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Omantel Partners With Shaffra To Boost AI And Metaverse Tech
The strategic move will accelerate the country’s digital transformation and transform the local ICT infrastructure.
In an agreement formalized at Riyadh’s LEAP 2025 Conference, Omantel has teamed up with Shaffra Technology Labs in a strategic move to bring advanced AI and metaverse solutions to Oman. The technology from Singapore-based Shaffra will be integrated into Omantel’s cloud services and made available to both government institutions and private businesses.
Eng. Aladdin Bait Fadhel, Omantel’s Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized the company’s commitment to driving digital transformation in Oman. “At Omantel, our vision is to solidify our leadership role as a key enabler of Oman’s digital transformation and to be the premier provider of innovative technology solutions in the region. Our collaboration with Shaffra will significantly contribute to developing cutting-edge technology solutions, particularly in artificial intelligence, for our customers”.
Shaffra’s CEO, Al Harith Al Atawi, echoed the enthusiasm, highlighting how the partnership will introduce advanced AI and metaverse solutions to the Omani market, and noting a key initiative, the AI employee project, that has already gained traction across various government and private entities in multiple countries. “We aim to deliver a unique experience for Omantel customers through this partnership and innovative projects that enhance productivity and reduce costs,” said Al Atawi.
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The Shaffra partnership aligns with Omantel’s ongoing efforts to attract cutting-edge global technologies and strengthen Oman’s ICT infrastructure in line with the country’s 2040 strategy. By working with leading international tech firms, Omantel is focused on accelerating Oman’s digital transformation, ensuring countrywide access to top-tier digital solutions.
Omantel has long been a key player in Oman’s telecommunications landscape, leveraging its expertise in digital technology and communications to deliver innovative, cross-sector solutions such as AI, cloud computing, smart technologies, and cybersecurity.
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NEOPAY Wants To Follow Merchants Across Channels And Borders
A controlling 65% stake in noon payments would give NEOPAY access to marketplace sellers, online merchants and the payment flows they generate.
It’s been a long time since checkouts were single defined places. A merchant might take payments at a physical register, on its own website and through an online marketplace, sometimes in more than one country. NEOPAY wants to follow those transactions wherever they happen.
The UAE payments company has entered into an agreement to acquire a 65% controlling stake in noon payments. NEOPAY already runs the acquiring infrastructure that lets merchants accept card payments, along with omnichannel acceptance and a merchant services platform. This new deal would add noon payments’ embedded payments platform, e-commerce gateway and merchant network across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. That would considerably expand both NEOPAY’s digital commerce capabilities and its regional reach.
For merchants, the attraction is a single provider for online and in-store payments, plus faster settlements, data and analytics, and value-added financial services.
“Payments should be simple, reliable, and built for the markets they serve,” said Faraz Khalid, CEO of noon. His counterpart at NEOPAY, Vibhor Mundhada, added: “We have built a strong payments business in the UAE, and our ambition is now to take that capability across the region”. The acquisition, Mundhada added, would “expand our footprint into Saudi Arabia and Egypt” while reinforcing NEOPAY’s position at home.
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NEOPAY is also keen to point out potential payment volume increases. The company says noon payments’ integrations with marketplace sellers and online merchants create high transaction density in some of the region’s fastest-growing digital commerce segments. It also believes control of the business would give it access to those merchant relationships and payment flows, and speed up the rollout of alternative payment methods and installment options.
The combined roadmap targets faster merchant onboarding, better payment performance, tighter fraud controls and embedded financial services. The deal could also strengthen cross-border payments and settlement along key regional commerce corridors.
NEOPAY Wants To Follow Merchants Across Channels And Borders
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