Mastercard appoints Yasemin Bedir to lead expanded EEMEA region. ByStaff Writer August 10, 2026 Mastercard has appointed Yasemin Bedir as President of its Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region, expanding her responsibilities across an 81-country market Mastercard has appointed Yasemin Bedir as President of its Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region, expanding her responsibilities across an 81-country market that includes some of the company's fastest-growing economies. Bedir will take up the UAE-based role on 1 September 2026 and will oversee Mastercard's operations and regional strategy across EEMEA. She will also join the company's Management Committee. She succeeds Dimitrios Dosis, who was recently appointed Chief Commercial Payments Officer, where he will lead Mastercard's Commercial and New Payment Flows business. Bedir is a nearly 20-year Mastercard veteran and most recently served as Division President for Eastern Europe, a position she held for four years. During that period, she led the business through a complex geopolitical and regulatory environment across the region. Her new mandate comes as Mastercard's EEMEA footprint has expanded to 81 countries, bringing together a diverse set of markets spanning Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In the new role, Bedir will work with financial institutions, fintechs, businesses, governments and retailers across the region. "Yasemin is a leader who finds the best in her teams to help them deliver the greatest impact for our customers and to fuel local economies," said Sachin Mehra, Chief Business Officer at Mastercard. "This is a vast and complex region that demands creative thinking, proven results and strong relationships. Yasemin has delivered that throughout her career." Bedir joined Mastercard in 2007 and has held roles across several markets. She previously served as General Manager for Mastercard's Turkey and Azerbaijan operations before moving to North America, where she spent nearly five years overseeing relationships with community institutions and payment processors. Her career has also included roles at HSBC, Garanti Bank and Yapı Kredi in Turkey. In her new position, Bedir will inherit a regional business operating amid significant changes in digital payments, financial inclusion and financial technology adoption. Markets across Africa and the Middle East in particular are seeing increased investment in digital payment infrastructure, while regulators and financial institutions are working to expand access to formal financial services. Bedir said her immediate focus would be on building on the work carried out by the regional leadership team in recent years. "I've been inspired by the teams here at Mastercard," Bedir said. "Their resilience, innovative spirit and relentless dedication to meet and exceed customer needs is what powers our impact every day. Together, we will build on the strong foundation the regional team has created under Dimi's leadership over the past five years." Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Bedir is among the founders of the Professional Women Network and has been involved in initiatives supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. Her appointment comes at a time when Mastercard and other global payments companies are navigating rapid changes in how consumers and businesses make and receive payments, with digital wallets, account-to-account payments, fintech platforms and new payment technologies reshaping financial services across emerging markets.

Botim and Mastercard launch all-in-one card via One Credential. * August 10, 2026 Botim, the UAE's leading fintech platform, has collaborated with Mastercard to launch the Mastercard One Credential, giving eligible Botim cardholders greater flexibility and control over how they access and manage payments through a single card solution. This launch also marks the first rollout of the solution in the UAE and across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA), strengthening the companies' committment to product innovation. Mastercard One Credential links one payment product to multiple funding sources through a seamless digital interface. Eligible users can switch between prepaid balances and credit funding, giving them more ways to pay without needing a separate card. The launch responds to consumer demand for flexible payments. According to Mastercard's global consumer research, 83 per cent of UAE consumers surveyed said they would use card installments through One Credential. The research also highlighted the appeal of bringing multiple payment options together in one capability, giving consumers greater convenience, and control over everyday spending. For first-time credit users, the solution offers a simpler entry point by embedding credit access into an existing card experience. Botim cardholders can also access funds across multiple currencies and convert any purchase into simple, flexible installments, increasing purchasing power while providing clearer visibility over card transactions and financial management. "At Botim, we believe financial services should improve how people access and manage everyday financial lives," said H.E. Dr. Tariq BinHendi, Board Member at Astra Tech and CEO of Botim. "Its work with Mastercard reflects a shared commitment to fostering greater choice, transparency, and confidence in digital payments. By bringing this capability to Botim cardholders, Intlbm is providing a more practical and trusted way to pay, while continuing to build a platform that can support long-term financial participation and create sustainable value. "Consumers increasingly expect payment experiences that are secure, simple, and embedded in their everyday digital lives", said Gina Petersen-Skyrme, senior vice president and country manager, UAE and Oman at Mastercard. "By combining Mastercard's One Credential technology with Botim's digital platform, we are simplifying how cardholders access and manage different payment methods through one scalable solution. Equally important, One Credential also demonstrates how solutions can be implemented quickly and efficiently in markets, supporting our partners' efforts in launching new solutions." This new prepaid and installment proposition marks the first milestone in the collaboration's broader roadmap. It lays out the groundwork for future Botim card propositions and additional payment use cases designed to broaden the ways customers can pay. Source

Dubai property market cools as home prices and rents decline amid rising supply. 09/08/2026 2 minutes read City-wide residential sale prices fell 4 per cent quarter-on-quarter, while average rents dropped 6 per cent over the same period as the market shifted towards a more balanced phase. Geographic Reference Dubai's residential property market showed further signs of cooling in the second quarter of 2026, with both sale prices and rents declining as new supply entered the market and buyer activity slowed after several years of rapid growth. Discover more Business Formation According to Cushman & Wakefield Core, city-wide residential sale prices fell 4 per cent quarter-on-quarter, while average rents dropped 6 per cent over the same period as the market shifted towards a more balanced phase. The consultancy said price corrections were becoming increasingly evident across most apartment and villa submarkets following five years of exceptional growth. It expects further moderation as transaction volumes remain subdued, buyer and seller expectations continue to diverge, and additional housing supply comes to market. However, established end-user communities are expected to remain relatively resilient, supported by underlying demand. Apartment prices recorded some of the steepest quarterly declines, led by Palm Jumeirah (down 9 per cent), Downtown Dubai (7 per cent) and Business Bay (7 per cent), while Dubai Hills Estate (down 4 per cent) and Jumeirah Village Circle (3 per cent) proved more resilient. Villa performance was mixed, with The Springs and The Meadows declining 9 per cent and Dubai Hills Estate falling 5 per cent, while Palm Jumeirah and Jumeirah Village Circle continued to post modest gains. Discover more Business & Industrial News, Events Stocks & Bonds Rental rates also softened as affordability pressures encouraged tenants to seek better-value homes. Apartment rents saw the largest declines in Downtown Dubai (14 per cent), Dubai Hills Estate (10 per cent), Dubai Marina (10 per cent) and Palm Jumeirah (9 per cent). Villa rents also eased, with Dubai Hills Estate recording the sharpest quarterly decline of 12 per cent. The latest declines extend a correction that began late last year, where property prices declined for the second month in a row to reach Dh1,673 per sq ft,according to the consultancy. Supply remains on track Business Formation Despite the softer pricing environment, residential deliveries remained strong during the quarter. More than 13,200 homes were completed in Q2, including projects in Sobha Hartland, Damac Lagoons, Jebel Ali Village, Dubai Science Park and The Valley. Approximately 32,000 additional units are expected to be delivered in the second half of 2026, with a substantial development pipeline extending through 2030. However, Cushman & Wakefield warned that contractor capacity constraints and supply chain issues are expected to affect project handovers in the coming months, even as overall delivery volumes remain broadly on track. 23/07/2026 Mastercard launches uae's first ai-powered e-commerce transaction. Abu dhabi supermarkets remove unhealthy foods from checkout and high-traffic zones. Foreign investors remain net buyers of GCC stocks in Q2.