Page 64 - AAE PR REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2025

programme and over 2,100 employers engaged, including DIFC, Dubai Government entities, and
Free Zone authorities.
Islamic bank of the year – Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB)

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) remains a leading Islamic bank, with operations across seven
countries and serving around 2 million customers. With its ADIB 2035 Vision, ADIB is committed to
building a bank of the future. The goal is for Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank to be a digitally native,
innovation-led Islamic bank. In 2024, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) launched a transformative
strategic initiative, ADIB Ventures, as part of its broader 2035 Vision. This move positioned ADIB at
the forefront of fintech innovation within the Islamic banking industry. Over the past 12 months,
ADIB has launched a series of transformative initiatives aimed at revolutionising customer
experience. ADIB became the first Islamic bank in the region to set 2030 financed emissions
reduction targets across six high-impact sectors, including real estate and utilities. ADIB mobilised
over AED 17.3 billion in sustainable finance by the end of 2024, marking a major step toward its AED
60 billion target by 2030.
Payment solution provider of the year – Mastercard Gateway

Mastercard Gateway stands out as one of the leading payment gateways in the Middle East. The
company’s platform is at the forefront of driving the digital revolution, providing seamless digital
payment acceptance solutions to some of the largest acquiring banks, PSPs, and retail. The
company’s reliability as well as its robust, secure payment infrastructure have earned the trust of
many esteemed partners over the last year. These include Amazon Payment Services, Noon
Payments, Tap Payments, and GEMs Education. Mastercard Gateway’s innovative solutions and
advanced technology enable partners to offer their customers a smooth and hassle-free payment
experience. The company remains focused on satisfaction and staying ahead of the curve in terms
of digital payment trends. Their goal is to empower clients to meet the ever-evolving needs of their
customers, while driving digital revolution in the region.
Startup of the year – Rentify

Rentify has reimagined the rental experience by seamlessly blending financial innovation, user-
centric design, and strategic partnerships. Launched in early 2025, the Dubai-based proptech and
fintech pioneer’s platform’s Rent, Now, Pay, Later (RNPL) model addresses long-standing
challenges in the region’s rental market, such as upfront rent burdens, credit history gaps for
tenants, and payment delays for landlords. Since launching its pilot phase in Q1 2025, Rentify has
onboarded 4000+ units across Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi within three months and had a
transaction volume estimated at AED 90,000,000 in the first year. Furthermore, the startup secured
preliminary memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with two major UAE banks and one regional
Islamic finance institution to scale RNPL offerings across the GCC.
Sustainable initiative of the year – Mashreq

Mashreq is committed to driving tangible environmental outcomes while aligning with broader
environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities. In November 2023, Mashreq launched
Climb2Change. It’s considered the company’s most ambitious, multifaceted, and far-reaching
sustainability initiative to date. This global programme consolidates the bank’s strong performance
in sustainable linked financing, responsible banking products and services, social impact
initiatives, and net-zero commitment. One of the cornerstones of Climb2Change is the world’s
largest mountain clean-up. The first-of-its-kind global mountain clean-up campaign covers 14
mountains, including seven peaks and seven base camps, across Nepal, Pakistan, Egypt, and India.

https://www.financemiddleeast.com/features/finance-middle-east-awards-2025-winners/