News

Qatar Airways Acquires 25% Stake In South Africa’s Airlink

The investment will improve Qatar Airways’ position as a regional player in the African market and boost its economic potential.

Published

2 years ago

August 22, 2024

Nour Nasir

qatar airways acquires 25% stake in south africa's airlink

The Qatar Airways Group has acquired a 25% share of Southern Africa’s top independent regional carrier, Airlink. The announcement signals ambitious plans for the multi-award-winning airline to further expand operations across the African continent. In addition, the investment in Airlink (which already flies to over 45 African destinations) will enhance the code-sharing alliance between the two carriers.

qatar airways and airlink partnership

After the announcement, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer stated: “Our investment in Airlink further demonstrates how integral we see Africa being to our business’ future. This partnership not only demonstrates our confidence in Airlink, as a company that is resilient, agile, financially robust, and governed on sound principles, but also in Africa as a whole, showing huge potential that I am delighted we are able to help start realizing”.

Airlink Chief Executive Rodger Foster added: “Having Qatar Airways as an equity partner is a powerful endorsement of Airlink and echoes our faith in the markets we currently serve and plan to add to our network. This transaction will unlock growth by providing efficiencies of scale, increasing our capacity, and expanding our marketing reach. By bolstering Airlink and its business, this investment will strengthen all of the existing airline partnerships Airlink has nurtured over the years”.

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The Qatar Airways and Airlink partnership will soon align both carriers’ loyalty programs — Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Airlink Skybucks — and eventually lead to further cooperation and market growth for both airlines.

Qatar Airways already flies to 29 African destinations, with a handful of new cities added since December 2020, including Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Harare, Kano, Luanda, Lusaka, and Port Harcourt. Meanwhile, Cairo and Alexandria have also resumed regular scheduled flights.

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.