News

Egyptian Digital Lending Platform Blnk Raises $32 Million

Blnk, an Egyptian fintech startup that enables access to instant consumer credit, has raised millions in equity and debt funding.

Published

4 years ago

November 10, 2022

Nour Nasir

Blnk

Launched in October 2021 by Amr Sultan and Tarek Elsheikh, Blnk is an Egypt-based digital lending platform that “empowers merchants of all sizes to instantly underwrite and finance their customer’s purchases at the point of sale”. In a recent round of funding, the company managed to raise $23.7 million in equity and a further $8.3 million in securitized bond issuance. The funding will help support the ongoing development of the company’s AI-powered lending platform and aid with future expansion efforts.

For those unfamiliar with Blnk, the company offers credit for a wide range of products and services, with only a national ID required for application and decisions made in as little as 3 minutes. So far, Blnk has handed out over $20 million in loans, with installments ranging from 6 to 36 months.

“Our mission is to make it easier for more Egyptians to purchase the products and services they desire by offering inclusive and convenient consumer credit at the point of sale. We are delighted to have the backing of a great cohort of investors early in our journey. With their support, we believe we can drive financial inclusion in Egypt, as well as the wider Middle East and North Africa region,” says Amr Sultan, Co-founder, and CEO of Blnk.

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According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Egypt is soon expected to become the second-largest economy in the MENA region by the end of this year. However, with only 4% of Egyptians having credit cards, consumers and businesses are unable to take full advantage of economic opportunities, with many finding it difficult to realize their full potential.

By providing inclusive access to financing for consumers across Egypt, Blnk is helping to drive growth and development in the Egyptian economy that would otherwise be difficult.

News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

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The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.