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Beyond Local Collection: What the Middle East’s Payment Market Demands in 2026

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PhotonPay’s market insights from Seamless Fintech Middle East 2026 and its strategic expansion in the UAE

HONG KONG, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In September 2026, the fintech world converged at the Dubai World Trade Centre for Seamless Middle East. With over 20,000 industry experts and 750 exhibitors, the event served as a vibrant showcase of real-time payments, cross-border settlements, and digital commerce. Yet for global enterprises operating on the ground, the trade show floor offered just a glimpse of a much deeper transformation. 

The narrative of expanding into the Middle East has fundamentally shifted. It is no longer just about catching a wave of e-commerce traffic. A diverse influx of gaming, SaaS, digital entertainment, and direct-to-consumer brands is accelerating into the region. This multifaceted business ecosystem requires an entirely new caliber of financial agility.

As a next-generation financial operating system, PhotonPay showcased its comprehensive fund management solutions at Booth J76. Through extensive dialogues with global enterprises and financial institutions, we identified three core structural shifts redefining what global companies need to succeed in the Middle East.

The New Baseline of Speed

Payment infrastructure is accelerating, transforming fund turnover from a competitive advantage into a baseline survival metric. The UAE provides a striking example through Aani, the national instant payments platform operated by Al Etihad Payments under the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE). Official data released in April 2026 confirms that Aani has surpassed 12.5 million registered users, with account-to-account transfers executing in an average of just three seconds. Local expectations for speed are at an all-time high. 

When local buyers, suppliers, and media partners operate in a millisecond economy, global businesses relying on fragmented traditional wire transfers face severe operational friction. The new standard for payment infrastructure is no longer about geographic coverage alone. It is about native integration into local clearing systems to erase the time zones from cross-border capital flow.

When Collection Is Only the Beginning

The sheer velocity of digital adoption in the region is forcing a modernization of settlement systems. The numbers reflect a booming digital ecosystem. According to Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) indicators, electronic payments accounted for 85% of retail transactions in Saudi Arabia in 2025. Meanwhile, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce projects the UAE’s e-commerce market will reach $9.2 billion in 2026, driven heavily by cross-border platforms.

This consumer boom demands concurrent financial operations from B2B enterprises. A business collecting local consumer funds must simultaneously pay for digital advertising on Google or TikTok, settle SaaS subscriptions, and pay local logistics providers, all while managing exposure to currency fluctuations. Payment can no longer be an isolated post-transaction step. Companies require a cohesive financial operating system that unifies local collection, intelligent FX, and global payouts into a single fluid motion.

Secure Foundations for a Connected Middle East

As the UAE’s domestic network deepens its integration with the GCC’s regional clearing system AFAQ and the Arab Monetary Fund’s cross-border payment platform Buna, cross-border flows are growing in both volume and oversight.

The UAE Central Bank and SAMA have both strengthened their AML, KYC, and continuous transaction monitoring frameworks in recent years. The expectation of compliance is now embedded at every stage of a payment relationship. For businesses, this makes due diligence on payment providers more consequential. License status, the robustness of AML infrastructure, and how a provider handles sanctions screening and beneficial ownership verification are critical elements.

True localization does not end with offering a local currency checkout. It requires back-end financial routing that meets the standards regional central banks enforce, alongside a payment partner whose compliance infrastructure is built to those exact standards.

Building for What the Market Requires

Meeting these rigorous demands requires a financial foundation built specifically for the region’s evolving architecture. Earlier this year, PhotonPay secured a Category 3D License from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). This regulatory milestone is not merely a badge of approval but the operational core of our strategy across the Middle East market. It serves as the direct answer to the market’s need for speed, operational fluidity, and uncompromising compliance.

To address the region’s demand for agile capital, PhotonPay has collapsed global workflows into a unified, dual-rail ecosystem. Through the multi-asset wallet, enterprises can streamline collections and settlements in their preferred fiat currencies, or leverage stablecoin infrastructure for accelerated, borderless digital asset transactions. This is anchored by a 24/7 intelligent FX engine and on/off-ramping capabilities, enabling instant conversion across more than ten major currencies and digital assets.

