The MENA Fintech Association (MFTA) has entered into a strategic partnership with STORM Partners, an international venture-building and advisory firm, in a move aimed at strengthening collaboration across the global fintech and digital asset sectors.
The partnership brings together MFTA’s institutional and regional network with STORM Partners’ experience in venture growth, ecosystem development and innovation strategy. The organisations said the alliance will focus on areas including financial technology, digital assets, payments, embedded finance, blockchain, regulatory engagement and emerging financial infrastructure.
As financial services become increasingly interconnected across markets, the two organisations plan to create opportunities for greater engagement among fintech founders, financial institutions, regulators, investors, policymakers and technology companies.
The collaboration is expected to include executive roundtables, industry working groups, research initiatives, policy discussions, ecosystem intelligence programmes, educational activities, innovation showcases and investment-focused engagements.
Nameer Khan, Chairman of the MENA Fintech Association, said the partnership reflects the growing importance of international cooperation in financial innovation.
“The future of financial innovation will be defined not by isolated ecosystems, but by the strength of global collaboration.”
Khan added that the partnership is intended to create stronger connections between markets, institutions, innovators and policymakers while supporting knowledge exchange and long-term innovation.
Tariq Mattar, Co-Chair of MFTA Bahrain and Director at Bahrain Fintech Bay, highlighted developments across the region’s digital asset and Web3 landscape.
“MENA isn’t just adopting Web3. We’re building the infrastructure for it.”
Mattar pointed to regulatory and institutional developments across Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, arguing that the region now has a combination of regulatory frameworks, institutional capital and practical use cases. He said STORM Partners could help translate those developments into international-scale operations.
Sheraz Ahmed, Managing Partner at STORM Partners, said the alliance would help connect technology ecosystems and entrepreneurs across markets.
“This strategic alliance reinforces both organisations’ commitment to advancing a more connected, resilient, and innovation-driven financial ecosystem.”
Ahmed said the partnership is intended to promote collaboration, knowledge sharing and partnerships capable of generating longer-term economic impact.
STORM Partners said its work with MFTA will also support connections between emerging fintech businesses and international opportunities, while contributing expertise to strategic initiatives across the financial technology ecosystem.
The partnership comes as fintech, blockchain and digital asset markets continue to evolve, with regulators, financial institutions and technology companies exploring new models for payments, tokenisation and financial infrastructure.
Through the collaboration, MFTA and STORM Partners aim to facilitate greater international cooperation between public- and private-sector stakeholders and support the development of a more connected global fintech ecosystem.
