UAE Fils to offset carbon footprint of Saudi capital market fintechs

UAE Fils to offset carbon footprint of Saudi capital market fintechs

UAE based Fils, an ESG-focused financial technology that utilizes blockchain technology is collaborating with Saudi based tech platform Madkhol, which specializes in robo-advisory investment services, to offset the carbon footprint of Saudi capital market fintechs. The official signing took place at the prestigious 24 Fintech event, marking a significant milestone for both companies and the region.

This collaboration allows Madkhol’s customers to seamlessly invest in carbon credits and actively offset their carbon footprint directly through the platform. By embedding Fils’ sustainability stack, Madkhol is setting a new benchmark for capital market fintechs in Saudi Arabia and beyond, enabling users to integrate impactful climate action into their investment portfolios.

Capital markets play a pivotal role in driving economic growth and sustainability initiatives. Globally, the world requires $9.2 trillion annually to meet sustainability and climate goals, according to industry estimates. Achieving this will require the participation of every industry, with capital markets as a key driver of this monumental transition. Sustainable investments, which reached over $35 trillion in assets in 2020, are a critical part of this movement.

Saudi Arabia is leading the charge with its Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) initiative, which aims to create one of the largest carbon trading platforms in the region. Spearheaded by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Saudi Tadawul Group, this initiative aligns with the country’s Vision 2030 goals and is designed to promote investments in carbon credits and support companies in achieving their net-zero ambitions. The inaugural auction of carbon credits by the Saudi VCM saw a record 1.4 million tons of carbon credits sold, highlighting the sector’s growth potential.

The partnership between Fils and Madkhol is strategically aligned with Saudi Arabia’s VCM initiative. By leveraging Fils’ sustainability infrastructure, this collaboration allows users to participate in the carbon credit market with full transparency, trust, and integrity, setting a new standard for ESG investments.

CEO of Fils, Nameer Khan, commented: “Our partnership with Madkhol comes at a critical time when sustainable finance is becoming a cornerstone of capital markets, and Saudi Arabia’s VCM initiative is setting the stage for the region. Together, we are enabling users to make investments that not only drive returns but also contribute to a sustainable future. This collaboration highlights Fils’ commitment to transparency and trust, essential elements in building a credible and superior solution in the sustainability space.”

He added, “The global challenge of reaching $9.2 trillion annually in climate investments can only be met through the leadership of key industries, and capital markets are at the forefront of this transformation. Fils’ integrity-driven platform ensures that businesses and investors can participate in carbon markets with confidence, helping to foster a more sustainable world.”

Saad bin Atyan, CEO of Madkhol, commented, “At Madkhol, we are committed to providing our customers with innovative and responsible investment solutions. Partnering with Fils allows us to take our platform to the next level by integrating carbon credit investments and giving our customers a practical way to offset their emissions. Signing this partnership at 24 Fintech highlights our dedication to pioneering sustainable fintech in Saudi Arabia.”

By utilizing Fils’ comprehensive API-driven sustainability stack, Madkhol customers can now access a variety of carbon credit projects, enabling transparent reporting and ensuring investments align with environmental goals. This seamless integration also supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives of promoting sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.

Ahson Saeed, Partner – Strategy & Commercials at Fils, noted, “At Fils, we believe that the future of finance is not just about returns, but about responsible, impactful investments. Our partnership with Madkhol is a testament to this vision, bringing together cutting-edge technology and a deep commitment to sustainability. By integrating carbon credit investments into everyday financial decisions, we are empowering investors to take actionable steps towards a greener future. This collaboration marks a new chapter in sustainable finance, aligned with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious climate goals and the broader global movement towards ESG-driven growth.”

Currently, the Fils network supports over 105 banks, 1.5 million merchants, and 4 million wallets. Leveraging innovative fintech and blockchain technologies, Fils provides businesses with the tools to integrate climate-positive solutions across industries. Fils is at the forefront of transforming the financial landscape to foster sustainability, building trust through transparency and integrity.

