Latest news with #BahaaAbdulHadi
Tahawul Tech
7 days ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Qi Card powers digital leap beyond borders
Bahaa Abdul Hadi, Chairman of International Smart Card, shares how the journey of Iraq's fintech pioneer transforms lives — from biometric smart cards to a digital-first financial future. International Smart Card (ISC), also known by its most popular product – Qi Card – has emerged as a force of digital disruption in Iraq and is making waves in foreign markets. Since its launch in 2007, International Smart Card has steadily redefined how millions of Iraqis access and use financial services. Spearheaded by visionary Chairman Bahaa Abdul Hadi, the company has evolved from rolling out the Middle East's first biometric smart card – Qi Card – to launching SuperQi app, a cutting-edge digital wallet, a digital bank powered by global tech leader Ant International. Hadi shares insights with on what lies ahead for fintech in Iraq and the wider MENA region. Interview Excerpts: Q: What have been the key milestones in International Smart Card 's journey since its inception in 2007, and how has it shaped the fintech landscape in Iraq and the broader Middle East? Backed by its holding company International Smart Card, we launched Qi Card in 2007 as the region's first biometric smart card, and within just two years, we reached 1.6 million users. By 2015, it was accepted by over 30,000 merchants, effectively turning government salaries into digital cash. During the pandemic, we surpassed 10 million users, ensuring uninterrupted payroll services in a time of severe crisis like the lockdown during Covid 19 pandemic. This year, we moved beyond plastic with the launch of SuperQi, our next-gen digital wallet, showing the world that Iraq can leapfrog into the future of fintech. Q: How did International Smart Card overcome the initial challenges in deploying this innovation, and what impact has it had on the Iraqi government's digital services? Connectivity was limited, and PIN-based authentication was unfamiliar to many users. Our solution was to store an encrypted fingerprint directly on the card, enabling secure offline verification. This approach not only addressed issues of fraud and illiteracy but also empowered the government to pay salaries and benefits digitally to over seven million employees, pensioners, and social-security recipients, with near-zero leakage. Q: The recently launched SuperQi app, in collaboration with Ant International, operates like a digital bank. What unique features does the app offer? SuperQi allows users to open an account in minutes, send money via phone numbers, scan-to-pay both locally and internationally, access instant instalment loans, and manage bills — all in Arabic, English, or Kurdish. With Ant's wallet technology, we're blending local trust with global infrastructure. It's a powerful example of how fintech can make finance inclusive and borderless – opens the gateways for the future of finance and open banking. Q: How does International Smart Card plan to further expand its user base and stay ahead of rapidly evolving fintech trends in the region? Our immediate focus is on moving our 11 million cardholders to SuperQi app and expanding the network of QR acceptance points. In 2025, we're launching an open developer portal to accelerate fintech innovation on our platform. 'We expect to surpass 15 million active digital wallets by 2027.' Q: How do you see fintech shaping economic growth and digital transformation in the region? Instant salary access is one of the most powerful ways to advance financial inclusion. It brings liquidity into households when it's most needed, reduces reliance on hard cash, and builds trust in digital systems. Fintech, at its best, should make money more accessible, more efficient, and more empowering — and that's the future we're committed to building in Iraq and taking it beyond borders.
Khaleej Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Qi Card champions Iraq's fintech shift at Seamless Middle East
Qi Card, Iraq's largest fintech firm, spotlighted its transformative role in shifting the country from a cash-dependent society to a digitally connected economy during the final day of the Seamless Middle East conference. Ahmed Khadum, chief investment officer of Qi Card delivered a keynote titled 'From Cash to Digital: How Iraq Built a Scalable Payment Ecosystem,' sharing insights on how Qi Card helped design and lead one of the Middle East's most ambitious national fintech transformations. Established in 2007 through a strategic public-private partnership between International Smart Card (ISC) and the Iraqi financial institutions, Qi Card has grown from a basic payment card into a wide-ranging financial services consortium. 'Our vision extends beyond Iraq - it is about serving broader communities and contributing to humanity at large. I am personally committed to ensuring that both my efforts and our projects make a meaningful impact on people's lives.', said Bahaa Abdul Hadi, the chairman and co-founder of the Qi Card, also known as the International Smart Card. 'Our next phase of expansion is focused on the UAE, where we are actively engaging with both public and private sector stakeholders. We are preparing to launch a range of initiatives spanning fintech, insurtech, logistics, and payments, along with several programmes aimed at giving back to society,' Hadi added. Today, Qi Card serves more than 12 million Iraqis, including government employees, pensioners, private sector workers, and social service communities. Its key services span salary disbursements, personal loans, digital banking tools and biometric security. 'Our story is not just about technology — it's about national resilience,' said Khadum. 'We built this system during some of Iraq's most difficult years yet managed to extend it to every province. That's the model we're sharing in Dubai to the global community of financial technology — how to enable modern financial services under pressure, with purpose, and at scale,' he added.
