UAE Fintech e& Money Wins Finance Licence to Offer Loans Through Its App

The Central Bank of the UAE has granted a Finance Company Licence to e& money, the fintech arm linked to telecom group e&, enabling it to offer lending and credit products directly through its mobile app. The approval gives the platform's roughly two million users access to new borrowing options, expanding the range of digital financial services available on a single app that already handles payments and money transfers. The move reflects the UAE's broader push to build a cashless, digitally driven economy and to widen financial inclusion by bringing regulated credit to consumers through convenient mobile channels. By securing a formal licence, e& money comes under the central bank's supervisory framework, which sets standards for lending practices, consumer protection and risk management. For users, embedding loans within a familiar app can simplify access to credit, though it also raises the importance of responsible lending safeguards and clear terms. The licence is part of a wave of fintech activity in the Gulf, where regulators are balancing innovation with oversight as banks, telecom-backed platforms and startups compete to offer embedded finance. The development positions e& money to deepen its role in everyday consumer finance across the Emirates.