Fils partners with Arab Financial services to embed sustainability in business models

Fils partners with Arab Financial services to embed sustainability in business models

Fils, a UAE based enterprise-grade digital infrastructure provider enabling companies to embed sustainability and climate action into their business models using technologies such as Blockchain has partnered with Arab Financial Services (AFS), the Middle East and Africa region’s leading digital payment solutions provider and fintech enabler.

As per the press release, the collaboration marks a significant step towards fostering sustainable practices and driving climate action across industries in the region. Leveraging Fils’s state-of-the-art fintech technology and AFS’s expertise and regional leadership position in digital payments, the partnership will be key to helping integrate sustainability seamlessly into businesses’ operations, customer journeys, and financial transactions.

AFS, which has offices in Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, and the UAE, offers digital payments solutions and fintech, serving over 60 clients across more than 20 countries in the Middle East and Africa region. Fils’ partnership with AFS enables a significant proportion of banks, financial institutions, and organizations in the MEA to track and mitigate their emissions, aiding the global transition to a low-carbon economy.

Samer Soliman, CEO of AFS commented, “We are proud to join forces with Fils in a strategic partnership to drive sustainable solutions within the digital payments landscape. This collaboration directly supports our ESG strategic goals by accelerating their implementation. As a leading digital payments provider, we embrace the responsibility to drive sustainability not only for ourselves but also empower our partners and clients to achieve their own environmental ambitions.”

Nameer Khan, CEO of Fils, said, “We are thrilled to embark on this strategic partnership with Arab Financial Services. By combining our advanced digital infrastructure with AFS’s leadership in electronic payments outsourcing, we have a unique opportunity to drive positive change across industries in the MENA region. Our shared commitment to sustainability and climate action will not only transform business operations but also redefine the landscape of responsible finance in the region and beyond.”

Key highlights of the partnership between Fils and AFS include:

  • Sustainable Digital Transformation: Fils’ enterprise-grade digital infrastructure will empower AFS to seamlessly integrate sustainability and climate action into its payments ecosystem. This includes developing innovative solutions that contribute to reduced carbon footprints and environmental impact.  
  • Green Financial Products: The collaboration will explore opportunities to introduce sustainable financial products, with a specific focus on Islamic Credit Cards. By incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, both organisations aim to set new industry standards for responsible and ethical financial services.
  • Enhanced Customer Experiences: Fils and AFS will work together to enhance customer journeys by providing eco-friendly and sustainable options for electronic payments. This includes the development of user-friendly interfaces that promote responsible consumer choices and a positive environmental impact.
  • Industry Leadership in Sustainability: As pioneers in their respective fields, Fils and AFS will lead the financial and digital industries in the MENA region towards a more sustainable future. By combining their strengths, the partnership seeks to inspire businesses to prioritise sustainability in their business strategies and take measurable action to tackle climate change.

Fils’ partnership with AFS is hot on the heels of an impressive roster of collaborations so far this year. Exciting partnerships with e& Enterprise, Mashreq Bank and Flowcarbon have cemented Fils’ place as a global leader in sustainable financial infrastructure.

In addition Fils recently announced its expansion into Pakistan through a partnership with TPS, a digital banking and payments solution provider that powers banks, digital banks, FinTechs, payment processors, merchants, and telecoms around the world. The collaboration aims to make a lasting impact on the international stage, embedding climate action at the core of digital financial services.

PWC MENA report features Fils carbon credit tokenization use cases

PWC MENA report features Fils carbon credit tokenization use cases

 UAE based Fils, an enterprise-grade digital infrastructure provider enabling companies to embed sustainability and climate action into their business models, has featured in a new PWC Middle East report on Carbon credit tokenization: Pioneering a sustainable future. 

It has been estimated that the carbon credits market will expand to US$100 billion by 2030, by Morgan Stanley, a global leader in financial services. The PwC Middle East report examines the tokenization of carbon credits and how financial institutions can become game-changing players in leveraging this process to combat climate change.  

The report emphasizes the practical deployment of carbon credit tokenization- as demonstrated by Fils – showcasing how the fintech’s technology is being used by several of its banking clientele.

Since its launch ahead of COP28 last year, Fils has embedded digital tools to businesses across various sectors, enabling them to integrate climate initiatives into their workflows.

