The Banking Executive Magazine - January 2026 Issue

Al Fardan Group Al Fardan Group LAUNCHES ALFANOW, STRENGTHENING CROSS BORDER PAYMENTS ACROSS THE GCC AND BEYOND Al Fardan Group today announced the launch of AlfaNow, its fully owned subsidiary established to strengthen the region’s cross-border payments infrastructure and enable faster, more reliable money transfers across the GCC and beyond. Rooted in Al Fardan Group’s more than five decades of trust, innova- tion, and financial leadership, Al- faNow builds on this legacy to deliver secure and efficient payment solutions for individuals and busi- nesses in an increasingly connected economy. At launch, AlfaNow enables secure and near-instant money transfers to over 125 countries through a net- work of more than 160,000 partner payout locations, 4,300+ banks with access to over 2.5 billion bank ac- counts, and instant payments to 100+ mobile wallet service providers reaching more than 1.5 billion mo- bile wallet accounts worldwide. Built on a cutting-edge technology platform, AlfaNow delivers competi- tive exchange rates, transparent fees, and faster processing times across major corridors, underpinned by a strong governance, risk and compli- ance framework. Commenting on this launch, Hasan Fardan Al Fardan, Group Chief Exec- utive Officer, Al Fardan Group, said, “With AlfaNow, we are advancing Al Fardan Group’s long-term vision to build a future-ready payments ecosystem that connects economies and empowers communities. As the world becomes increasingly inter- connected, our focus is on enabling secure, compliant, and accessible fi- nancial flows that empower people and businesses across borders.” Hasan Jaber, Chief Executive Officer at AlfaNow, added, “AlfaNow is re- defining how money moves across borders by delivering greater speed, safety, and transparency. Our global journey has already commenced across multiple regions, including the GCC, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa. In the UAE, we are proud to have gone live with Al Fardan Exchange as our first strategic partner. Our ambition is to build one of the most trusted and efficient cross-border payments platforms to emerge from the region, powered by advanced technology and the re- sponsible use of AI, and strengthened by a robust and growing network of correspondent partners that connects us to markets worldwide. Our focus is on contributing meaningfully to a stronger, more connected global fi- nancial ecosystem.” AlfaNow is now available in the UAE, Oman, Qatar, and will soon expand its presence through partner- ships with leading financial institu- tions across the Middle East and beyond, reinforcing Al Fardan Group’s commitment to shaping the future of cross-border payments globally. the BANKING EXECUTIVE 14 ISSUE 205 JANUARY 2026