News
Catch A Glimpse Into The Future Of Tech At Step Dubai 2025
Scheduled for February 19-20, 8,000+ attendees, 350+ speakers, and 400+ startups will gather for the MENA’s leading technology festival.
We’re excited to be part of Step Dubai 2025, the region’s premier tech festival, set to take place on February 19-20, 2025, at Dubai Internet City. Over the past ten years, Step has been a driving force behind innovation in MENA, and this year’s event is shaping up to be bigger than ever.
Bringing together more than 8,000 attendees, 400+ startups, and 350+ speakers, along with a staggering $8.5 billion in funding opportunities, Step Dubai 2025 is a must-attend event for anyone passionate about the future of technology. Held over two action-packed days, the expo will be filled with insights, groundbreaking ideas, and opportunities to connect with some of the most influential minds in the industry.
The speaker lineup this year includes notable names such as H.E. Alia Bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, Groq President Mohsen Moazami, Amal Dokhan from 500 Global, Elie Khouri of Vivium, Dr. Aseel Addawood from Oracle, and Dany Farha of BECO Capital. They’ll be sharing their expertise on key topics spanning startups, fintech, AI, proptech, adtech, and beyond.
As well as thought-provoking panel discussions and keynote speeches, attendees can take advantage of:
- Hands-on workshops
- Networking opportunities
- A packed and diverse exhibition space
- Meet-ups and exclusive satellite events across Dubai
Are you planning to attend Step Dubai 2025? Take advantage of an exclusive discount on your ticket by using promo code TECHMAG. If you’re part of a startup, now’s your chance to apply and showcase your innovations at one of the biggest tech expos in the region.
Places are filling fast — click here to learn more about Step Dubai 2025 and don’t miss this opportunity to be part of MENA’s tech evolution.
News
Saudi Digital Payments Reach 80% As Cash Use Shrinks
Visa data shows cards and mobile wallets dominate spending, with smartphones now driving a growing share of daily transactions.
Digital payments now account for 80% of all transactions in Saudi Arabia, according to Visa’s latest Where Cash Hides report, another marker of how quickly the Kingdom is moving away from cash.
The share is up four percentage points from a year ago. Around 67% of consumers are now largely non-cash users, paying mainly with cards or mobile wallets. Smartphones are taking a bigger role, with mobile payments making up 16% of transactions.
Cash is retreating in routine spending. Eating out dropped 9%. Bill payments fell 8%, as shoppers opt for faster checkouts and app-based payments.
“The data shows a steady move toward digital payments in Saudi Arabia. Such progress is possible only because banks, fintechs, merchants, and technology partners are moving together in the same direction, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” said Ali Bailoun, Visa’s Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman.
Also Read: UAE Users Sleep Less, But More Efficiently, ŌURA Data Reveals
Despite the recent findings, it’s important to note that cash hasn’t yet disappeared. It still shows up for tips (39%), peer-to-peer transfers (28%) and rent (14%).
Visa points to security features such as tokenization, along with rewards and cashback, as factors nudging more spending onto cards and phones — a shift that tracks with Saudi Arabia’s wider Vision 2030 push to digitize commerce.
Saudi Digital Payments Reach 80% As Cash Use Shrinks
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