Pakistani fintech operator partners with UAE group to provide financial solutions in Emirates

Omair Ansari (right), Co-Founder & CEO of Abhi Middle East Limited, and Mohammad Bitar, group deputy CEO of Al Ansari Financial Services, pose for picture in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on January 13, 2025. (Abhi)
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Updated 13 January 2025
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Pakistani fintech operator partners with UAE group to provide financial solutions in Emirates

  • Partnership to help customers in United Arab Emirates access earned wages prior to scheduled payroll date
  • Move “significant step” in providing flexible financial solutions to unbanked individuals, says Pakistani fintech 

KARACHI: An emerging fintech operator in the Middle East and Pakistan, Abhi, announced on Monday it has partnered with UAE’s Al Ansari Financial Services to provide financial solutions to banked and unbanked communities in the UAE. 

Abhi is a Pakistani fintech company that provides employers an opportunity to withdraw their earned salary any day through its Earned Wage Access (EWA) facility and other products. Founded in 2021, Abhi has been serving customers in Pakistan, UAE and Bangladesh through its credit-bridging products. 

Al Ansari Financial Services is a UAE-based financial services ecosystem that enables the mobility of money locally and globally. For almost 60 years, the group says it has enabled tourists, residents and businesses to transfer and exchange money and conduct payments effectively.

“In a move set to reshape the financial landscape, Al Ansari Financial Services one of the leading integrated financial services groups in the UAE announces its strategic partnership with Abhi Middle East Limited, the region’s largest embedded finance platform backed by Hub71 and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), to broaden the spectrum of financial solutions available to consumers, ensuring a seamless service experience across the board,” Abhi said in a statement. 

The alliance will provide EWA and Send Now, Pay Later (SNPL) services to complement Al Ansari Financial Services’ existing portfolio from the second quarter of this year, Abhi said. The alliance will help address the varied needs of both unbanked and underbanked communities in the UAE, it added. 

The statement said that the solutions would be gradually introduced across multiple platforms to ensure easy and convenient access for customers, allowing for a smooth integration and enhanced user experience of the financial services.

“Abhi, a pioneer in earned wage access and technology-driven financial solutions, will be providing a technology platform and operational framework that will enable Al Ansari Financial Services’ customers to access their earned wages prior to the scheduled payroll date, in addition to allowing the unbanked and underbanked customers to remit funds internationally instantly while deferring payment,” Abhi said. 

It said Al Ansari will identify eligible customers for both services. 

“This partnership aligns with our ongoing mission to enhance financial accessibility and provide flexible solutions that cater to diverse financial needs,” Mohammad Bitar, group deputy CEO of Al Ansari Financial Services, said in a statement. 

Omair Ansari, co-founder and CEO of Abhi Middle East Limited, said the partnership is a “significant step” in providing unbanked individuals with flexible financial solutions. 

“Through the introduction of Earned Wage Access and Send Now, Pay Later in the UAE, we aim to address real-world financial challenges, offering tools that empower individuals to take control of their finances,” Ansari said. 


’All the pressure’ on Pakistan as USA out to inflict another T20 shock

Updated 09 February 2026
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’All the pressure’ on Pakistan as USA out to inflict another T20 shock

  • USA gave tournament favorites India a big scare in their opening match in Mumbai
  • Pakistan cannot afford any slip-ups after saying they would not play India on Feb. 15

COLOMBO: USA leg-spinner Mohammad Mohsin said Monday that “the pressure will be on Pakistan” when the teams lock horns in the T20 World Cup again, two years after the Americans inflicted a shock defeat on the former champions.

But Pakistan quick bowler Salman Mirza insisted the stunning super over defeat in Dallas in the 2024 T20 World Cup would be firmly “in the past” when the two clash in Colombo on Tuesday.

The USA team gave tournament favorites India a big scare in their opening match in Mumbai, reducing them to 77-6 at one point, with Mohsin taking a wicket on his T20 World Cup debut, before losing by 29 runs.

They are confident they can repeat their stunning upset of two years ago in the Group A encounter.

“The pressure of losing the last game will be on Pakistan,” said Mohsin.

Born and brought up playing cricket in Pakistan, Mohsin migrated to the US five years ago and warned the USA were a better team now than two years ago.

“I have played with most of the players in this Pakistan team, so I have given my input to the team and we are a more skilled and confident team.”

Mirza was confident the last defeat will not prey on the Pakistan players’ minds.

“Winning and losing are part of the game, it happens in cricket,” Mirza said. “The defeat against the USA is now past and behind us.”

Pakistan, the 2009 champions, were close to suffering another shock in their opening match against the Netherlands on Saturday.

Pakistan were staring at defeat with 29 runs needed in the last two overs but all-rounder Faheem Ashraf’s big hitting bailed them out.

Pakistan cannot afford any slip-ups if they are to qualify for the super eight stage as one of the top two teams in Group A after saying they would not play India on February 15.

Defeat to the USA two years ago saw them fail to get out of the group.

Mirza admitted the smaller teams were dangerous opponents.

“Until now all the matches are close and no team is small or big in this format,” said Mirza, who took 3-24 against the Netherlands.

Pakistan may bring back experienced batsman Fakhar Zaman to replace Babar Azam who has been criticized for slow scoring.