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Yango App Now Alerts Muslim Drivers To Prayer Times
The latest update caters to the unique needs of Muslim drivers across several MENA countries, including the UAE and Morocco.
Ride-hailing platform Yango has added a new feature to its app aimed at helping drivers stick to their prayer schedules throughout the Muslim calendar. In addition, the update will also facilitate the distribution of Iftar boxes during the important Ramadan fast. The latest feature is available to all Yango drivers in the UAE, Morocco, and several other locations.
Launched during the current holy month of Ramadan, the new app features allow drivers to seamlessly integrate their work schedules with religious duties, using high-tech mapping and smart routing to identify the nearest mosques and plot routes even in unfamiliar locations.
Within the Yango app settings, drivers will receive 15-minute reminders before prayer times, with notifications automatically muted when prayers commence. The app also points drivers in the direction of the Qibla and allows prayer times to be calculated according to the user’s preferred Islamic convention.
Islam Abdul Karim, General Manager of Yango in the Gulf Coast Countries, explained: “The introduction of the new mode for drivers, permanent beyond the Ramadan period, is a step forward in our ongoing effort to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for partners’ drivers. It enriches their work-life balance, blending advanced technology with local customs and practices. We are keen to not only enhance their daily experience but also set standards for cultural consideration within the tech industry”.
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As a token of appreciation for the hard work and dedication of its drivers during Ramadan, Yango has also set up a dedicated zone to distribute special Iftar boxes, ensuring drivers on the road can break their fast.
Yango’s updated driver app joins a full suite of services from the company, including Yango Maps, Yango Play, Yango Tech, Arabic AI voice assistant Yasmina, and many more.
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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.
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.
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.
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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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