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Saudi MADA Prepares to Launch ‘Apple Pay’

Saudi MADA Prepares to Launch ‘Apple Pay’
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Saudi MADA Prepares to Launch ‘Apple Pay’

Saudi MADA Prepares to Launch ‘Apple Pay’

The Saudi Payment Network (MADA) announced it will soon introduce ''Apple Pay'' in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement issued on Friday, MADA confirmed that this falls under its continuous work to provide digital payment options according to the fastest and highest safety standards, in cooperation with its partners from Saudi banks and international payment systems.

MADA focused, since the beginning of the year, on the spread of Atheer service in stores – the service has become available in almost all points of sale in Saudi Arabia.

MADA activated the online payment service through MADA cards during the first quarter of the current year, and after that, it launched Android payments through MADA Pay.

MADA’s efforts fall under the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) efforts to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the program to develop the financial sector.

SAMA has started implementing an ambitious plan to develop MADA in order to support and reinforce digital payments in the country through a unified digital payments strategy.

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S&P Upgrades Oman’s Credit Rating with 'Stable Outlook'

A gas production field in the Sultanate of Oman. (Reuters)
A gas production field in the Sultanate of Oman. (Reuters)
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S&P Upgrades Oman’s Credit Rating with 'Stable Outlook'

A gas production field in the Sultanate of Oman. (Reuters)
A gas production field in the Sultanate of Oman. (Reuters)

Global credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) upgraded Oman’s credit rating to ‘BBB-’ with a stable outlook, hoping the country’s public finances will continue to strengthen.
“The outlook on the long-term ratings is stable,” the agency said.
The stable outlook balances the potential benefits of the government's fiscal and economic reform program against the economy's structural susceptibility to adverse oil price shocks.
S&P also noted that Oman’s fiscal position remains highly dependent on oil price movements, but resilience against shocks has strengthened.
Oil prices settled higher on Friday but fell on the week as investors weighed expectations for higher global supply against fresh stimulus from top crude importer China.
Brent crude futures settled up 38 cents, or 0.53%, at $71.89 per barrel. Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled up 51 cents, or 0.75%, at $68.18.
On a weekly basis, Brent settled down around 3%, while WTI fell by around 5%.
In early May, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Oman’s near- to medium-term outlook is favorable and risks to the outlook are broadly balanced.
It expressed hope that a decline in oil prices and economic reforms would continue in the medium term.
On Saturday, S&P expressed optimism it could raise Oman’s ratings over the next two years if reforms lead to steady growth in Oman's GDP per capita supported by continued momentum in non-oil growth.
It then expected the government's fiscal and economic reform momentum will continue over 2024-2027 on condition of reducing external debt levels and accumulating liquid assets.
Last week, the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) reduced its repo rate for local banks by 50 basis points, bringing it down to 5.5% in line with other Gulf central banks’ decisions to cut their key interest rates after the Federal Reserve decreased US rates by half a percentage point.
S&P said it anticipates that the CBO will continue following the US Federal Reserve's interest rate policy.
The agency added, “We expect Oman will maintain its currency peg, supported by its accumulated government external assets of about 30% of GDP.”