Beyond efficient collection, capital must remain operational. Businesses can immediately deploy funds for global supplier payouts or utilize the multi-asset card to manage routine expenditures — from digital ad spend to SaaS subscriptions. By unifying all above into a single platform, PhotonPay reduces the traditional friction between earning revenue and deploying it.

Underpinning this entire system is an institutional-grade compliance architecture. Supported by over 25 financial licenses worldwide and AI-driven transaction monitoring, PhotonPay’s risk management framework is treated as a structural necessity. Every transaction processed runs through the same rigorous compliance standards expected by local regulators, ensuring that our clients’ capital flows remain secure and uninterrupted.

Seamless 2026 illuminated a clear trajectory for the industry. Payment providers are evolving from simple transaction processors into the definitive financial infrastructure of digital trade. For enterprises navigating the Middle East, the challenge is about ensuring every dollar moves with efficiency, security, and deep local relevance.

As global businesses look toward their next phase of growth, PhotonPay continues to build the secure digital bridges that turn market expansion into sustainable commercial success.

About PhotonPay

PhotonPay is a stablecoin-powered financial operating system built for global infrastructure. Designed for modern enterprises, PhotonPay enables businesses to send, receive, convert, and settle funds across both fiat and stablecoin rails through a single, compliance-first integration, spanning 200+ countries and territories.

For more information, visit [www.photonpay.com].

Disclaimer

This material is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, or investment advice, nor an offer or solicitation for any product or service. The availability, features, and regulatory treatment of PhotonPay’s products and services may vary depending on the user’s location, business model, and the laws and regulations that apply. Any descriptions of functionality, performance, efficiency, cost savings, or compliance support (including, without limitation, references to “real‑time”, “24/7”, “high‑efficiency”, or “compliant” solutions) are aspirational or forward‑looking in nature. Actual outcomes may differ due to market conditions, technological constraints, and regulatory developments, and PhotonPay makes no express or implied representation, warranty, or guarantee as to the achievement of any particular result.

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SOURCE PhotonPay

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The RBC iShares alliance launches ETF Series of RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged)

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TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2026 /CNW/ — The RBC iShares alliance today announced the launch of ETF Series units of RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged) (the “ETF Series”), adding to its suite of alternative investment solutions. The new ETF Series is managed by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (“RBC GAM Inc.”) and is expected to begin trading on Cboe Canada today.

Fund

Ticker Symbol

Management Fee

RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged) – ETF Series

RNWH

1.00 %

Absolute return strategy designed to seek capital growth independent of market movements
The new ETF Series expands the suite of liquid alternative investment solutions offered by the RBC iShares alliance. RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged) aims to provide consistent capital growth that is substantially independent of the performance of the global equity market by investing primarily in units of RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (the “Underlying Fund”). The Underlying Fund takes long and short positions primarily in securities that are listed on major global stock exchanges using a quantitative investment model designed to select individual stocks, control portfolio-level risk and maximize exposure to factors associated with outperformance. Additionally, RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged) seeks to minimize exposure to currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar by using a hedging strategy.

“Sophisticated investors have long used market neutral strategies to help offset the impact of market volatility on their portfolios,” said Mark Neill, Managing Director and Head of Exchange-Traded Funds and Strategic Alliances, RBC Global Asset Management Inc. “By launching RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged) in an ETF series, the RBC iShares alliance is expanding its alternative investment solution set to provide Canadian advisors and investors with an institutional style product in a convenient ETF format.”

Capital gains distribution payment method for ETF Series units of RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund and RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged)
RBC GAM Inc. will file an amendment to the RBC Funds simplified prospectus today to clarify that RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund and RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged) intend to distribute any net capital gains for ETF Series units quarterly in March, June, September, and December which, in RBC GAM Inc.’s discretion, may be paid in cash or reinvested automatically in additional ETF Series units of the applicable fund at a price equal to the net asset value per ETF Series unit of the applicable fund. In the case of any reinvestment, the ETF Series units will be immediately consolidated, such that the number of outstanding ETF Series units following the distribution will equal the number of ETF Series units outstanding prior to the distribution.

