News
CheckRewards Secures $1.2 Million Mitgo Investment
The cashback service uses machine-learning technology to help consumers access promotions and track their expenses.

CheckRewards, a cashback service that uses cutting-edge machine learning technology, is entering the MENA region after successfully launching Android and iOS apps in the UAE. Backed by a $1.2 million cash injection from the Mitgo Group, CheckRewards is set to redefine the cashback experience for shoppers and businesses in the Middle East and North Africa.
CheckRewards works as a smart shopping companion that assists with budget management. The app provides access to promotions, cashback rewards, and features receipt scanning and expenditure tracking to help users keep up with their finances. The startup plans to onboard 50 major retail and food brands, including Noon, Amazon, Sharaf DG, Samsung, Dyson, Starbucks, and H&M.
For businesses, CheckRewards allows better engagement with customers and the quick launch of promotions without complex technical integrations. Brands can precisely target specific audiences based on their preferences, boosting sales volumes and customer loyalty.
Alexander Bachmann, CEO of Mitgo Group, commented: “We recognize the immense potential within CheckRewards and firmly believe in their vision for the MENA market. This strategic collaboration is well-positioned to reshape the cashback landscape in the region, offering unparalleled opportunities for both consumers and businesses”.
Also Read: Top E-Commerce Websites In The Middle East In 2023
Artem Ostapenko, CEO of CheckRewards, added: “We are thrilled to introduce CheckRewards to the MENA region, where the demand for cashback services is on the rise. CheckRewards stands as a unique solution, presenting remarkable advertising opportunities, including geo-targeting and customer preference-based targeting. We are eager to transform the cashback experience for users and foster business growth in this dynamic region”.
The MENA region presents a tremendous opportunity for the new solution as the popularity of cashback services continues to grow. According to a Statista report, retail sales in the UAE alone were estimated at around US $74 billion and are forecasted to pass US $114 billion by 2026.
News
Checkout.com Brings Visa Direct Push-To-Card To The UAE
The payment company is the first acquirer in the UAE to launch Visa Direct’s solution, enabling safe, instant money transfers.

Checkout.com has taken the UAE a step closer to its goal of a fully digital economy by becoming the first acquirer in the country to offer Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution. The new service will streamline money transfers for both businesses and consumers, enabling near-instant transactions across local and international markets.
Visa Direct connects over 190 markets and supports over 8.5 billion endpoints, including cards, bank accounts, and digital wallets. Push-to-Card transactions enhance efficiency for business users and consumers by allowing money to be sent quickly and easily to eligible Visa cards while leveraging the company’s secure network for reliability.
“Visa Direct is transforming the way money moves globally, and we are excited to see Checkout.com leverage this technology to meet the evolving demands of businesses and individuals alike by offering them a faster, more convenient, and secure way to send and receive funds,” said Shahebaz Khan, Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions, CEMEA.
The UAE has been at the forefront of digital payment adoption, driven by a national push toward a cashless economy. Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA at Checkout.com, emphasized this shift: “By providing seamless, secure, and real-time payout capabilities, we’re empowering merchants with the agility to thrive in this fast-evolving landscape, while effectively meeting the growing consumer demand for speed and convenience. The Push-to-Card solution not only reinforces our commitment to powering payment performance but also showcases our agility in bringing yet another innovation to the UAE market.”
Also Read: Qareeb Partners With Pantheon For GCC Bitcoin Mining Expansion
Checkout.com’s latest MENA eCommerce data highlights the region’s increasing engagement with financial technologies, with around 80% of consumers participating in activities beyond basic online payments, such as money transfers and personal wealth management. The growing demand for real-time financial transactions has made fast, seamless payment solutions a priority.
To meet this demand, Account Funding Transactions (AFTs) have gained traction in the UAE. By integrating AFTs with Visa’s Push-to-Card services, Checkout.com is helping merchants offer secure, real-time account top-ups. Currently processing over one million AFTs per month with Visa, Checkout.com is now playing a leading role in modernizing financial transactions in the region.
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