Ziina

Ziina
Native name
زينة
Company typePrivate
IndustryFinancial services
FoundedJanuary 2020 (2020-01)
FoundersFaisal Toukan, Sarah Toukan, Andrew Gold
HeadquartersDubai, United Arab Emirates
ServicesDigital payments, peer-to-peer transfers, payment links, QR code payments
Websitewww.ziina.com

Ziina is a company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates that facilitates digital payments for businesses and consumers.[1] Its digital wallet is currently used in the United Arab Emirates.[2]

History

The company was established in January 2020[3] by Faisal Toukan, Sarah Toukan, Andrew Gold.[4][5] It was originally designed for peer-to-peer payments.[6]

Ziina secured $22M in Series A funding in September of 2024, led by US-based Altos Ventures.[7][8]

July 2025: Dubai CommerCity free zone partners with Ziina to provide payment services for its digital commerce participants.[9]

Overview

Similar to Venmo in the United States,[10] Ziina currently allows users in the UAE to make payments using registered phone numbers,[11] with no IBAN or SWIFT code necessary.[12][13]

Ziina can be used via Android and iOS.[14] Users can also request payments via payment links on WhatsApp, Instagram, and other messaging platforms.[15][16] The Ziina app makes use of a keyboard known as the ZiiBoard to simplify sharing payment links.[17]

Licensed by the Central Bank of the U.A.E.[18], Ziina is currently available only in the United Arab Emirates, with plans to expand to other MENA countries such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan.[19]

Ziina enables business users to accept online payments via its payment gateway,[6][20] and in-person POS payments via QR codes & Tap to Phone.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "UAE-Based SME Fintech Ziina Secures $22 Million in Series A Funding". CairoScene. 2024-07-17. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  2. ^ Dot, Red (2024-08-22). "Red Dot Design Award: Ziina". Red Dot Design Award. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  3. ^ Sharma, Alkesh (2022-10-17). "Generation start-up: how UAE's Ziina is working to boost financial literacy in Middle East". The National. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  4. ^ Kene-Okafor, Tage (2021-06-07). "YC-backed Ziina raises $7.5M seed led by Avenir Growth Capital and Class 5 Global". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  5. ^ Paracha, Zubair Naeem (2021-01-19). "Dubai fintech Ziina gets Y Combinator's backing for its social P2P payment app, raises seed round". MENAbytes. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  6. ^ a b Kene-Okafor, Tage (2024-09-03). "Ziina banks $22M as growth explodes for the UAE-based fintech for small businesses". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  7. ^ East, Forbes Middle. "UAE's Ziina Secures $22M In Funding To Shift From Payments To Full Financial Services". Forbes ME. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  8. ^ "Dubai CommerCity partners with Ziina to provide innovative financial solutions". 2025-07-02. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  9. ^ Digital, Traffic. "Dubai CommerCity Partners with Ziina to Provide innovative financial solutions". Government of Dubai Media Office. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  10. ^ Fernandez, Keith J (2021-07-04). "UAE gets a peer-to-peer payments app that lets you split bills with friends". The National. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  11. ^ Gibbon, Gavin (2020-05-19). "Payment by text: UAE fintech app Ziina simplifies money transfers". Arabian Business. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  12. ^ East, Forbes Middle (2021-06-08). "UAE-Based Fintech Startup Ziina Raises $7.5M In Seed Round—Here's Where It Plans To Use The Funds". Forbes ME. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  13. ^ "Ziina heralds new age of online payments with digital wallet for UAE". Khaleej Times. 2022-02-08. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  14. ^ "Home-grown app Ziina recognised by international Red Dot Design Award, ushering in new era of design excellence in technology". ZAWYA. 2022-03-21. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  15. ^ "Ziina: A digital wallet for the Middle East & North Africa". Y Combinator. 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  16. ^ a b Staff, M. B. (2025-04-29). "Ziina launches Tap to Pay in UAE, letting businesses accept in-person payments on iPhone". MENAbytes. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  17. ^ "Dubai fintech Ziina tests 'payments keyboard' for businesses to get paid over messaging apps". Markets – Gulf News. 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  18. ^ Times, The Fintech (2024-08-09). "Ziina Secures Stored Value Facility Licence From UAE Central Bank and Expands Range of Services". The Fintech Times. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  19. ^ Bhat, Divsha (2022-09-07). "UAE-based fintech Ziina eyes Jordan in regional push". Gulf Business. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  20. ^ "Dubai fintech Ziina raises $22 million Series A to grow its payments platform for businesses". MENAbytes. 2024-09-03. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
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