The RBC iShares alliance aims to help clients achieve their investment objectives by empowering them to build efficient portfolios and take control of their financial futures. The RBC iShares alliance is committed to delivering a truly differentiated ETF experience and positive outcomes for clients.

For more information about RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (CAD Hedged), please visit https://www.rbcgam.com/en/ca/products/alternative-investments/about/.

The RBC iShares alliance includes RBC ETFs and ETF Series of RBC Funds managed by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (“RBC GAM Inc.”) and iShares ETFs managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). Please read the applicable prospectus or ETF Facts document before investing. ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. ETF Series is a class of securities offered by a conventional mutual fund however, unlike conventional mutual fund series, ETF Series are bought and sold at market price on a stock exchange like an ETF. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. RBC Funds are managed by RBC Global Asset Management Inc., which is a member of the RBC GAM group of companies and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 105,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 19 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.‎

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.

About RBC Global Asset Management
RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) is the asset management division of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). RBC GAM is a provider of global investment management services and solutions to institutional, high-net-worth and individual investors through separate accounts, pooled funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, exchange-traded funds and specialty investment strategies. RBC Funds, BlueBay Funds, PH&N Funds and RBC ETFs are offered by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (RBC GAM Inc.) and distributed through authorized dealers in Canada. The RBC GAM group of companies, which includes RBC GAM Inc. (including PH&N Institutional), manage approximately $834 billion in assets and have approximately 1,600 employees located across Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.

About BlackRock 
BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate.

About iShares ETFs 
iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of more than 1,700 exchange traded funds (ETFs) and approximately $6.2 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock.

For more information, please contact:
Brandon Dorey, RBC GAM Corporate Communications, 647-262-6307

SOURCE RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

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Kipsu Announces Strategic Investment from M-One Capital to Accelerate Growth and Expansion

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Partnership will provide growth capital and strategic resources to support Kipsu’s continued business and team growth, industry-expansion across hospitality, healthcare and other customer experience-focused markets.

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kipsu, Inc. (“Kipsu” or the “Company”), a leading customer experience platform that helps hospitality, healthcare and other service leaders engage customers in real time and coordinate the operational workflows required to deliver exceptional service, today announced a strategic partnership with M-One Capital (“M-One”), a private investment firm. As part of the partnership, M-One has made a minority investment in Kipsu. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Kipsu helps high touch service organizations engage the people they serve and coordinate operational workflows to deliver exceptional service. The Company plans to continue expansion within the hospitality industry, developing additional operational and AI-enabled capabilities, and grow in markets like healthcare where responsive communication and coordinated service execution are increasingly important. The Company will also continue to seek strategic acquisition opportunities that complement its technology and extend the value it provides to customers.

“We built Kipsu with a long-term view of where this market is headed,” said Chris Smith, founder and CEO of Kipsu. “Today we are a satisfaction company helping organizations deliver better experiences in the moments that matter. This partnership gives us more resources to keep building — growing our team, investing in our products and expanding our impact. M-One understands what we’re building and shares our long-term perspective, which made them the right partner for this next stage of growth.”

M-One Capital brings extensive experience partnering with founder-led companies and helping management teams execute long-term growth strategies. The firm was drawn to Kipsu’s guest engagement platform, strong customer retention, culture of innovation and the team’s track record of building and scaling a mission-critical solution for hospitality and other service-focused organizations.

“We are excited to partner with the Kipsu team,” said BJ Hansen, Managing Director at M-One Capital. “Kipsu has built a technology platform in an increasingly important category. The team has demonstrated a consistent ability to execute, deepen customer relationships and expand the Company’s capabilities while maintaining a strong and distinctive culture. We look forward to supporting management as Kipsu invests in product innovation, expands within hospitality and brings its platform to additional markets.”

