In the bustling cities and vast deserts of the Arab world, a quiet transformation is taking place, one that doesn’t always make headlines but has the power to change lives.

It’s the transformation of financial inclusion, where technology becomes the great equaliser, enabling access, dignity, and opportunity for all.

Over the past few decades, millions have arrived in the region with aspirations of a better life. Among them are domestic helpers, construction workers, delivery riders, drivers, and retail attendants, individuals who form the backbone of many economies but have long remained excluded from the formal financial system.

For years, many migrant workers were paid in cash, had no access to bank accounts, and relied on costly and time-consuming remittance services. They were often invisible to providers of essential financial services.

This exclusion wasn’t due to a lack of ambition but to systemic barriers such as documentation requirements, high fees, and limited financial literacy.

Today, this is beginning to change. Advances in technology and the widespread adoption of smartphones are opening new doors. In the UAE, where expatriates make up nearly 88 per cent of the population, with approximately half belonging to the low-income or blue-collar segment, mobile banking and digital wallets are reshaping access to financial tools for underserved communities.

Growing mobile market

The mobile banking market in the GCC is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5 per cent from 2025 to 2033, driven by increasing smartphone penetration, growing digital literacy, and proactive regulatory support. In the UAE, the combined prepaid card and digital wallet market is expected to expand from $5.66bn in 2023 to $10.3bn by 2028 in total transactional value, reflecting a CAGR of 12.3 per cent. This growth is fuelled by an improved digital payment infrastructure, a thriving e-commerce industry, and a booming fintech market.

But access alone is not enough. Without the knowledge to use these tools safely and wisely, many remain vulnerable to scams, debt traps, and poor financial habits. Financial literacy is the essential counterpart to financial access.

That’s why human-centered design is key. Solutions must be simple, multilingual, culturally relevant, and built with empathy.

Through initiatives like myZoi Money Tips, more than 2,200 blue-collar workers have participated in 12 community workshops and one large-scale community event, while digital content has garnered over 22 million views across social media, the app, and the website.

The team listens closely to the needs of users, visiting shared accommodations, conducting in-depth interviews, and continuously refining services to reflect real challenges and aspirations. And it’s working. Tangible shifts in engagement and trust are already being seen.

Breaking cycles of inequality and enabling economic mobility

Financial inclusion isn’t just about banking; it’s about breaking cycles of inequality and enabling economic mobility. It’s about recognizing that inclusion is not a luxury, but a right.

To build a more inclusive financial ecosystem, collaboration is essential. Governments, regulators, fintech innovators, employers, and civil society must work together to ensure that no one is left behind.

With the UAE’s vision, and initiatives like the Central Bank’s Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Program, the region is at the cusp of meaningful, systemic change. By combining access, education, and empathy, the Middle East can lead by example, proving that when inclusion is intentional, it becomes transformational.

The journey is far from over. But with the right tools, the right mindset, and strong partnerships, every worker and every family can be empowered to turn their dreams into reality.

The writer is the CEO at myZoi.

Read: How Saudi Arabia’s fintech scene is evolving

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has reported that a total of 1,673,230 (1.67 million) Hajj pilgrims visited Mecca for the year 1446 AH.

Of the total number, 1,506,576 pilgrims arrived from outside the kingdom through various entry points.

The remaining — 166,654 pilgrims — were domestic, consisting of both Saudi citizens and residents.

Hajj pilgrims by gender

Breaking down the numbers by gender: 877,841 male pilgrims performed the Hajj, with 795,389 female pilgrims completing the rituals, the statistics authority reported.

As the kingdom’s official statistical authority, GASTAT is the exclusive provider of official statistics in Saudi Arabia.

Visitors during Ramadan

In March, the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque reported a total of 122,286,712 worshippers during Ramadan 1446 AH, with 16,558,241 performing Umrah, 75,573,928 praying at the Grand Mosque, and 30,154,543 visiting the Prophet’s Mosque.

Dubai Police has been named the most reputable and strongest police force globally, according to a new study by Brand Finance.

The force received a top-tier AAA+ rating and scored 9.2 out of 10 in the Institutional Brand Value Index, outperforming counterparts across 10 countries in a study involving feedback from over 8,000 stakeholders.

The global evaluation assessed public perceptions on criteria including professionalism, integrity, effectiveness, fairness, and transparency.

Dubai Police’s performance was credited to its strong community trust, ethical standards, clear communication, and innovative service delivery. The force also maintained a robust presence across media and digital platforms.

The study highlighted Dubai Police’s contribution to enhancing the UAE’s and Dubai’s soft power.

With a brand value of Dhs57.9bn ($15.8bn), the force accounted for a significant portion of the UAE’s total national brand value of Dhs4.48tn ($1.2tn), as detailed in Brand Finance’s National Brand Report.

Dubai Police exceeded global average on 11 indicators

Dubai Police exceeded the global average across all 11 reputation indicators, scoring particularly high in fair treatment (57 per cent), integrity (60 per cent), safety assurance (67 per cent), ethical conduct (59 per cent), professional engagement (62 per cent), and innovation (54 per cent).

