News

CheckRewards Secures $1.2 Million Mitgo Investment

The cashback service uses machine-learning technology to help consumers access promotions and track their expenses.

Published

3 years ago

November 23, 2023

Nour Nasir

Mitgo

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”.

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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

For etisalat, More Bandwidth Is A Matter Of Digital Sovereignty

The etisalat group plans to expand its international capacity from 20 Tbps to more than 500 Tbps by 2030, with new routes designed for speed and resilience.

Published

2 days ago

October 6, 2026

Nour Nasir

for etisalat, more bandwidth is a matter of digital sovereignty

Emirates News Agency

By 2030, etisalat group plans to lift its international connectivity capacity to more than 500 terabits per second (Tbps), more than 25 times the 20 Tbps it has today. The group presented the expansion as preparation for rising AI demand and an important move for the UAE’s digital sovereignty.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, witnessed the launch of the project, which covers the UAE and international markets. Sheikh Mansour is also Chairman of the Emirates Investment Authority, etisalat group’s main shareholder.

He emphasized the role of coordinated national efforts in advancing the UAE’s AI and digital economy ambitions. “AI is a central pillar in our development journey moving forward,” he said, adding that developing the country’s digital capabilities would empower every institution, public and private, to build and innovate with AI “at the scale the coming decade will demand”.

“This project reflects our conviction that the UAE should not simply adopt AI, but govern it and build with it,” said H.E Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of etisalat group. “That requires digital infrastructure at a scale that would prepare us for the future”. He cast greater international connectivity as a strategic answer to the challenges of processing and moving data globally.

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Beyond raw bandwidth, the expansion will introduce new connectivity routes intended to improve reliability and efficiency, and Alzaabi tied them directly to the sovereignty goal. “Delivered through diversified routes and low-latency design, the project is set to keep the country’s connection to the global digital economy fast, direct and resilient, while ensuring the UAE’s digital sovereignty,” he said.

He also linked the plan to the group’s 50-year commitment to building infrastructure for the nation. The announcement didn’t mention what the expansion will cost. Nor did it name the new routes or say who will build them, the details that would show what digital sovereignty means in practice.