areeba and Codebase partner to offer BaaS solutions in the Middle East

By Gloria Methri

With an aim to accelerate the pace of digital transformation across the region, global payments infrastructure provider areeba has signed a strategic partnership with Codebase Technologies, a digital banking solutions firm headquartered in the UAE. The collaboration aims to deliver integrated Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) offerings designed to support banks and FinTechs in launching modern, scalable, and user-centric digital financial products.

By combining areeba’s advanced payments processing infrastructure with Codebase Technologies’ cloud-native Digibanc™ platform, the partnership will enable financial institutions to roll out comprehensive digital banking propositions and card issuance capabilities at speed and with reduced operational complexity.

This integrated approach is intended to shorten time-to-market, lower barriers to entry, and advance financial inclusion in a region experiencing a sharp rise in digital adoption.

The Middle East is witnessing a surge in FinTech activity, underpinned by favourable demographics—nearly 60% of the population is under the age of 25—and strong governmental support for digital innovation. These dynamics are fuelling growing demand for BaaS platforms that allow institutions to remain agile in the face of shifting customer expectations.

Commenting on the partnership, Maher Mikati, CEO of areeba, said, “Consumer expectations for digital financial services continue to evolve, and areeba remains committed to meeting those demands with scalable, innovative solutions. By partnering with Codebase, we are combining strengths to expand digital access and create more agile, impactful offerings for banks and FinTechs across the region.”

Tamer Mauge, Managing Director – MENA at Codebase Technologies, added, “We pride ourselves on being more than just a technology provider—we are advisors and partners, with deep-rooted expertise in the Middle East’s banking and FinTech landscape. Our Digibanc™ platform was built to deliver the flexibility, scalability, and speed that today’s digital financial institutions demand. We are excited to partner with areeba to help accelerate digital banking innovation across the region.”

As financial institutions seek to modernise legacy infrastructure and deliver differentiated customer experiences, this partnership positions both firms at the intersection of innovation and accessibility. The combined offering is expected to support not only digital-first FinTech ventures but also traditional banks looking to transition toward platform-based models with lower overhead and faster product rollout cycles.