Mastercard strengthens its local leadership team in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and other Levant
Bringing a wealth of experience to the role, Saud will lead and manage Mastercard's operations in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, and Palestine, deepening local market knowledge and engagement, and advancing efforts to connect and power an inclusive digital economy.
'We are very pleased to see Saud Swar take another important step forward on his professional journey with this exciting appointment,' said Adam Jones, Executive Vice President, Division President of West Arabia, Mastercard. 'Saud will no doubt play a pivotal role in advancing our work to empower the people and communities we serve across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, and Palestine with even greater access to a more accessible, secure and transformative digital economy. We look forward to him stewarding us to more success in the region.'
Saud Swar, Country Manager, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and other Levant, Mastercard stated, 'I am excited to begin this new chapter with Mastercard, making the most of my experience to complement and build on of the team's achievements... I am looking forward to working closely with and our partners to unlock new opportunities, drive growth and create impact across the division and wider region.'
Saud has over 17 years of experience working in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Mastercard, Saud spent all his professional career at American Express, initially joining the company as a New Product Development Specialist 2008, gradually rising the ranks to serve as the Chief Business Officer – MENA for American Express Middle East. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Bahrain and completed an Executive MBA at London Business School.
About Mastercard (NYSE: MA) www.mastercard.com
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Business
a day ago
- Arabian Business
Record-breaking 10,000 entries as Riyadh gears up for 2025 Entrepreneurship World Cup finals in Saudi Arabia
The 2025 Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) has kicked off in Saudi Arabia with unprecedented global participation, receiving more than 10,000 project submissions from entrepreneurs across 169 countries — double last year's total. The global finals will take place in Riyadh, hosted by Saudi Arabia's Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at), in partnership with the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk) and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). The event highlights the Kingdom's growing reputation as an international hub for innovation and entrepreneurial ventures. 2025 Entrepreneurship World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia The competition showcases a broad spectrum of solutions to global challenges and covers 16 key sectors, including: Agriculture Food industries Healthcare Manufacturing Education ICT Social work An international jury of experts in entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment has already shortlisted the top 1,000 projects from 122 countries. These will be narrowed to 250 in the penultimate round before the final 100 projects are selected to present in Riyadh. Finalists will pitch to leading global investors, competing for $1.5m in total cash prizes. Hosting the EWC in Riyadh reflects Saudi Arabia's ambition to be a global platform for entrepreneurial solutions, supported by a robust, innovation-driven ecosystem, advanced investment infrastructure, and a business-friendly environment that facilitates market access and attracts global capital. The EWC is one of the world's largest and most diverse startup competitions, offering founders not only funding opportunities but also access to mentorship, training, and international networks to accelerate their growth.
Arabian Business
a day ago
- Arabian Business
Zand, Mastercard partner to boost cross-border payment solutions
Zand, an AI-powered fintech and financial services group based in the United Arab Emirates, has signed a strategic agreement with Mastercard to enhance its cross-border payment offerings. The partnership will leverage Mastercard Move, the company's suite of money movement solutions to deliver secure, efficient, and seamless international transfers for Zand customers. In the first phase, Zand will introduce payment options including deposits into bank accounts and mobile wallets across multiple markets, along with cash pick-up services. The move reflects both companies' commitment to advancing the digital economy and driving financial inclusion across the region. J.K. Khalil, Executive Vice President and Division President, East Arabia at Mastercard, said: 'At Mastercard, we are committed to driving innovation across the region's payments landscape. Our collaboration with Zand will connect more people and businesses to the financial system, helping drive greater financial inclusion and economic opportunity in the UAE and beyond.' Michael Chan, CEO at Zand, added: 'We are thrilled to collaborate with Mastercard to help drive the future of cross-border payments. This opportunity marks a significant milestone in Zand's mission to accelerate the growth of the digital economy. The payments ecosystem in the region is growing rapidly and presents compelling potential to expand the applications of AI, blockchain, and payments technology.' Mastercard Move supports a wide range of payment flows, including person-to-person transfers, business transactions, and disbursements, with payout options to cards, bank accounts, and mobile wallets. To cater to unbanked and underbanked communities, cash payouts are also available through Mastercard's expanding global network of pickup locations.
Arabian Business
a day ago
- Arabian Business
SpaceX reportedly in advanced talks with Saudia for onboard WiFi
After Qatar Airways, Saudia, Saudi Arabia's flag carrier airline, could become the next Middle East airline to install SpaceX's Starlink internet service. According to a Bloomberg report, the Elon Musk-owned company is in advanced talks with Saudia to equip its fleet of more than 140 aircraft with its high-speed onboard wifi, according to people familiar with the talks. The wire agency had earlier reported that SpaceX was also in advanced talks with the Dubai-based Emirates, and said it is now in discussions with its sister carrier flydubai. Another person familiar told Bloomberg that the company has also pitched its services to Gulf Air, Bahrain's national carrier. Saudia, flydubai and Gulf Air did not respond to the agency's request for comments. The deals are not final and the airlines could decide to partner with other providers, the people cautioned. 'Securing partnerships with one of the biggest Middle Eastern carriers would represent a significant milestone for Starlink as it pushes further into the global market for in-flight connectivity and challenges established players like Viasat Inc.,' the report added. A deal with Saudia would give SpaceX a foothold in the Gulf's biggest economy, at a time when local rival Neo Space Group, owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, is working on establishing its own satellite-based in-flight service. Rossen Dimitrov, the Saudia chief guest experience officer who previously worked at Qatar Airways, wrote on LinkedIn that he recently visited the SpaceX industrial complex in Texas to learn 'about the exciting future they are bringing to aviation'. SpaceX markets its Starlink service to airlines through a subscription model similar to its consumer offering. Airlines face upfront hardware costs that amount to anywhere between US$300,000 and US$500,000, depending on the aircraft, in addition to a monthly fee for every seat, according to a document seen by Bloomberg News. Saudi's new airline Riyadh Air, set to start commercial operations by the end of the year, has partnered with Viasat. The report added that because Starlink isn't authorised for use in the UAE, any deal with the Emirates or flydubai would likely require a reversal of that policy. Earlier this year, Qatar Airways became the first carrier in the region to offer the service. The airline made Starlink available across the cabin of its Boeing 777 models, and the company has started retrofitting its Airbus A350 jets, with the 787 Dreamliners up next.
