News

Saudi Startup Tamara Secures $340 Million In Funding

The fintech “buy now, pay later” platform has achieved unicorn status after being valued at $1 billion.

Published

3 years ago

December 19, 2023

Nour Nasir

Tamara

Saudi Arabia’s “buy now, pay later” platform, Tamara, is now worth a staggering $1 billion after a recent equity funding round led by SNB Capital that raised $340 million.

Other investors included Shorooq Partners, Pinnacle Capital, and Impulse, who joined existing backers such as Checkout.com, Coatue, and Endeavor Catalyst.

Tamara plans to use the significant cash injection to build new shopping and payment products and services, and intends to become “the next big giant in shopping, payments, and banking,” according to the company’s co-founder and CEO, Abdulmajeed Alsukhan.

“Saudi Arabia and the GCC deserve their place on the world stage for financial technology. Just as Tamara was created by local entrepreneurs nurtured by a supportive local ecosystem and market regulator, we stand here today, humbled and hungry, ready for our own leapfrog moment. This achievement is a testament to the ecosystem, our incredible team, investors, and the collaborative spirit that makes this region a great place for talent to flourish,” the CEO said.

Also Read: Dubai Startup Creates Iron Man-Style Smart Contact Lens

The chief executive has also announced that Tamara is considering listing on the Saudi Arabian stock exchange and potentially in other markets in the near future. The company’s latest equity funding round comes after a debt-raising move earlier in November 2023 led by Goldman Sachs and Shorooq Partners.

With the global BNPL market projected to hit $565.8 billion in 2026, the future certainly looks bright for Tamara, with its user base of 10 million and 30,000 partner merchants spread across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait.

News

New Disney+ Streaming App Has Officially Launched In The UAE

The app’s recommendations now factor in what’s popular in the UAE, and a dedicated Junior Mode gives kids their own corner of Disney+.

Published

1 day ago

October 9, 2026

Dana Saadeh

Disney

A new Disney+ app has officially launched in the UAE, and subscribers can now keep watching their favorite titles when they travel. Disney+ says access extends across supported markets in Europe, the United States and beyond.

The app is built around a dynamic homepage and simpler navigation, with recommendations drawn from each customer’s viewing habits and what’s popular in the UAE. Content from Hulu and ESPN is now easier to find alongside Disney+’s own library, the company says. Audio and subtitles come in up to 25 languages, and supported devices get high-quality video and sound.

For families, the app includes Junior Mode, a dedicated, simplified version of Disney+ for younger viewers, built around age-appropriate shows and movies. It sits alongside existing controls such as PIN-protected profiles, customizable content ratings and account notifications when a profile is changed.

The catalog still spans Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu and FX. Returning series include Season 8 of “The Kardashians,” Season 23 of “Grey’s Anatomy” and Season 38 of “The Simpsons”. Also on the service are the second season of International Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning series “Rivals,” comedy “Only Murders in the Building,” Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootropolis 2” and 20th Century Studios’ “Send Help”.

Also Read: Best Video Streaming Services In The Middle East

Marvel Television’s “VisionQuest” is on the way, and Disney’s live-action “Moana” is due later this autumn. Beyond Hollywood, the Turkish title “Halef” is coming to the platform alongside a lineup of Korean entertainment: Korean-Japanese romantic comedy “Merry Berry Love” is streaming now, and “The Remarried Empress” arrives November 4.

Existing subscribers will be prompted to download the new app and sign in with their current credentials, with on-screen steps covering account confirmation and profile setup. Subscriptions start at AED 49.99 per month and can be canceled at any time.

For UAE subscribers planning to travel, the update will likely be well received, but Disney has left one question open. It confirms Europe and the United States as supported markets but doesn’t yet say which others fall under and beyond.