A case study featuring in the report reveals that their innovative software has enabled major fintechs, such as Magnati in the UAE and Geidea in the KSA, and banks such as Mashreq, to process payments that automatically offset carbon emissions, simplifying eco-friendly transactions and ensuring business transparency. Fils also uses advanced analytics for carbon emission calculations in corporate spending, offering a clear view of environmental impact. This approach exemplifies Fils’ efficient method to incorporate climate action into business models, contributing to a sustainable future in finance and positioning Fils as a foundational force in building a global community of sustainability-minded businesses.

“We are incredibly proud that Fils’ efforts and achievements in integrating climate action into business models have been recognized and used as a case study in this report.” said Nameer Khan, CEO of Fils. “Since our inception, we have been instrumental in assisting financial institutions to effectively incorporate climate action into their operations. This report not only showcases our technology through our real world case studies but also amplifies our reach, giving us a larger platform to inform others about what we do and expand into new regions. It’s a testament to our continued commitment to sustainability and the growing impact of our solutions on a global scale,” he added.

PwC Middle East’s report talks about the emergence of tokenization, its role in enhancing financial services, how tokenized carbon credits are creating game changing opportunities by building a more transparent, efficient and accessible market for carbon credits, in turn driving growth and therefore supporting the goals of the Paris Agreement to drop emissions by 45% by 2030.

Commenting on the report, Serena Sebastiani, Virtual Assets Consulting Leader at PwC Middle East said, “This report underscores the critical role of informed partnerships in advancing climate action.”

She added, “By merging insights from Fils’ application of technology with our strategic overview, the report aims to educate financial institutions about the benefits of tokenisation applied to carbon credits, driving a shift towards how the world of finance can play a big role in saving our planet, one token at a time. “

Fils has established strategic partnerships with significant financial institutions in the region, including Magnati in the UAE, Geidea in KSA, and Mashreq Bank, enabling millions of merchants worldwide to reduce their environmental impact. 

UAE Central Bank grants in principle approval to Telr payment

UAE Central Bank grants in principle approval to Telr payment

Telr, a payment gateway provider of payment gateway solutions provider has been granted in-principle approval for the Retail Payment Services & Card Schemes (RPSCS) License from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE). According to Telr blog this is a pivotal moment in Telr’s journey towards revolutionizing the digital payment landscape in UAE.

Khalil Alami, Founder & CEO of Telr, said: ‘I am thrilled to have achieved this historic milestone. This milestone is not just a reflection of Telr’s dedication but also of the dynamic and innovative spirit of the UAE’s fintech landscape. We are deeply honored by the UAE Central Bank’s trust, and we remain committed to pioneering digital payment solutions that elevate businesses and drive economic growth across the region.’ Alami added, ‘With great pride, we will continue empowering businesses on their journey to success while further cementing the UAE’s esteemed reputation as a leading payment hub in the region’.

Telr’s mission is to build connections that remove fragmentation in the e-commerce ecosystem, enabling customers to transition to cashless transactions and digitize the payment acceptance process. Telr has focused on empowering businesses to expand globally since 2014 through its one-stop-shop approach, offering a wide range of services for the e-commerce sector, including secure payment options, real-time monitoring, and specialized business solutions.

Telr has also introduced Telr Split Payments, a service that simplifies the reconciliation processes for UAE merchants. Additionally, Telr has launched Telr Finance to provide quick access to business capital.

Established in 2014, Telr, the UAE-based award-winning payment gateway solutions provider, offers a unique platform that enables payment handling in over 120 currencies and 30 languages in the UAE and KSA with the highest level of security. Through a single integration, Telr grants access to every payment method, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, JCB, Apple Pay, PayPal, SADAD, Mada, STC Pay, and urpay.

Last month Telr announced its partnership with Fils, an ESG-focused digital infrastructure fintech which utilizes blockchain technology.

