
O Gold and Mawarid Finance announce strategic partnership to launch the region's first Shariah-compliant gold-backed prepaid card
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – In a landmark move for ethical finance and fintech advancement, O Gold, the UAE's leading digital gold investment platform, has partnered with Mawarid Finance, a premier UAE-based Shariah-compliant financial institution established in 2006, to jointly develop and launch the region's first Shariah-compliant prepaid card backed by physical gold.
Founded to democratize access to precious metals, O Gold offers users a seamless platform to buy, sell, lease, and redeem physical gold and silver—whether for investment or everyday use. With features like physical redemption and gold-backed savings tools, O Gold is redefining how individuals engage with real assets in a digital-first era. Backed by partnerships with globally recognized entities such as SAM Precious Metals and AKW Consultants, O Gold brings physical and digital gold to users' fingertips.
Mawarid Finance, a premier UAE-based Shariah-compliant financial institution established in 2006, offers a comprehensive suite of ethical banking and finance solutions. With a mission to support ethical growth through innovative financial services, Mawarid serves individuals, SMEs, and corporate clients—championing transparency, social responsibility, and integrity in all its operations.
This strategic collaboration aims to reshape how individuals interact with gold—transitioning it from a traditional store of value into a dynamic, ethical financial tool. Built on shared values of trust, transparency, and compliance with Islamic finance principles, the initiative reflects growing demand for real asset-backed solutions in the digital age.
'Our objective is to offer customers ethical financial products that combine timeless value of gold with practical modern use,' said Bandar Alothman, Founder of O Gold. 'This partnership with Mawarid Finance is a significant milestone in our mission to bring inclusive and Shariah-compliant innovation to the market.'
'Leveraging our deep expertise in Shariah-compliant finance, Mawarid Finance is excited to collaborate with O Gold on this groundbreaking initiative,' said Rashid Al Qubaisi, CEO of Mawarid Finance. 'This partnership allows us to extend the benefits of real asset-backed value to a wider audience through a convenient and ethically sound prepaid card.'
The initiative is designed to serve a wide range of users seeking ethical, secure, and asset-backed financial alternatives—reinforcing both organizations' commitment to responsible innovation.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The National
an hour ago
- The National
Best photos of June 6: From D-Day landings anniversary to Eid Al Adha
What is THAAD? It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system. Production: It was created in 2008. Speed: THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic. Abilities: THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase". Purpose: To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres. Range: THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface. Creators: Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar. UAE and THAAD: In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.


Arabian Business
an hour ago
- Arabian Business
UAE businesses confident of international trade growth despite tariff woes
Businesses in the UAE remain highly confident in their international trade prospects, with 94 per cent saying they expect to grow cross-border trade in the near future, according to HSBC's 2025 Global Trade Pulse Survey. Despite ongoing uncertainty and cost headwinds from tariffs, UAE firms are leaning into enhanced planning and digital solutions to stay ahead. The HSBC survey offers insight into the business plans and sentiment of more than 5,700 international firms across 13 markets regarding tariffs and trade. UAE business optimism It reveals that two thirds of corporations globally have already experienced cost increases due to tariff and trade uncertainty – and the worst may be yet to come. In contrast, companies in the UAE are incredibly optimistic about their future international trade prospects, as they have not suffered particularly pronounced impacts on cost yet, though they do expect to in the short-and-long-term. Deyana Cherneva, Head of Global Trade Solutions, Middle East North Africa and Türkiye, HSBC Bank Middle East said: 'Corporates in the UAE have their counter strategies ready in response to the rapidly evolving trade landscape. Using data, investing in supply chains, and increasing reliance on the Middle East, China, and Europe corridors, are part of their plans. 'Geopolitical and geoeconomic shifts have been a mainstay across decades and resilient businesses know how to adapt and respond. What is encouraging to see is that 75 per cent of corporates in the UAE plan to use the trade uncertainty as an opportunity to evolve and explore new opportunities.' Key findings include: The United Arab Emirates' proactive approach is also reflected in increased regional trade ties. 62 per cent of surveyed UAE firms say they are ramping up reliance on the Middle East, followed by China (47 per cent) and Europe (43 per cent).


The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Robert Pether conditionally released in Iraq after four years in jail
A Dubai resident has been conditionally released from prison in Iraq after his family campaigned for four years to secure his freedom. Robert Pether, from Australia, along with his Egyptian co-worker Khaled Radwan, who both resided in Dubai at the time, were jailed in August 2021 and fined $12 million after a contract dispute between his employer and authorities in Iraq. Despite his release, Mr Pether is still barred from leaving Iraq and Australian authorities say he continues to face legal proceedings. However, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the development was a 'positive development'. "I know the personal toll Mr Pether's detention has taken on him and his family and hope this news brings a measure of relief after years of distress," she said in a statement. Simon Harris, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister, said in a statement that Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein had contacted him to confirm the release of Mr Pether, whose family currently live in Ireland. "I welcomed this as a first step to his being allowed to return to his family in Roscommon," Mr Harris said. But there are concerns about Mr Pether's health and any outstanding charges against him, he added. Contract dispute results in jail Mr Pether and Mr Radwan were arrested when they travelled to Iraq for what they thought was a routine business meeting. Employed as an engineer in Dubai for CME, Mr Pether was contracted to work on the central bank's headquarters near the Tigris River. The men were detained at the meeting. They each received a five-year jail sentence and were ordered to pay $12 million by an Iraqi court. The dispute was over a $33 million contract awarded to CME in 2015. The project was put on hold a year later, with plummeting oil prices and Iraq's war against ISIS put forward as the main reasons. Work resumed in 2018, with CME working for 39 of the 48 months as set out in the contract. Payment was received for 32 of those months before being withheld. CME was asked by the central bank to extend the contract by three months to make up for work that was suspended due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.