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Paymob Gets Official Certification To Operate In Saudi Arabia
The fastest growing fintech in the MENA region has been issued with Saudi Arabian Payment Technical Services Provider certification.
Paymob, the MENA region’s leading fintech payment provider, has announced that it can now officially provide services in Saudi Arabia, after securing Payment Technical Services Provider (PTSP) certification.
The fintech startup opened an office in Riyad in April 2023, and being given the official go-ahead by the Saudi government represents a considerable milestone for Paymob and its regional expansion plans.
Since its foundation in 2015, Paymob has enabled over 200,000 small-to-medium businesses and e-commerce merchants across North Africa and the Middle East to accept payment via 40+ online and in-store methods.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is home to over 1 million microbusinesses and small-to-medium enterprises and boasts a favorable growth rate of 12% per annum. As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, the government plans to increase the contribution from small businesses to the country’s GDP from 20% to 35% while simultaneously boosting the amount of non-cash transactions to over 70% of the total consumer spend.
Saudi Arabia is also experiencing extremely rapid eCommerce growth, with year-on-year transaction volumes increasing by 65%. The country’s rapid digitization and favorable market conditions make it an excellent fit for digital payments enablers like Paymob, which has a proven history of providing highly-localized, cutting-edge solutions.
Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East
Islam Shawky, Co-founder and CEO of Paymob, was understandably enthusiastic about the recent certification: “Obtaining the PTSP certification in Saudi Arabia is a significant accomplishment for us. It reflects Paymob’s commitment to our KSA expansion plans while serving merchants and entrepreneurs across the Kingdom to support their growth with cutting-edge financial technology solutions. We are excited to contribute to the emerging fintech ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and to play our part in driving the Kingdom’s digital transformation outlined in Vision 2030”.
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Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.
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