Fils and Cashin to redefine sustainable payments in KSA

Fils and Cashin to redefine sustainable payments in KSA

CASHIN Saudi Arabia, a POS and digital payments fintech provider and UAE based Fils, a blockchain enabled empowering climate-positive transactions, have partnered to empower CASHIN KSA’s extensive network of merchants across the kingdom, comprising a significant share of the market, to integrate Fils’s blockchain enabled enterprise-grade payments platform. Through this collaboration, merchants will gain the ability to accurately track their environmental impact, mitigate their carbon footprint with high-quality carbon credits, and transparently report their progress.

This partnership represents a significant milestone for Fils, which, following its successful ventures with other market leaders in the region, is now expanding its footprint in Saudi Arabia. By leveraging CASHIN KSA’s extensive market reach and established presence, Fils is primed to accelerate its growth trajectory and advance its mission of embedding climate positivity into every transaction.

“Our collaboration with CASHIN KSA underscores our commitment to advancing sustainability in the financial sector and aligns perfectly with our mission to empower businesses to embed climate action into their operations,” said Nameer Khan, CEO of Fils. “Together, we are not only driving positive environmental change but also supporting the climate goals of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.”

According to Omar AlRammah, CEO of CASHIN KSA, this partnership exemplifies the company’s dedication to sustainability and innovation: “Our collaboration with Fils marks a significant step forward in our journey towards a more sustainable future. By integrating Fils’s cutting-edge technology into our payments infrastructure, we are advancing our commitment to environmental responsibility and paving the way for a greener financial ecosystem.”

Fils adds more payment providers to its blockchain enabled sustainable infrastructure

Fils adds more payment providers to its blockchain enabled sustainable infrastructure

UAE based Fils, agroundbreaking ESG-focused digital infrastructure fintech which utilizes blockchain technology, has partnered with Telr, the award-winning online payment gateway.

Blockchain enabled, Fils is collaborating with Telr to integrate its end-to-end sustainable infrastructure to make finance and payments more sustainable and transparent. By Integrating Fils Technology, Telr will enable merchants to track their emissions and access voluntary carbon markets to mitigate the emissions’ harm to the environment. They will also be able to demonstrate their positive impact on the environment with robust reporting functionality, reduced greenwashing, and the encouragement of businesses to invest in sustainable initiatives through Fils’ marketplace.

The new capability adds to Telr’s existing suite of services, aiming to elevate e-commerce businesses seamlessly and efficiently with a one-stop-shop philosophy. This encompasses a variety of financial and business services, ranging from social commerce and QR codes to digital invoicing, Telr Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), and Telr Finance—a dedicated program for merchant financing.

Nameer Khan, CEO and Founder of Fils, said, “Today’s exciting partnership with Telr will make a real impact in tackling the issues of climate change, providing access to carbon markets via our robust and transparent infrastructure. Our technology-first approach to sustainable action enables SMEs, large corporates and other organizations to seamlessly embed sustainability throughout their global operations.”

Telr, the UAE-based award-winning payment gateway solutions provider, facilitates transactions in over 30 currencies and supports over 120 languages. Telr, as a leading payments aggregator, enables businesses to connect to all payment schemes and manage financial and business services as a one-stop shop for ecommerce solutions. Telr’s collaboration with Fils will enable organizations to track and mitigate emissions seamlessly, increasing the sustainability of payment operations across the globe.

Khalil Alami, Founder and CEO of Telr, added, “This partnership underscores our unwavering dedication to driving sustainable finance. By leveraging Telr’s expertise and partnering with exceptional entities like Fils, we aim to reshape transactions.This effort promotes a more sustainable economy, empowering our merchants with access to emissions calculators to monitor their carbon footprint and emissions-reduction tools. These initiatives align with the ‘Net Zero by 2050’ strategy and are synchronized with COP28, highlighting our commitment to a brighter, more sustainable future.” 

Fils’s alliance with Telr builds on an impressive year of high-profile partnerships for the fintech company,  with clients such as e& Enterprise, Magnati, Mashreq Bank, Flowcarbon and AFS. 

Prior to this announcement, Geidea, recognized as one of the 25 top Fintech companies by Forbes Middle East, partnered with Fils.

