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e& To Establish Largest Subsea Cable Connection In UAE

The cable will land at the carrier’s neutral SmartHub Data Centre to enhance connectivity across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

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e& to establish largest subsea cable connection in uae

e& Carrier & Wholesale is preparing to lay the most extensive subsea cable network in UAE, dubbed “2Afria”. The chosen gateway for this significant communications upgrade is Kalba, a tranquil city in the northeastern United Arab Emirates. This strategic choice augments e&’s existing Fujairah cable landing station, diversifying connectivity in the UAE and hopefully boosting network resilience.

The 2Africa consortium of Bayobab, including centre3, China Mobile International, Meta, Orange, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone Group, and WIOCC, is behind the massive 45,000 km submarine cable system, which is currently the largest of its kind worldwide.

Alcatel Submarine Networks is responsible for building and installing the 2Africa cable, which will deliver essential internet capacity and reliability upgrades across substantial swathes of Africa while also addressing growing network demand across the Middle East.

As the UAE designated landing partner for 2Africa, e& will be in charge of the development and construction of the necessary infrastructure for the landing station as well as maintenance over the coming decades.

nabil baccouche e& group chief carrier & wholesale officer

Nabil Baccouche, e& Group Chief Carrier & Wholesale Officer, explained: “The 2Africa project promises to elevate the overall digital landscape in the region, solidifying the country’s position as one of the region’s premier ICT hubs. e &’s involvement in this transformative project will significantly enhance the Internet user experience in the UAE, enabling the world’s largest content providers and global carriers to deliver cutting edge technology in e& carrier-neutral data center ecosystem, SmartHub”.

Also Read: New Saudi Beach Cleaning Robot Unveiled By Red Sea Global

Around 20 subsea cable systems come ashore in the UAE, most of which are already managed by e&. The carrier is, therefore, ideally suited to carry out work on the new cable system, as it already boasts unique technical expertise and a robust existing network.

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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE

The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.

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checkout.com set to launch card issuing in the uae

Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.

The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.

Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.

omar sultan al olama uae’s minister of state for artificial intelligence

Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.

One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.

The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips

The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.

Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.

With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.

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