Zawya
23-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
How Qi Card is digitising Iraq's financial future at Scale
Highlights Qi's nationwide reach – serving 12 million Iraqis, 600 merchants, 70,000 POS terminals Qi's regional relevance, global impact Deeply committed to ensuring both my efforts & projects make a meaningful impact on people's lives – says Chairman Bahaa Abdul Hadi Qi partnered with Ant International and launched SuperQi app - combining digital banking and lifestyle services Dubai —On the conclusion day of the Seamless Fintech Middle East Forum, Qi Card, Iraq's largest fintech company, took centre stage, presenting its pivotal role in transitioning the nation from a cash-dependent society to a digitally connected economy. Chief Investment Officer Ahmed Khadum delivered a keynote titled 'From Cash to Digital: How Iraq Built a Scalable Payment Ecosystem,' sharing insights on how Qi Card helped design and lead one of the Middle East's most ambitious national fintech transformations. Established in 2007 through a strategic public-private partnership between International Smart Card (ISC) and the Iraqi financial institutions, Qi Card has grown from a basic payment card into a wide-ranging financial services consortium. 'Our vision extends beyond Iraq — it is about serving broader communities and contributing to humanity at large. I am personally committed to ensuring that both my efforts and our projects make a meaningful impact on people's lives.', said Bahaa Abdul Hadi, the chairman and co-founder of the Qi Card, also known as the International Smart Card. 'Our next phase of expansion is focused on the UAE, where we are actively engaging with both public and private sector stakeholders. We are preparing to launch a range of initiatives spanning fintech, insurtech, logistics, and payments, along with several programs aimed at giving back to society,' Bahaa added. Today, Qi Card serves more than 12 million Iraqis, including government employees, pensioners, private sector workers, and social service communities. Its key services span salary disbursements, personal loans, digital banking tools and biometric security. 'Our story is not just about technology — it's about national resilience,' said Ahmed Khadum, Chief Investment Officer at Qi Card. 'We built this system during some of Iraq's most difficult years, yet managed to extend it to every province. That's the model we're sharing in Dubai to the global community of financial technology — how to enable modern financial services under pressure, with purpose, and at scale,' Ahmed said. Nationwide Reach Qi Card operates a nationwide infrastructure of over 70,000 point-of-sale (POS) terminals and serves over 6,000 merchants. Since 2018, it has disbursed over $4 billion in loans to more than 800,000 citizens, supporting small businesses, healthcare needs, and household improvements. Emergency lending programmes, such as Salifni, ensure workers can access short-term funds even during public sector salary delays. In 2024, Qi Card partnered with Ant International to launch the SuperQi app, combining digital banking and lifestyle services into a single platform. With features like scan-to-pay, peer transfers, bill payments, mobile recharge, and personal lending, SuperQi aims to serve 15 million users by 2026. Regional Relevance, Global Impact Qi Card's journey speaks directly to other economies working to reduce cash dependency. Strategic alliances — with Mastercard, Visa, Western Union, and Ant Group — have helped broaden its functionality, enable secure cross-border transactions, and deepen financial access in unbanked communities. As Iraq rebuilds and modernises its economic infrastructure, Qi Card remains at the forefront, championing financial accessibility, digital innovation, and long-term resilience. With a growing user base and a scalable, exportable model, Qi Card is positioned to lead not just Iraq's digital future, but also to inspire similar progress in frontier markets across the region and beyond.
Mid East Info
23-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
How Qi Card Is Digitising Iraq's Financial Future at Scale - Middle East Business News and Information
Dubai—On the conclusion day of the Seamless Fintech Middle East Forum, Qi Card, Iraq's largest fintech company, took centre stage, presenting its pivotal role in transitioning the nation from a cash-dependent society to a digitally connected economy. Chief Investment Officer Ahmed Khadum delivered a keynote titled 'From Cash to Digital: How Iraq Built a Scalable Payment Ecosystem,' sharing insights on how Qi Card helped design and lead one of the Middle East's most ambitious national fintech transformations. Established in 2007 through a strategic public-private partnership between International Smart Card (ISC) and the Iraqi financial institutions, Qi Card has grown from a basic payment card into a wide-ranging financial services consortium. 'Our vision extends beyond Iraq — it is about serving broader communities and contributing to humanity at large. I am personally committed to ensuring that both my efforts and our projects make a meaningful impact on people's lives.', said Bahaa Abdul Hadi, the chairman and co-founder of the Qi Card, also known as the International Smart Card. 'Our next phase of expansion is focused on the UAE, where we are actively engaging with both public and private sector stakeholders. We are preparing to launch a range of initiatives spanning fintech, insurtech, logistics, and payments, along with several programs aimed at giving back to society,' Bahaa added. Today, Qi Card serves more than 12 million Iraqis, including government employees, pensioners, private sector workers, and social service communities. Its key services span salary disbursements, personal loans, digital banking tools and biometric security. 'Our story is not just about technology — it's about national resilience,' said Ahmed Khadum, Chief Investment Officer at Qi Card. 