UAE Fils and Geidea unite to deploy sustainable digital payments

UAE Fils and Geidea unite to deploy sustainable digital payments

Geidea, recognized as one of the 25 top Fintech companies by Forbes Middle East, has partnered with UAE based Fils a force in simplified climate action, empowering businesses of all sizes to embed climate positivity into transactions using their API.

Geidea’s collaboration with Fils not only underlines its commitment to reshaping the digital payments landscape but also signifies a pioneering step towards a sustainable future, aligning seamlessly with Fils’ mission to transform industries, including banking, travel, eCommerce, and fintech, towards environmental consciousness and carbon neutrality. This exclusive partnership is set to make a lasting impact on the UAE’s digital payments sector and beyond.

Fresh from being the official payment and POS provider for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28), Geidea demonstrates its commitment to sustainability through this collaboration with Fils.

Geidea and Fils are set to embed sustainability into every aspect of their activities. Merchants will now have the capability to empower customers by providing estimates of carbon emissions for specific transactions using Geidea’s payment gateways. Whether it’s flights, rides, products, or shipping, customers can gain valuable insights into the carbon intensity of their actions. This not only fosters a culture of sustainability but also enables informed decision-making.

After being given an estimate of their carbon footprint, the collaboration with Fils allows customers to seamlessly contribute to trusted carbon credit projects directly from any product interface. This streamlined process empowers users to actively support a greener future and reduce their carbon footprint effortlessly with every digital payments transaction. Fils is utilizing blockchain technology in its offering.

Commenting on this transformative partnership, Sailesh Malhotra, General Manager Geidea GCC stated, “At Geidea, we are thrilled to continue leveraging our technology to contribute to impactful and tangible solutions. This partnership with Fils aligns with our mission to go beyond conventional payment services, introducing a new era where sustainability is integrated into the very fabric of digital transactions.”

Nameer Khan, founder and CEO of Fils, stated, “Our collaboration with Geidea is a significant step in Fils’ journey towards leading sustainable innovation in the global fintech landscape. Starting from UAE this partnership will extend regionally, reinforcing our commitment to ESG values across key regions. Working with Geidea is not just about fulfilling our environmental mission; it’s a testament to Fils’ visionary technology and dedication to making every transaction a positive force for our planet. Together, we are setting new standards in sustainable finance, demonstrating that progress and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.”

Prior to this Fils signed an MOU with Mashreq Bank, a financial institution in MENA. The partnership will develop a corporate carbon offsetting offering that helps corporate and institutional clients to integrate carbon offsetting directly from their Mashreq corporate accounts.

Mashreq Bank to utilize Fils Blockchain enabled platform for sustainability

Mashreq Bank to utilize Fils Blockchain enabled platform for sustainability

UAE based Fils, a Blockchain enabled digital platform for launching sustainable focused products has signed an MOU with Mashreq Bank, a financial institution in MENA.

The partnership will develop a corporate carbon offsetting offering that helps corporate and institutional clients to integrate carbon offsetting directly from their Mashreq corporate accounts.

In a bid to eliminate the deceptive practice of misrepresenting environmental responsibility through greenwashing, Fils infrastructure uses blockchain technology to track all carbon credits used to avoid double counting and provide transparency.

The MoU was signed at Mashreq’s Global HQ by Nameer Khan, founder of Fils; and Mashreq’s Head of Corporate and Investment Banking Group, Joel D Van Dusen, with the support of the UAE’s Chief Trade Negotiator and Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, H.E. Juma Al Kait.

The agreement represents the first step in Mashreq’s development of specialized carbon-offsetting blockchain enabled financial products, which will launch in collaboration with selected UAE-based Mashreq corporate clients. With the initial solution expected in the first half of 2024, the announcement represents a critical milestone for the region’s financial sector, underlining a significant shift towards incorporating environmental responsibility within the region’s financial practices.

Within the UAE, carbon credits are an increasingly important part of the decarbonization strategy. The partnership between Mashreq and Fils will create a solution that solves a number of historic challenges, including the fact that trading markets are not typically accessible directly by corporates.

The account will also solve the problem of minimum purchase amounts that typically apply, whereas FILS will provide fractionalized credits. This removes the complexity and accessibility of dealing directly with the carbon credit markets and simplifies the purchasing, auditing, and reporting through Mashreq.

