News
Instagram Sets Sights On Linktree With ‘Links In Bio’ Feature
The highly-requested update was announced by the face of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, via his broadcast channel.
Today, Instagram is rolling out a new site-wide feature for adding external links to user profiles. The system works the same way as Linktree and is seen as a direct challenge to the service, as well as the likes of Beacons and other “link in bio” providers.
Meta announced that users can now add up to five links to their Instagram profile bios, directing followers to any external content they like, including online businesses, promoted brands, causes they care about, or even profiles on competing social media platforms.
Services like Linktree came into existence mainly because many social media companies used to prevent users from adding external links to other sites over fears they would be helping to direct traffic to content outside their platforms.
In the current climate, Instagram likely sees expanded access to links as a competitive advantage, potentially luring creators back to its app from the likes of TikTok.
Using The Feature
To use the feature, users need to tap the “Edit profile” icon, followed by “Links”, then “Add external link.” After adding a URL, it’s possible to drag and drop links in the order that users want them to appear.
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As well as allowing links to external websites, Instagram also lets users link to their Facebook profile via a dedicated option. This official Meta link has a more professional appearance, complete with a Facebook icon and text description label.
Functionality
Instagram’s bio links don’t open in a separate browser window but stay inside the Instagram app. If users want to move to their built-in browsers, they must tap the three-dot menu at the top of the page and hit “open in system browser”.
The highly-requested new Instagram feature was announced by Mark Zuckerberg on his broadcast channel — itself a relatively new feature that we reported on recently, allowing creators to send messages to their entire fanbase.
News
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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