UAE — Mamo, a homegrown UAE-based FinTech and financial services platform for SMEs, has been granted regulatory approval to operate from Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. The licence has been granted by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent regulator of financial services conducted in or from DIFC, to carry out the regulated activity of providing money services. The licence allows Mamo to further expand its products and services without user restrictions and provide unmatched security while fully complying with DFSA rules.

As the global future of finance and innovation hub, DIFC offers one of the region’s most comprehensive FinTech and venture capital environments, which includes cost-effective licensing solutions, fit-for-purpose regulation, innovative accelerator programmes, and funding for growth-stage start-ups.   The Centre continues to attract companies to establish operations in Dubai by providing the ideal environment to help them shape the future of finance.

Mamo received DFSA authorisation to operate within the Innovation Testing Licence (ITL) programme in June 2021, which enabled it to operate in a controlled regulatory environment to test its business model. What makes this announcement significant is the diligent work by Mamo to successfully exit the ITL Programme and receive Authorised Firm status. The regulation provides frameworks requiring transparency, fairness, and efficiency, that all regulated firms must follow. It also aims to protect businesses, consumers and users of financial (and other) services offered by regulated companies, such as Mamo.

Mamo has built a reputation for being radically customer-centric, with incredibly fast product development times – often launching and announcing multiple new features in a matter of weeks – a refreshing approach from a regional start-up. Presently, Mamo has two products; the rapidly growing Mamo Pay for Business product that has seen exponential uptake in recent months from SMEs and is predicted to grow further with the formal regulatory green light and Mamo Pay, a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) wallet for consumers.

Mamo has its own internally built systems, including cryptographic security protocols, a fraud detection and prevention engine, and a standardised and automated financial transaction management system, minimising human errors and protecting against fraud. On the front end, Mamo has implemented digital Know Your Customer (KYC) that allows users to identify themselves quickly through a user experience that puts the user in control of their personal and private information.

Commenting on the announcement, Imad Gharazeddine, CEO and Co-Founder of Mamo, said:

“We've built a financial services platform that enables both SMEs and consumers to move money faster, more efficiently and more securely in the UAE. Today marks a crucial milestone for our business and a major inflection point in our growth trajectory. Receiving full regulatory approval in DIFC allows us to continue to expand our product stack, offering new features and functionality to our customers. Today’s achievement marks the culmination of years of hard work and innovation, and to have the recognition by a leading regulator inthe DFSA is testament to the quality of our product, providing Mamo and its users security, safety, and peace of mind by licensing us. We are making sure we set a new example for compliance and regulation and are incredibly grateful to the DFSA for their support and guidance through the process.”

Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, said: “DIFC’s ongoing commitment to providing MEASA’s most enabling platform for FinTech firms has involved working with the DFSA on the UAE’s first comprehensive money services regime. We are pleased that Mamo, one of our FinTech clients, has been granted approval from the DFSA to operate as an authorised money services firm in the Centre. DIFC will continue to help Mamo and other FinTech firms grow by harnessing opportunities in the region.”

About Mamo

Mamo is a bold and inclusive, purpose driven FinTech company committed to bringing financial independence to the underserved. Mamo’s flagship solution is Mamo Pay, a fast, secure, human-centred platform co-created to simplify everyday personal and business payments. With trust, traceability, and transparency at the top of its agenda, Mamo’s ambition is to accelerate the MENA region towards digital payments and champion financial inclusion and literacy across economically diverse communities. By empowering users with simpler, faster, friendlier financial products, insights and strategies, Mamo’s vision is to help everyone make smarter financial decisions and live happier lives. To discover more, please visit mamopay.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:  pr@ma
mopay.com

About Dubai International Financial Centre

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is one of the world’s most advanced financial centres, and the leading financial hub for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), which comprises 72 countries with an approximate population of 3 billion and an estimated GDP of USD 7.7 trillion.   

With an 18-year track record of facilitating trade and investment flows across the MEASA region, the Centre connects these fast-growing markets with the economies of Asia, Europe and the Americas through Dubai.  

DIFC is home to an internationally recognised, independent regulator and a proven judicial system with an English common law framework, as well as the region’s largest financial ecosystem of almost 30,000 professionals working across over 3,600 active registered companies making up the largest and most diverse pool of industry talent in the region.   

The Centre’s vision is to drive the future of finance through cutting edge technology, innovation, and partnerships. Today, it is the global future of finance and innovation hub offering one of the region’s most comprehensive FinTech and venture capital environments, including cost-effective licensing solutions, fit-for-purpose regulation, innovative accelerator programmes, and funding for growth-stage start-ups.   

Comprising a variety of world-renowned retail and dining venues, a dynamic art and culture scene, residential apartments, hotels and public spaces, DIFC continues to be one of Dubai’s most sought-after business and lifestyle destinations.  

For further information, please visit our website: difc.ae, or follow us on Twitter @DIFC.  

For media enquiries, please contact:   
Omar Nasro  
ASDA’A BCW
omar.nasro@bcw-global.com   
www.asdaa-bcw.com    
www.arabyouthsurvey.com   

 Rasha Mezher
Dubai International Financial Centre Authority   
Consultant – Marketing & Corporate Communications
t-rasha.Mezher@difc.ae