Joel D Van Dusen, Head of the Corporate and Investment Banking Group at Mashreq, said, “This initiative will have a broad impact on Mashreq’s corporate clients, offering a solution designed to contribute towards environmental sustainability. It also reinforces the UAE’s position as a pioneer in integrating sustainability into its economic and financial sectors, aligning with the nation’s role in hosting COP28 and its ambition to lead global sustainability efforts. Furthermore, the pioneering initiative signifies Mashreq’s dedication to sustainable practices.”

The new carbon offsetting corporate offering from Mashreq is a unique product that reflects the growing use of carbon credits. 41% of global companies plan to use carbon credits to meet their  carbon reduction targets, and the carbon credit market is expected to grow at a 30% CAGR over the coming years.

Nameer Khan, Founder of Fils, said, “Fils’ partnership with Mashreq in the development of a ground-breaking carbon offsetting product is a powerful catalyst for the evolution of ESG enforcement across the region’s financial markets.  Created with transparent KPIs, the accounts spell the end of greenwashing and clear a path towards greater accountability and implementation of actionable outcomes that can improve the sustainability of the world we live in.”

UAE Fils leverages Blockchain Sui platform to track carbon credits

UAE Fils leverages Blockchain Sui platform to track carbon credits

UAE Fils leverages Blockchain Sui platform to track carbon credits. Sui is a next generation Layer 1 blockchain.

The collaboration will leverage blockchain technology to serve use cases in line with the ESG goals that modern businesses are seeking. Users will also benefit from the unique crypto wallet infrastructure provided by Sui. For example, using Sui’s zkLogin tooling, end users can authenticate by simply using Web 2 social credentials, creating and accessing their wallets will be effortless.

Nameer Khan, the Founder and CEO of Fils stated, “Sui offers speed and scalability that is unique, along with a commitment to sustainability that make them an ideal partner for us. We look forward to leveraging this capable blockchain to offer an unprecedented solution to one of the world’s most intractable challenges,” said Nameer Khan.

Fils officially launched in November with its B2B2C product offering, the company is targeting several industries including financial services, hospitality, and e-commerce. With Sui platform, Fils can now elevate the user experience and enhance the platform’s capabilities through blockchain technology.

Greg Siourounis, Managing Director at the Sui Foundation, added, “The most important challenges of our era demand the most capable technology implemented by the strongest teams working together to build solutions. I am extremely proud to see Sui’s infrastructure being integrated by the forward-thinking team at Fils to address the crucial global issue of climate change in a fundamentally new way.”

So far there have been many announcements pertaining to Blockchain platforms for Carbon credits or sustainability including the recent e&enterprise announcement today.

UAE Fils fintech platform launches employing Blockchain for digital payments

UAE Fils fintech platform launches employing Blockchain for digital payments

UAE Homegrown Fils fintech platform which employs blockchain launched prior to Cop28 to integrate sustainable values into the core of digital payments.

Fils aims to bring together buyers with capital and suppliers with high integrity carbon credits.

Nameer Khan, the founder of Fils and chairman of the Mena Fintech Association (MFTA), has designed along with his team a holistic, enterprise-grade B2B2C product offering, Fils leverages the power of leading technologies including Blockchain for its end-to-end infrastructure to transform various industries, including financial services, hospitality, and e-commerce.

This makes it easier for businesses to act on the core values of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), said Khan, adding that major partnerships with some of the leading names in the industry would be announced soon.

Khan said Fils is poised to transform the world of ESG, through an API-first digital payment infrastructure that makes sustainability a lifestyle and can be easily embedded into platforms across sectors. He stated, “Fils is a catalyst for the evolution of ESG enforcement and has the right team, technology, experience and expertise to lead the market. With our robust infrastructure, it spells the end of greenwashing and clears a path towards greater accountability and implementation of actionable outcomes that can improve the sustainability of the world we live in.”

Prior to this UAE Ghad Capital partners celebrated the launch of Fils which they stated employed blockchain and AI for a transparent secure payment infrastructure, supporting 17 UN SDGs.