Arcapita Group Holdings Limited, the global alternative investment firm, Dgpays, a leading financial infrastructure technology provider in the EMEA region, and Mashreq, one of the UAE’s leading financial institutions, today announced an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Neopay, the UAE’s fast-growing payment solutions provider, while Mashreq retains a significant minority interest.
The transaction implies an approximate enterprise value for Neopay of $385 million, and the closing is subject to necessary regulatory approvals.
The acquisition represents a significant milestone for Neopay as it aims to expand its presence in the rapidly growing digital payments sector in the Middle East. The strategic support of the consortium, positions Neopay to further accelerate its growth trajectory and offer new services, leveraging Dgpays’ cutting-edge technology.
Neopay is the UAE’s fastest-growing payment solutions provider, with a strong foothold among merchants and e-commerce players. The UAE’s card transaction value is expected to grow at double-digit rates over the next five years, presenting substantial opportunities for Neopay to capture further market share.
Founded as a strategic division within Mashreq, Neopay experienced significant growth in recent years, serving a diverse client base across key sectors such as retail, hospitality, government, and e-commerce. Neopay's expansion is driven by the UAE's dynamic economic landscape, which is characterised by a young, digitally literate population, robust GDP growth, and the government’s initiatives to promote digital transformation and a cashless economy.
Serkan Omerbeyoglu, chief executive of Dgpays, said: “We are excited to support Neopay's transformative journey in partnership with Mashreq. Neopay has demonstrated exceptional growth and innovation in the UAE’s digital payments landscape, and we see tremendous potential in expanding this success across the broader Middle East region.
"At Dgpays, our mission has always been to drive digital transformation in financial services through cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships. By integrating our fintech solutions with Neopay's robust platform, we aim to unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation and present these innovative solutions to the enterprise and SME market of the UAE and broader GCC market.”
Atif A Abdulmalik, chief executive of Arcapita, said: “Neopay is fully aligned with Arcapita’s investment strategy which focuses on acquiring companies that are not only market leaders but also have strong growth potential driven by favourable macroeconomic trends.
"Neopay is well-positioned to benefit from the UAE's ongoing shift towards digital payments, supported by rising GDP, a tech-savvy young population, and government-led initiatives for digital transformation. Arcapita will support the next phase of Neopay's growth into value-added services and new markets.”
Ahmed Abdelaal, group chief executive at Mashreq, said: “This transaction is a key milestone in Neopay's journey, allowing it to continue its strong growth trajectory as a regional leader in digital payments. We are confident that Arcapita and Dgpays have the right expertise and vision to help Neopay achieve its ambitious expansion plans across the Middle East. While Mashreq retains a significant stake in Neopay, we are excited to see the company reach new heights as it scales its operations and reinforces its market leadership.”
Vibhor Mundhada, chief executive of Neopay, said: “We are thrilled to embark on the next chapter of Neopa's growth with the support of Arcapita and Dgpays. Neopay has established itself as a leader in the digital payments sector by consistently innovating and delivering value to our clients.
"With the technological and financial backing of our new shareholders, alongside Mashreq’s continued support, we are well-positioned to accelerate our growth in the UAE and expand our footprint across the Middle East. We remain committed to advancing e-commerce payments and driving the broader adoption of digital payments across the region.”
This acquisition signifies a strategic alignment between Arcapita, Dgpays and Mashreq, highlighting a shared commitment to driving innovation and growth in the digital payments industry throughout the Middle East.
Goldman Sachs International, DIFC branch, acted as financial adviser to the seller, while deNovo Partners advised the consortium. Clifford Chance acted as legal counsel to Mashreq while Freshfields was legal counsel to the consortium. Mashreq’s Investment Banking arm facilitated the closure of the transaction between the parties.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (11.30pm)
Saturday Freiburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund, Cologne v Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld v Mainz (6.30pm) Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (9.30pm)
Sunday Werder Bremen v Stuttgart (6.30pm), Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (9pm)
Monday Hoffenheim v Augsburg (11.30pm)
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
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The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
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Astroworld
Travis Scott
Grand Hustle/Epic/Cactus Jack
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
