UAE AI Office and Mastercard launch 'Lighthouse' to boost financial sector innovation Dubai - Al-Wahda: The Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications announced the launch of the 'Mastercard Lighthouse' program in its first edition, in collaboration with Mastercard, as part of a series of initiatives aimed at supporting startups and enabling them to employ AI solutions in developing more efficient and flexible financial services, and enhancing innovation capabilities in the financial sector in the country. The program works to connect promising startups in the fields of artificial intelligence and financial technology with key financial institutions, innovation partners, and investors through a supportive startup ecosystem, while accelerating the growth of these companies through an intensive mentoring program managed in collaboration with global experts, to facilitate testing of solutions and turning them into scalable practical projects. The launch of the program comes within the framework of the UAE's national trends aimed at establishing its global leadership in the digital economy, by enhancing digital trust, entrenching operational flexibility, and ensuring converting innovation into safe and scalable practical applications, in line with the accelerating growth in adopting AI technologies in local and global markets. Integrated platform The first edition of the program in the UAE focuses on discovering innovative AI-based solutions in the fields of commerce, risk management, trust, and operational flexibility, in addition to supporting financing for small and medium enterprises and startups in financial technology that rely on AI. The program provides an integrated platform linking innovative startups with leading financial institutions, innovation partners, and investors, while accelerating their growth through an intensive mentoring program offered by global experts, to enhance their ability to innovate and scale quickly. Saqr bin Ghalib: Supporting startups and expanding global partnerships Saqr bin Ghalib, Executive Director of the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, confirmed that the launch of the program reflects the UAE government's vision of adopting AI responsibly and sustainably, and translates its keenness to expand global partnerships to enhance the country's position as a leading global center in AI. He added that the program represents a qualitative step and a pioneering initiative to support transforming innovation into systematic impact and sustainable value, by building an integrated ecosystem bringing together startups, financial institutions, and innovation partners, contributing to converting advanced technological solutions into scalable practical applications. He pointed out that this ecosystem contributes to achieving sustainable economic and social impact, and enhancing added value for economies and societies, supporting the country's directions toward a more competitive and sustainable digital economy. Marc Elliott: Startups have the ability to usher in a new era of digital finance Marc Elliott, Regional President for East Arabia at Mastercard, said: 'The Mastercard Lighthouse program aims to empower innovative startups in AI and fintech, by enhancing collaboration among all stakeholders, providing specialized expertise, and opening doors to business opportunities for them.' He added: 'The launch of the program in the UAE supports the country's vision of establishing its position as a leading global hub for digital innovation.' AI adoption is witnessing continuous growth, as 88% of organizations worldwide used this technology regularly in the past year, compared to 78% in 2024. In the Middle East and North Africa region, the AI market, which currently includes about 3,000 companies, is expected to reach an annual growth rate of 44.8% by 2030. The 'Mastercard Lighthouse' program was first launched in 2018 in the Nordic and Baltic regions as a partnership-based platform to support collaboration between startups and established institutions to market innovations, and later expanded to include Turkey. To date, the program has contributed to establishing more than 300 partnerships and attracting investments exceeding $1.3 billion, and has contributed to the emergence of several successful companies among 228 graduates. Startups in AI and financial services sectors in the UAE can benefit from the 'Mastercard Lighthouse UAE 2026' program via the link https://www.uaelighthouse.com by June 19.

