January 30, 2026
Strategic insight into why fintech leaders are anchoring growth in the UAE. Published in Abu Dhabi, 30 January 2025 1:03pm (GST) As a CEO planning your fintech company’s next phase of growth, choosing the right market is critical. In recent years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a top strategic destination for fintech expansion, and with good reason. The UAE’s fintech sector is booming. In 2024 its market was valued at over $2.5 billion, with projections of 25% annual growth through 2028. Today the country hosts hundreds of fintech firms, by some counts more than 800, up from fewer than 100 a decade ago, accounting for more than half of all fintech activity in the Middle East. This surge is no accident. From fintech-friendly regulation to deep capital pools and a digitally savvy customer base, the UAE offers an unparalleled environment for ambitious fintech companies. Below, we break down why the UAE ticks all the boxes for CEOs eyeing scalable expansion. Fintech-Friendly Regulation and Sandbox Innovation Regulatory clarity can make or break a fintech expansion, and the UAE’s regulators understand this. The country has built a world-class fintech regulatory framework designed to foster innovation while managing risk. Dedicated Fintech Zones (ADGM and DIFC) Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) are financial free zones with independent regulators that pioneered fintech-friendly initiatives. These hubs provide tailored licensing, mentorship, and funding support to startups. Crucially, they offer regulatory sandboxes such as ADGM’s RegLab and DIFC’s Innovation Testing Licence, where fintechs can test new products in a controlled environment with relaxed rules. This sandbox approach gives fintech leaders flexibility to innovate without heavy compliance burdens, significantly reducing time to market. Open Banking and Digital Banking Frameworks The UAE Central Bank and free zone regulators have rolled out clear licensing regimes for payments and digital finance. This includes Stored Value Facilities licences for e-wallets and fintech payments, alongside digital banking licences for fully digital banks. This regulatory clarity attracts new entrants while ensuring consumer trust. Open banking frameworks further encourage banks and fintechs to securely share data and build new services via APIs. For CEOs, this means a transparent rulebook and a level playing field that rewards innovation. Government Vision and Support Fintech is a core pillar of the UAE’s national economic strategy. Initiatives such as UAE Vision 2031 place digital payments and financial inclusion at the centre of policy. Regulators actively collaborate with innovators through sandbox programmes and frameworks for crowdfunding, digital assets, and emerging financial technologies. In the UAE, regulators are partners in innovation, not obstacles, providing confidence that expansion will be supported with constructive oversight.