'We built this system during some of Iraq's most difficult years, yet managed to extend it to every province. That's the model we're sharing in Dubai to the global community of financial technology — how to enable modern financial services under pressure, with purpose, and at scale,' Ahmed said. Nationwide Reach Qi Card operates a nationwide infrastructure of over 70,000 point-of-sale (POS) terminals and serves over 6,000 merchants. Since 2018, it has disbursed over $4 billion in loans to more than 800,000 citizens, supporting small businesses, healthcare needs, and household improvements. Emergency lending programmes, such as Salifni, ensure workers can access short-term funds even during public sector salary delays. In 2024, Qi Card partnered with Ant International to launch the SuperQi app, combining digital banking and lifestyle services into a single platform. With features like scan-to-pay, peer transfers, bill payments, mobile recharge, and personal lending, SuperQi aims to serve 15 million users by 2026. Regional Relevance, Global Impact Qi Card's journey speaks directly to other economies working to reduce cash dependency. Strategic alliances — with Mastercard, Visa, Western Union, and Ant Group — have helped broaden its functionality, enable secure cross-border transactions, and deepen financial access in unbanked communities. As Iraq rebuilds and modernises its economic infrastructure, Qi Card remains at the forefront, championing financial accessibility, digital innovation, and long-term resilience. With a growing user base and a scalable, exportable model, Qi Card is positioned to lead not just Iraq's digital future, but also to inspire similar progress in frontier markets across the region and beyond. Ends
Iraq Business
20-03-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
Qi Wins Award for Optimising Customer Service
By John Lee. Qi won the LEAP Genesys Award after partnering with Customer Experience Ltd, the implementation partner of US-based Genesys Cloud CX. The agreement integrates AI-powered Genesys Cloud CX into Qi's customer care system, enhancing customer service and employee engagement. The signing ceremony took place in Dubai Media City, with Qi CEO Ali Muneam and Customer Experience Ltd CEO Yıldırım Duyargil in attendance. Qi Chairman Bahaa Abdul Hadi highlighted this as Iraq's first Genesys FinTech integration, setting a new industry benchmark. Genesys Cloud CX enhances customer experiences through AI-driven orchestration, improving loyalty, efficiency, and workforce engagement. Qi's omnichannel digital transition resulted in: 60% savings in telecom costs 80% reduction in customer response time Higher customer and employee satisfaction The partnership positions Iraq's financial services on a global stage, leveraging advanced cloud and AI technologies. Full statement from Qi: Leading fintech Qi, an Iraq-based consortium of multi-sector companies with offices in UAE, won the LEAP Genesys Award, following the partnership signed up with Customer Experience Ltd, the implementation partner of US-based Genesys Cloud CX. The long-term agreement marks a significant step in Iraq's journey towards world-class AI-driven CX technologies for the country's digital economy as envisioned by the founder of Qi, Mr. Bahaa Abdul Hadi. This award marked the innovation Qi has adopted as a major approach in the enhancement of customer service. Turkey-based Customer Experience Ltd has kick started the implementation of the world's leading Genesys Cloud CX platform into Qi's customer care system. The company is in the process of integrating Genesys' unique contact centre and employee engagement systems powered by advanced Cloud and AI technologies. During the event, after Qi has successfully achieved a vast impact among its customers, it has decided to take the service a level ahead, considering advanced technology, seeking the pioneer in technology and QI, Genesys for the agreement. Where Qi has obtained the LEAP award. The agreement signing ceremony took place at Qi's back office in Dubai located in Dubai Media City. Mr. Ali Muneam, CEO of Qi and Mr. Yıldırım Duyargil, Founder & CEO of Customer Experience Ltd exchanged the agreements in the presence of the technical teams from both companies. Mr. Bahaa Abdul Hadi, Chairman of Qi, said: "Today's partnership is a milestone in pioneering integration technologies in Iraq's financial sector. The collaboration marks the first Genesys project for FinTech in Iraq that seamlessly integrates both voice and digital channels, setting a new benchmark in Iraq's financial services industry. I believe the trio of Genesys, Customer Experience and Qi will further Iraq's financial services landscape to the next level and make it a global benchmark which the local and international companies can capitalize on." US-based Genesys empowers organizations of all sizes to improve loyalty and business outcomes by creating the best experiences for their customers and employees. Through Genesys Cloud, the AI-powered Experience Orchestration platform, organizations accelerate growth by delivering empathetic, personalized experiences at a scale to drive customer loyalty, workforce engagement, efficiency and operational improvements. Mr. Yıldırım Duyargil, Founder & CEO of Customer Experience Limited, said: "We are so excited to partner with Qi. Our experienced team has started one of the world's most powerful cloud technologies to meet specific needs, providing tailored solutions and empowering Qi's operations. Our state-of-the-art CX system can serve more customers with the same number of employees or less." Mr. Ali Munaem, CEO of Qi, said: "Today's collaboration has brought the best-in-class solutions to our millions of customers, which has made it easier for them to navigate and connect. By orchestrating all digital and voice channels, we aim to improve service integrity and accessibility, offering our customers a cohesive and responsive service across multiple platforms." Qi's generative AI-based omnichannel and digital transition allowed the company to achieve incredible results, including; Increase in both customer and employee satisfaction, up to 60% savings in monthly telecom costs and 80% reduction in customer response time. (Source: Qi)
