The big picture
UAE digitizes federal payments; Mashreq posts record profit; Saudi AML rules tightened.
Why it matters
Expats paying UAE federal fees now have two new instant payment options, while Mashreq's strong results signal Gulf banking health — and Saudi Arabia's tighter AML rules raise compliance stakes for businesses and remittance senders.
The details
Zawya
UAE MoF adds: UAE Ministry of Finance adopts Aani and Jaywan for federal fees and fines. The UAE Ministry of Finance has integrated Aani instant-transfer and Jaywan card networks as official payment channels for all federal service fees and fines.
Read at Zawya ->
Zawya
Mashreq posts: Mashreq reports record H1 2026 profit before tax of AED 4.8bn, up 18% YoY. Mashreq Bank's pre-tax profit hit AED 4.8 billion in the first half of 2026, an 18% year-on-year jump, marking the bank's strongest-ever first-half result.
Read at Zawya ->
Pinsent Masons
SAMA tightened: Saudi Arabia updates AML rules, sharpening compliance obligations for firms. Saudi Arabia's updated anti-money-laundering regulations provide greater clarity on compliance duties, raising the bar for banks, fintechs, and businesses operating in the Kingdom.
Read at Pinsent Masons ->
What to watch
Watch for expat uptake of Aani and Jaywan at federal service points — the MoF has signalled this is a strategic rollout, suggesting broader mandatory adoption across agencies.
The Gulf Money digest surfaces reported news from third-party publications. We do not republish the stories themselves - every headline above links to the original source so you can read the publisher's own coverage.