News

The Cloud Secures $12M For GCC And European Expansion

The startup is affiliated with Abu Dhabi’s Hub71, and has ambitious plans to evolve the global food tech sector.

Published

1 year ago

February 19, 2024

Nour Nasir

The Cloud

The Cloud, a startup in the food technology sector affiliated with Abu Dhabi’s Hub71, has revealed the successful initial closure of its Series B funding round, securing $12 million out of its total target of $30 million with the help of Aluna Partners and a fresh investment from MENA Moonshots.

The Cloud has also initiated a strategic takeover of KBOX, a leading food tech startup based in the UK. The move gives The Cloud access to an additional 200 UK establishments, and the firm also has ambitious plans to reshape the virtual dining domain across the UAE, the broader GCC region, and Europe.

georges karam ceo the cloud

Georges Karam, CEO of The Cloud, was enthusiastic about the funding round, stating: “Our Series B funding and the KBOX acquisition reinforce our position as innovators in the global food tech landscape. Having raised a total of $22 million, we are now focused on enhancing our market presence in the UAE and beyond”.

Meanwhile, Stefano Sciacca, Managing Director at Aluna Partners, added, “The online food delivery market is a megatrend that is here to stay. We believe that The Cloud will gain significant market share in the UK market through the acquisition of KBOX. Having looked at many food tech business models, we believe The Cloud is emerging as a global market leader and are excited to support such a fast-growing venture”.

Also Read: Fintech In The UAE Is Set To Add $900 Per Capita By 2030

The additional capital secured from the Series B financing will play a pivotal role in expediting growth for The Cloud, which already boasts a strong presence in seven countries and 91 cities, coupled with aspirations to extend to 8,000 locations by the close of 2027.

The Cloud is now on course for a dual listing in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, heralding a new phase of expansion for the virtual chain in the EMEA region. As the company progresses along this growth trajectory, it remains committed to revolutionizing the global dining landscape, empowering restaurateurs, and setting new standards for excellence and innovation in the food sector.

News

Stake Powers Instant Payouts With Checkout.com Pay To Card

The new feature lets investors in the UAE, KSA, and UK receive real estate returns in minutes — cutting withdrawal times to under 10 minutes.

Published

1 day ago

June 19, 2025

Nour Nasir

stake powers instant payouts with checkout.com pay to card

Stake, a leading digital real estate investment platform, has unveiled Pay to Card, a next-generation withdrawal feature built on Checkout.com’s global payment infrastructure. The integration enables investors to have dividends and returns credited directly to their bank cards — often within minutes — dramatically reducing the traditional multi-day payout process.

After a successful pilot in May involving over 200 users, some investors reported receiving their funds in under 10 minutes. Ricardo Brizido, CPTO and Co-Founder of Stake, emphasized the importance of speed and reliability: “With Pay to Card, we’re eliminating unnecessary delays and putting returns in our investors’ hands almost instantly. This feature was built to directly solve one of the most common pain points in real estate investing, and it’s already driving strong results”.

The feature launch coincides with rapid growth in real-time finance across the Middle East. Checkout.com’s “State of Digital Commerce in MENA 2025” report highlights a 388% year-on-year surge in Account Funding Transactions (AFTs) in the UAE, reflecting strong demand for immediate payout solutions. The same study recorded a 176% increase in total processing volume from 2023 to 2024 and noted that daily online transactions have jumped 320% since 2020.

Since its 2021 debut, Stake has facilitated over AED 1 billion in property transactions, advancing its mission to democratize real estate investment in high-growth markets. By integrating Pay to Card, Stake reinforces its commitment to customer-centric innovation and operational transparency.

Also Read: Binance Enters Syrian Market As Sanctions Lifted

Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA at Checkout.com, praised the collaboration: “Stake has always led with customer-first financial experiences. Together, we’re meeting the expectations of a region that is no longer just digital-first, but real-time-first. Pay to Card exemplifies how modern payment infrastructure can directly solve investor pain points”.

Pay to Card is now available to all Stake users in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. By slashing withdrawal times from days to minutes, Stake and Checkout.com are setting a new standard for seamless, on-demand real estate investing.