evolving Digital Transformation & CX Strategies: Forbes Middle East’s Local Insights podcast in partnership with GBM explores groundbreaking ideas and the transformative impact of technology on businesses in the Middle East. To discuss the evolving landscape of di ... Show More
45m 35s
MENA has made considerable economic progress over the last decade. Still, a couple of formidable challenges remain, including transforming local economies and inclusive job creation. Insurance has the potential to address these challenges and help countries in the region achieve their growth targets. Despite these potential benefits, the insurance sector is ... Show More
<p>🎧 Topics include:</p><ul><li>Why traditional insurers shy away from AI, blockchain & gaming</li><li>How Relm built a 10,000+ data set to underwrite “uninsurable” tech</li><li>The regulatory dance: balancing speed with compliance</li><li>What makes the UAE a proving ground for ... Show More
<h3>Topics include:</h3><ul><li>Why 60% of Qatar’s population lacks access to credit</li><li>Shareeq Neo’s instant loan platform for salary cardholders</li><li>Building a cross-border fintech with Sharia principles</li><li>Fingular’s mission to solve financial exclusion globally< ... Show More
<h3>🔍 Topics include:</h3><ul><li>How Emirates NBD became a pioneer in Open Finance</li><li>Building secure, scalable, API-first banking platforms</li><li>Real-world fintech partnerships (and what went wrong)</li><li>From core banking to GitHub Copilot: AI’s growing role</li><li ... Show More
