Latest news with #CrossBorderTransactions
Finextra
13-07-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Real-Time Payments and the Future of Cross-Border Transactions: What Businesses Need to Know: By Parminder Saini
Real-time payments (RTP) are speeding up cross-border transactions, reducing processing times from days to seconds. Businesses can now enjoy instant fund transfers, better cash flow management, and improved transparency. With APIs, ISO 20022 messaging, and global collaborations, real-time payments are transforming the way companies operate across borders. Waiting days or weeks for international payments to clear used to be the norm. That's no longer the case. Real-time payments are closing the gap between different economies, with financial activity now moving faster than it ever has. In many cases, the speed of transfers now determines how well a platform performs, how smoothly a sale goes through, or how long a user sticks around. Cross-border transactions were traditionally slow, costly, and opaque. But the rise of real-time payments (RTP) is changing that. With near-instant transfers, standardized messaging protocols like ISO 20022, and fintech-led innovations, businesses now operate in a faster, more transparent financial environment. Real-time settlement across jurisdictions reduces reliance on intermediaries, slashes fees, and strengthens trust. Whether it's B2B payments or gig economy payouts, RTP is the future of global money movement. Digital entertainment platforms that operate outside a user's home country rely on real-time payments to stay competitive. Streaming sites, international gaming platforms, and even gambling platforms have made this shift out of necessity. How Real-Time Payments Are Transforming Cross-Border Business Real-time payments are revolutionizing cross-border transactions with instant settlements, better transparency, and reduced costs. Learn how your business can benefit. Faster settlements : Transactions that used to take 2–5 days now clear in seconds or minutes. Enhanced transparency : ISO 20022 enables standardized messaging and better tracking. Lower transaction costs : RTP reduces dependency on SWIFT and intermediary banks. Improved liquidity : Real-time access to funds enhances cash flow and working capital. Global adoption: Markets like EU, Singapore, UK, and India are embracing RTP for global trade. For instance, fish gambling games are interactive, shooter-style games that offer huge win potential, with significant multiplier prizes and big payout opportunities. You rack up wins by aiming at high-value fish, and when those multipliers hit, the rewards can spike fast. That kind of instant excitement only works if the payments keep up. A review of fish game gambling sites shows that these platforms typically support flexible, fast payment methods like crypto, e-wallets, and even prepaid cards to make sure players get their money without delay. If withdrawals are slow or deposits fail to reflect instantly, users tend to leave. In spaces where there are dozens of alternatives, there's little tolerance for delays. What used to take two or three days now happens in seconds. Across borders, this shift means users can pay for services, top up their accounts, or cash out without dealing with clearinghouse delays or timezone restrictions. That expectation now extends further than online entertainment. E-commerce retailers that cater to international customers want to be paid immediately after an order is placed. Small businesses exporting to other markets want to avoid the lag that slows down their supply chains. The speed of the transaction is starting to impact the pace of the business. The UK hasn't always been at the forefront of this movement, but that's starting to change. The upcoming Real-Time Rail (RTR) system is designed to support faster domestic payments, but the bigger win lies in how it links up with global systems. As this framework rolls out, cross-border transactions are expected to see fewer hold-ups and better transparency. Payment confirmations within seconds will no longer be limited to closed-loop systems or major platforms. Smaller businesses and individuals will start feeling the difference as well. In many remote and rural parts of the country, reliable banking infrastructure isn't always within reach. That's where real-time digital payments make a measurable difference. A contract worker in a smaller town can receive same-day payment from a client in another country. A student living away from home can get tuition support transferred instantly rather than waiting for the bank to release the funds. These are small changes on paper, but they make everyday life far less stressful. Cross-border payments also play a big role in family support, especially among immigrant households. Remittances sent back home often carry emotional and time-sensitive weight. The faster they arrive, the better. A delay of even a day can disrupt rent payments, emergency healthcare needs, or school fees in the recipient country. Real-time options reduce that uncertainty. More platforms offering fast, reliable cross-border transfers now cater specifically to this type of personal transaction, responding to demand that simply didn't exist a few years ago. On the business side, firms that rely on regular imports or contract-based labour across borders now prioritise payment speed just as much as price or quality. Many are moving away from traditional wire services and opting for platforms that integrate directly with their accounting systems and offer instant cross-border settlements. It cuts down admin time, gives a better sense of cash flow, and opens the door to working with more partners in more regions. While the infrastructure behind real-time payments is still evolving, what's clear is that people no longer treat payment speed as a bonus. It's an expectation. Whether they're streaming, gaming, paying a supplier, or sending money to family, users notice when a platform handles transactions quickly, and they leave when it doesn't.