About Kipsu

Kipsu is a technology platform that provides frontline customer experience solutions to hospitality, healthcare, and other leading service organizations. Kipsu’s software enables customers to improve service delivery through real-time digital engagement and operational execution. The Company’s platform helps organizations strengthen customer communication, coordinate frontline workflows, and deliver more responsive and personalized experiences. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, Kipsu serves over 45M guests each year across more than 11,000 sites around the world.

About M-One Capital

M-One Capital Management, LLC is a registered investment adviser that conducts business as M-One Capital. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, M-One Capital is a private investment firm focused on being a value-added partner for management teams, founders, and family owners. Specializing in supporting management teams who retain operating control and meaningful ownership, M-One Capital provides equity capital, guidance, and strategic resources to the entrepreneurs and companies in which it invests. McCarthy Capital rebranded to M-One Capital in 2025. For more information, please visit m-onecapital.com.

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SOURCE Kipsu

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Proprioceptive AI Outlines Roadmap for Model Interpretability and Targeted Adaptation

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Operational V1 and internal research underpin the company’s next phase of scientific validation, patent prosecution and commercial development.

PHOENIX, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Proprioceptive AI, Inc. is advancing its model interpretability and targeted adaptation technology toward independent scientific evaluation and commercial deployment. Its product strategy centers on probes and adapters for local models and large-scale commercial clients, connecting analysis of internal model states with targeted improvements to model behavior.

Proprioceptive AI advances probes and adapters for model interpretability and targeted adaptation.

The company’s V1 system is operational in a private research environment. In defined internal tests, Proprioceptive AI reported an 85.8% reduction in confident-wrong output. Its internal work includes model-state probes, targeted corrections and capability checks. The next phase builds on these results through independent reproduction, broader evaluation and product development.

Commercial AI teams, developers and researchers: visit www.proprioceptiveai.com and contact Logan@proprioceptiveai.com to discuss model evaluation, targeted adaptation or scientific collaboration.

Proprioceptive AI’s approach links three functions: sensing internal model states, applying targeted interventions and verifying their effects. Its research and intellectual property strategy extends across the interfaces needed to read and influence model states across supported architectures. The objective is to turn internal model insight into practical control over behavior and measurable improvements in model quality.

“We are building technology to understand and shape model behavior from within,” said Logan Napolitano of Proprioceptive AI. “V1 is operational, and our internal research provides the foundation. We are now focused on independent scientific evaluation and delivering probes and adapters that serve both local-model users and commercial AI teams.”

The company is recruiting scientists to expand its research and validation work. The next phase will focus on:

Independent reproduction: Reproduce internal findings using documented protocols and external reviewers.Model quality: Measure targeted performance improvements against baseline models and relevant alternative methods.Capability preservation: Evaluate the effects of interventions on other model capabilities, including regressions and behavior on held-out data.Deployment performance: Establish supported-model coverage, integration requirements, latency and computing costs for customer environments.

This program will connect research results to defined product specifications and customer acceptance criteria. For commercial clients, the company’s planned engagement model progresses from model diagnostics to targeted adaptation and deployment evaluation, with technical scope and performance requirements established for each engagement.

Proprioceptive AI has retained both intellectual property counsel and securities counsel. The company is pursuing patent prosecution and working with Castle Placement on investor preparation as it develops the scientific, legal and commercial foundations for growth.

Its immediate priorities are to expand the scientific team, organize external evaluation and package the technology for repeatable customer testing. The broader ambition is to give developers and organizations the tools to interpret, adapt and improve the models they operate.

About Proprioceptive AI, Inc.

Proprioceptive AI, Inc. develops technology for model interpretability and targeted adaptation. Its work spans internal-state sensing, model-state interfaces, targeted intervention and outcome verification, with a product strategy focused on probes and adapters for local models and commercial AI deployments.

Learn more at www.proprioceptiveai.com.

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SOURCE Proprioceptive AI, Inc

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