YAP Secures $41M to Fuel Fintech Expansion Across Middle East and Africa

Editorial Team

Last updated 28-03-2025

2 min

YAP secures $41 million, leading regional expansion into Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ghana, and Pakistan.

The fintech firm, launched in 2021, leverages digital tools with over 130,000 users already.

Avoiding banking licence chaos by collaborating with traditional banks aids swift market entry.

YAP introduces diverse cards, including prepaid and virtual options, tailored for seamless transactions.

The startup targets fintech, logistics, and proptech sectors, completing Series A funding by 2025.

Dubai-based fintech startup YAP is set for rapid regional growth after bagging a substantial $41 million investment. This sizeable boost, led by Saudi Arabia's AlJazira Capital along with investors including Abu Dawood Group, Astra Group and Audacia Capital, will help the company branch swiftly into new markets across the Middle East and Africa, targeting Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ghana, and even further afield to Pakistan.

Launched in 2021, YAP certainly seems to be onto a winner, already amassing more than 130,000 users. Rather than the traditional bank set-up—think dusty ledgers and queues out of the door—YAP adopts a fully digital approach offering budgeting tools, spending analysis, card management, and instant transaction notifications. To navigate the usual regulatory complexities, it's cleverly avoiding the costly chaos of obtaining a banking licence by teaming up with existing traditional banks.

In Saudi Arabia, for instance, YAP has signed a promising deal with Bank AlJazira to introduce consumer-focused and business banking services across the Kingdom. Meanwhile, regulators have already nodded their approval for entry into Ghana and Pakistan, and preparations are underway for the company to enter the remarkably vibrant Egyptian market shortly.

Customers signing onto the platform enjoy a mixture of digital and physical cards on offer, including handy prepaid options and virtual cards tailored specifically for smoother financial transactions. What caught my eye particularly—aside from the considerable investments—is exactly how quickly fintech enterprises like YAP are becoming essential in emerging markets, where millions still lack conventinal banking access.

In a recent announcement, the company projected they will wrap up their Series A financing by late 2025. Additionally, they're focusing specifically on fintech, logistics, and proptech sectors; think property marketplace apps and logistic tech solutions ensuring your parcel arrives in one piece.

All things considered, this feels like another chapter in the ever-flourishing fintech saga; and if YAP plays its cards right—quite literally—they may soon be giving a few tech-savvy banks a run for their money. As regular readers of Arageek may agree, these digital innovations are genuinely reshaping the financial landscapes in countries we might not traditionally associate with cutting-edge finance.

🚀 Got exciting news to share?

If you're a startup founder, VC, or PR agency with big updates—funding rounds, product launches 📢, or company milestones 🎉 — AraGeek English wants to hear from you!