FWDStart · 26 Oct, 09:27 · Business briefing

Ziina secures UAE approvals for merchant payments and international transfers

Ziina has officially secured regulatory approvals from UAE authorities to operate as a licensed provider for merchant payments and international transfers.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

26%average salary uplift after a professional certificate

2.7xfaster promotion for certified professionals

71%of leaders prefer candidates who upskill continuously

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Ziina has officially secured regulatory approvals from UAE authorities to operate as a licensed provider for merchant payments and international transfers. This development marks a significant milestone for the digital asset company, enabling it to facilitate cross-border transactions and commercial payment solutions within the United Arab Emirates. The approval underscores the region’s evolving regulatory framework for virtual assets, allowing firms to integrate cryptocurrency infrastructure with traditional financial services. For professionals tracking the Middle Eastern fintech landscape, this signals a maturing market where compliance and operational legitimacy are becoming standard prerequisites for scaling digital payment platforms in the Gulf Cooperation Council states.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must now prioritise regulatory knowledge alongside technical expertise. As crypto firms like Ziina gain mainstream licences, employers will value professionals who understand the intersection of blockchain technology and financial compliance. If you work in fintech, focus on mastering anti-money laundering protocols and cross-border payment regulations. Professionals in risk management should study how digital asset frameworks evolve in emerging markets. You should also develop skills in digital currency operations, as traditional banks increasingly hire experts to bridge the gap between legacy systems and crypto infrastructure. Update your CV to highlight any experience with financial technology regulation or international transfer mechanisms. Networking with peers in the UAE’s financial sector will provide critical insights into how these new approvals reshape hiring priorities and operational requirements in the region.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, Compliance And Governance, AI in Banking and Risk Management Strategies — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.