The Dubai International Financial Centre’s FinTech hive is expanding its accelerator programme for start-ups to include insurance, Islamic finance and regulatory technological services.
“As the UAE continues to move towards an innovation and knowledge-based economy, it is now more critical than ever that we support local and regional talent by giving them the tools and platforms they need to flourish,” said Raja Al Mazrouei, executive vice president of FinTech Hive at DIFC.
The financial centre, in partnership with the business management consultancy Accenture, last year launched its first accelerator programme which saw 11 FinTech companies out of over 200 applicants being accepted into DIFC's mentorship.
The programme gives FinTech companies with a proven track record advice and makes connections for them with financial services firms looking for technological solutions to bring about greater operational nimbleness. The hive also helps them find investors.
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DIFC unveils $100 million FinTech investment fund
‘UAE serves as financial hub for the Middle East, says DIFC official
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DIFC is making FinTech a priority, especially as the industry fits into the emirate's longstanding efforts to encourage the growth of small- and medium-sized businesses. So far, over a dozen banks and financial services firms have partnered with the financial centre to get connected with FinTech companies to seek technology and artificial intelligence. These technologies include so-called robo-advisory for wealth management investment decisions and distributed ledger technology that speeds the time it takes to make a transfer.
The DIFC in November established a $100 million fund to invest in FinTech start-ups to help further cement its position as a leading hub for the fledgling industry at a time when it is attracting greater interest from investors.
“Since 2010, roughly $100 billion has been invested globally into the FinTech industry, clearly demonstrating that there is an immense appetite for this sector’s development,” said Amr Elsaadani, managing director and financial services lead for Accenture in the Middle East and Turkey.
“The exceptional quality of the proposals we received last year is a testament to the bright ideas and immense talent this region has to offer. As we move into the second year of the programme, the expansion of FinTech hive at DIFC into new disciplines will lead to the discovery of new solutions that are uniquely tailored to the Middle East and Africa.”
UAE squad
Ali Kashief, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdelrahman, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Mohmmed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammad Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Eisa, Mohammed Shakir, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Adel Al Hosani, Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah), Waleed Abbas, Ismail Al Hammadi, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai) Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Mahrami (Baniyas)
The specs
Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
Power: 276hp
Torque: 392Nm
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD
Price: TBC
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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