In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it was sixth in the Apple store and third in the Google store. In Oman, it was fourth in the Apple store and third again in the Google store.

Half of the world’s top 10 fastest-growing countries for Facebook are in this region: Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. The Middle East and Africa Pushes Ahead of North America in an Important Metric. As in other regions, we have upgraded our forecast for Facebook users in the Middle East and Africa.

The Payflex acquisition also reflects Zip’s growth tactic—expanding via acquisitions instead of direct moves into new markets: In May, Zip acquired United Arab Emirates-based BNPL firm Spotii and Czech Republic-based provider Twisto. The opportunity: Zip’s Payflex acquisition might be a catalyst for further expansion into Africa.

In May, Adyen brought its acquiring business to Japan, and the following month to the UAE—two countries where ecommerce is expanding. It also obtained a US branch license, allowing it to expand its capabilities in the country and diversify its US business. Evolving consumer shopping preferences.

Stripe brought its issuing business to Europe, launched in the United Arab Emirates, and partnered with major players like GoFundMe and Atlassian to extend its reach. UnionPay struck a deal with buy now, pay later (BNPL) giant Splitit and tied up with major platforms like Russian marketplace Ozon.

For example, in April, the card network announced two developments in the Middle East: It added HSBC UAE to its Track Business Program and partnered with the Central Bank of Iraq to digitize the country’s payment system. The Middle East is ripe for digital payments growth, so these initiatives could be a valuable growth opportunity for the card network.

According to data from Northwestern University in Qatar, Twitter usage dropped by half between 2013 and 2019 among Arab nationals in key countries surveyed (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). Key Takeaways. Twitter’s worldwide audience increased in 2020 as a result of greater social network usage during the pandemic.