Mastercard and JD.com announce strategic partnership to support business growth through payments innovation. Key highlights: * Initial focus on expanding payment infrastructure to support international business and enhance inbound visitor experience in China * Collaboration on applying AI and advanced technologies to commerce and fraud prevention tools Beijing, May 15, 2025 - Mastercard, a world leading technology company in payment, and JD.com, a Nasdaq-listed technology and service company with supply chain at its core, today announced a strategic partnership to deliver innovations that build a more connected, secure and intelligent commerce ecosystem. "This is the natural next phase in our long-standing relationship with JD.com," said Michael Miebach, Chief Executive Officer, Mastercard. "Our shared creativity, deep experience and cutting-edge technology will provide people and businesses with the seamless and secure solutions they're looking for, all while making everyday activities easier and more rewarding. Mastercard will continue to be a bridge between China and the world." "Global commerce is becoming increasingly connected and technology-driven," said Sandy Xu, Chief Executive Officer,JD.com. "Our new partnership with Mastercard will support the development of JD.com's international business and strengthen our ability to serve consumers and businesses worldwide. By combining JD.com's capabilities in digital retail, logistics, and supply chain infrastructure with Mastercard's payment expertise, we will jointly explore next-generation AI-powered commerce and payment experiences powered by advanced technologies, helping shape the future of digital commerce." Constructing global payments infrastructure and enable SMB growth JD.com and Mastercard will work together to further integrate and enhance global payment connectivity by developing a payment infrastructure to support JD.com's international business development and enable broader use cases in global commerce. In addition, both parties will jointly explore a cross-border supply chain finance ecosystem designed to support global small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), improving access to financing and enabling more efficient participation in international trade. Enhancing cross border consumption experience JD.com and Mastercard will deepen collaboration to expand the payment choices for international travelers in China. This includes supporting the broader acceptance of international cards and delivering an enhanced checkout, shopping, and tax-refund experiences for overseas visitors across JD.com's e-commerce platforms and retail channels. The two companies will also explore opportunities to support agentic AI-powered purchasing solutions for consumers and businesses through Mastercard Agent Pay, while also expanding co-branded card initiatives. Strengthening a resilient and secure commerce ecosystem JD.com and Mastercard will deepen cooperation in risk management, identity authentication, and intelligent anti-fraud solutions. Through enhanced real-time risk monitoring and fraud prevention capabilities, the partnership aims to elevate transaction security and strengthen the stability and resilience of digital commerce. About Mastercard Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with its customers, Jing Dong Corporate Blog is building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. Jing Dong Corporate Blog support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Its technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential. About JD.com, Inc. JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: JD and HKEX: 9618), also known as JINGDONG, is a leading supply chain-based technology and service provider. The company's cutting-edge retail infrastructure seeks to enable consumers to buy whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want it. The company has opened its technology and infrastructure to partners, brands and other sectors, as part of its Retail as a Service offering to help drive productivity and innovation across a range of industries. JD.com's business has expanded across retail, technology, logistics, health, industrials, property development and international business. JD.com is ranked 44th on the Fortune Global 500 list and is China's largest retailer by revenue. The company has been listed on NASDAQ since 2014, and on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2020. Committed to the principles of customer first, innovation, dedication, ownership, gratitude, and integrity, the company's mission is to make lives better through technology, striving to be the most trusted company in the world.

Warba Bank launches World's first dual-chip card for Private Banking customers in collaboration with Mastercard. 05 May 2026 World Elite Mastercard features dual-chip design and premium cashback benefits. Al-Qatami: * Dual-Chip Innovation: A dual-chip card for Private Banking customers, integrating separate debit and credit functionalities into a single card. * Competitive Cashback: Up to 10% cashback on transactions, with a monthly cap of KWD 1,000 and up to KWD 12,000 annually for credit card usage. * Customer-Focused Design: Tailored to the needs of premium customer segments. * Data-Informed Development: Based on ongoing internal research and analysis of customer behavior to improve the banking experience. * Strategic Growth: Supporting the bank's strategy to strengthen its traditional and digital banking services and reinforce its position in the Islamic banking sector. Warba Bank announced the launch of its "Dual Chip Contactless World Elite Mastercard," a banking solution designed for Private Banking customers. The new card features two independent EMV chips - one for debit and one for credit - integrated into a single card, supported by dual-side NFC technology for contactless payments. The solution addresses technical integration challenges by allowing customers to select which account to use for contactless transactions based on the side of the card tapped. This dual-chip structure ensures compliance with international security standards while providing enhanced flexibility for high-net-worth users. Innovation driven by customer insight: Mr. Ahmad Faisal Al-Qatami, Chief Retail Banking Officer at Warba Bank, said the launch reflects the bank's philosophy of segment-specific innovation. "We do not believe in one-size-fits-all solutions; instead, we design products that align with the specific behaviors and expectations of our customer segments," Al-Qatami said. He added that the bank's internal research showed Private Banking customers continue to prefer the reliability of a physical card that integrates modern digital capabilities. Premium benefits and rewards: The card belongs to the World Elite Mastercard category, providing premium perks including unlimited lounge access for the cardholder and a guest, alongside 24/7 global concierge services for luxury travel and exclusive event bookings. The bank said the card features a competitive cashback program, among the highest in the GCC, offering up to 10% on international transactions and 5% locally. When used as a credit card, the program allows for a monthly cap of 1,000 KWD, reaching a total of 12,000 KWD annually. Advanced security and digital integration: Sherif Elbagoury. Director (Cards Department) Retail Banking Group at Warba Bank, noted that the card provides enhanced security through two independent EMV chips, separate PINs, and distinct CVV codes. The card experience is integrated with the Warba Bank mobile application, allowing customers to monitor transactions in real-time and activate or deactivate chips independently. The solution reflects the bank's focus on innovation in premium banking, combining digital capabilities with the reliability of a physical card. About Warba Bank: Warba Bank is a leading Islamic bank in Kuwait with a strong focus on Sharia-compliant digital banking. With one of the largest shareholder bases in the country, the bank delivers innovative financial products and services, reinforcing its position as a digital-focused institution under its slogan "Own the Future."