Lieutenant General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, commander-in-chief of Dubai Police the UAE’s their leadership for their support.

“This recognition reflects the trust placed in police institutions across the UAE and highlights Dubai Police’s commitment to public safety, wellbeing, and quality of life,” said Al Marri. “Our rise to global leadership in police branding is the outcome of visionary leadership and an unwavering pursuit of excellence.”

Al Marri cited initiatives such as Smart Police Stations, the UAE SWAT Challenge, e-sports tournaments, and the Esaad programme as contributing to the force’s international profile. “Dubai Police is more than a law enforcement entity; it is a strategic partner in building a secure, advanced, and sustainable society,” he added.

David Haigh, CEO and chairman of Brand Finance, said the findings reflect the influence of perceptions on global behaviour. “The Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index is the world’s largest study of soft power perceptions, and this research is proving extremely helpful to government policymakers and destination marketing organisations.”

Brand Finance based its findings on existing data from the City Index and Global Soft Power Index, supplemented by bespoke research to assess Dubai Police’s impact on the UAE’s 2025 soft power performance.

The final Brand Strength score was compiled from a balanced scorecard of indicators, with public surveys across 10 global markets.

Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3.4 per cent in Q1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to new data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) on Saturday.

The growth was primarily driven by a 4.9 per cent increase in non-oil activities and a 3.2 per cent rise in government activities, the report showed.

Meanwhile, oil activities saw a slight decline of 0.5 per cent year-on-year.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, real GDP grew by 1.1 per cent compared to Q4 2024.

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil activities were key contributors

GASTAT highlighted that non-oil activities were the main contributor to the annual GDP expansion, adding 2.8 percentage points.

Government activities contributed 0.5 percentage points, while net product taxes added 0.2 percentage points.

The authority also noted broad-based economic growth, with most sectors reporting positive annual growth.

Wholesale and retail trade, along with restaurants and hotels, posted the highest annual growth among all sectors, rising by 8.4 per cent year-on-year and 0.7 per cent quarter-on-quarter.

With the launch of WHOOP 5.0 and the medical-grade WHOOP MG, founder and CEO Will Ahmed is ushering in a new era for wearable technology — one that goes far beyond fitness tracking.

In this interview with Gulf Business, the health tech pioneer shares how the latest innovations position the brand as a central operating system for human health.

From AI-powered insights that drive meaningful behaviour change to the platform’s growing popularity in the Middle East, Ahmed outlines how WHOOP is redefining performance, longevity, and recovery for its global user base.

What makes the WHOOP 5.0 launch a true leap forward for the brand — rather than just the next iteration?

This launch marks the beginning of a new chapter for us. With the launch of WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG, along with our new health software features, WHOOP is becoming the central operating system for human health.

WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG introduce medical-grade capabilities and insights never before offered in a single wearable.

The new sensors deliver 14 days of battery life — three times what our last device offered — while being 7 per cent smaller. WHOOP MG builds on that with Heart Screener with ECG, Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications, and Blood Pressure Insights.

We’ve also introduced new software features including Healthspan with WHOOP Age, updated Sleep Performance, Hormonal Insights, and an improved Steps experience — all designed to help members perform better and live longer.

This isn’t just a product update. It’s the biggest leap forward in WHOOP technology to date, not just to our hardware, but to the entire WHOOP experience.

As wearables grow in popularity, how is WHOOP helping users turn data into meaningful behavior change and long-term habits?

WHOOP is transforming how people turn data into meaningful behavior change and lasting habits by shifting the focus from passive data collection to personalised, actionable insights that drive outcomes. WHOOP does this through a deeply integrated system of features designed to coach rather than just track.

For instance, our new Healthspan with WHOOP Age reveals how your behaviours — from sleep to strength training — are directly influencing your physiological age. This isn’t just data — it becomes a call to action to our members.

How would you describe the significance of the Middle East market for WHOOP — and what sets this region apart in terms of demand and adoption?

The GCC is a rapidly growing market for WHOOP. It was actually our fastest growing market last year. I’ve been coming to the region for almost a decade and have had a chance to see it firsthand.

This is a region that deeply values performance, health, and innovation. What’s unique here is the demand for premium, personalised solutions — and WHOOP is uniquely equipped to meet that.

Looking ahead, as wearables evolve beyond fitness to support long-term wellbeing and healthspan, where is WHOOP heading next?

In the coming months and year, we will be focused on additional new features that help support our goal of becoming a central operating system for our members’ health.

One of those initiatives is WHOOP Advanced Labs — our soon-to-be-released feature that integrates blood testing right into your WHOOP experience to provide an enhanced layer of coaching.

Any recovery tips you can share with users based on your experience?

There are many tools and strategies I use to optimise my recovery, including wearing blue light glasses before bed and cold plunging after working out.

I also find meditation personally has been one of the biggest unlocks for me. I do it every morning for 20 minutes and it’s become nonnegotiable for me.

When I was 24 years old I was really stressed about building WHOOP. I was run down, strung out, and I hadn’t really learned how to cope with stress.

I found meditation as a tool to really find balance and reflection. It allowed me to develop this ability to look at my thoughts in the third person. It made me feel much more in control and aware.