Zawya
23-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
QIB Group CEO named MENA Islamic Banker of The Year By MEED
Doha, Qatar – Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Qatar's leading digital bank, has been awarded the Best Bank for Cross-Border Transactions while its Group CEO Mr. Bassel Gamal was named MENA Islamic Banker of the Year, at the MEED MENA Banking Excellence, Corporate & Investment Awards 2025. Mashaal Abdulaziz Al Derham, Assistant General Manager, Head of Corporate Communications & Quality Assurance at QIB, received the awards at the ceremony held in Dubai recently. The MENA Islamic Banker of the Year award was presented to QIB Group CEO, Mr. Bassel Gamal, in recognition of his strategic leadership and long-term contribution to Islamic banking. Under his direction, QIB has delivered consistent financial growth, operational excellence, digital innovation and financial inclusion reinforcing its position as Qatar's largest Islamic bank. QIB was named Best Bank for Cross-Border Transactions for its role in facilitating secure and seamless international financial flows for individuals, SMEs, and corporates. Through its Direct Remit Service, customers can send money 24/7 in real time to eight key markets, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the UK, benefiting from competitive rates and full transaction visibility. Accessible via the QIB Mobile App, the service supports wallet-to-wallet and UPI transfers, offering convenience and speed. Strengthened by a global network of correspondent banks and strong trade finance capabilities, QIB continues to lead in Shari'a-compliant cross-border banking. Commenting on the awards, Mr. Bassel Gamal, QIB Group CEO, said: 'These recognitions from MEED reflect our continued focus on innovation, inclusion, and operational excellence. We are pleased to support our customers with secure digital solutions and to contribute to the advancement of Islamic finance in the region. I extend my sincere appreciation to our Board of Directors, employees, and customers for their trust and continued support.' The MEED MENA Banking Excellence – Corporate & Investment Awards 2025, now in its fourth edition, are held in partnership with leading financial services publications Retail Banker International and Private Banker International. As the region continues to emerge as a global financial hub, the awards recognize standout institutions and leaders shaping the future of banking across the Middle East and North Africa. For further information, please visit
Gulf Business
29-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
MENA M&A activity surges in Q1 2025 with $46bn in deals: EY
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region surged in Q1 2025, with 225 deals valued at $46bn, according to EY's latest MENA M&A Insights 2024 report. This marks a 31 per cent increase in deal volume and a 66 per cent rise in deal value compared to Q1 2024. Cross-border transactions remained the key driver of M&A activity, accounting for 117 deals worth $37.3bn — 52 per cent of total volume and 81 per cent of total value. This represents the highest quarterly cross-border activity in both value and volume in the past five years, as companies seek growth and diversification outside their domestic markets. 'The MENA region continues to exhibit a robust influx of M&A transactions in 2025,' said Brad Watson, MENA EY-Parthenon leader. 'This is supported by regulatory reforms, policy shifts, and a favorable macroeconomic outlook, including easing interest rates and improved investor sentiment.' Watson added that the steady rise in domestic M&A activity — 48 per cent of total deal volume in Q1 2025 — aligns with the IMF's projection of 3.6 per cent GDP growth for the region. 'Companies are realigning their strategies to better accommodate the need for diversification, digital transformation, and the integration of emerging technologies,' he said. The UAE maintained its position as the top MENA target country, with 63 deals totaling $20.3bn in Q1 2025. Kuwait followed with$2.3bn in deal proceeds, bolstered by two major transactions in the Diversified Industrial Products and Power & Utilities sectors. Canada attracted the highest outbound MENA deal value at $6.4bn, while the US remained the most popular outbound destination by volume. Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) such as ADIA, PIF, and Mubadala, alongside other government-related entities (GREs), were key M&A players in the quarter, aligning with national diversification strategies. Domestic M&A shows 20 per cent rise Domestic M&A also showed strong growth, with a 20 per cent rise in volume and deal value jumping to $8.7bn from $1.69bn in Q1 2024. The technology sector led domestic activity, contributing 37 per cent of value and 27 per cent of volume. The largest domestic transaction was Abu Dhabi-based G42's $2.2bn acquisition of a 40 per cent stake in Intraregional deals involving the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia represented 83 per cent of total domestic deal value and 56 per cent of volume, highlighting ongoing regional integration in the technology, industrials, and real estate sectors. The region also continued to attract strong foreign direct investment (FDI), with inbound deal volume rising 21 per cent and value reaching $17.6bn — up sharply from $2.5bn a year earlier. The UAE captured 53 per cent of inbound deal volume and 99 per cent of value. Austria emerged as the top investor country, accounting for 94 per cent of total inbound value, led by a major chemicals sector transaction. Outbound M&A highlights Outbound M&A saw a 63 per cent increase in deal volume and totaled US$19.7bn, driven by investments from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which together contributed 77 per cent of outbound volume and 94 per cent of value. While the chemicals and oil & gas sectors led in outbound deal value, the highest number of outbound transactions were in technology, industrial products, and professional services. The UK was the leading destination for outbound M&A by volume with 13 deals, while Canada and Peru together accounted for 50 per cent of outbound deal value. A key transaction was ADNOC and Austria's OMV AG's joint acquisition of Canada's Nova Chemicals for $6.3bn, through a new entity, Borouge International Group, in which both parties will hold a 46.94 per cent stake. 'The MENA deal markets remained resilient despite lack of clarity on two fronts: the impact of monetary policy on cost of capital and the ongoing tariff and trade discussions,' said Anil Menon, 'With AI expected to drive material shifts in fundamental value, significant capital allocation in technology is likely.'
