Our latest Travel Trends report, issued by the Mastercard Economic Institute (MEI), reveals that despite ongoing global headwinds, including currency fluctuations and geopolitical uncertainty, travelers are prioritizing experiences that are meaningful, immersive and connected to their personal passions.

According to a Mastercard-commissioned report by Genesis Analytics, Africa’s digital payments economy is projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030. That projection reflects a seismic shift in how Africans transact, save and build livelihoods. But unlocking this potential requires more than optimism—it demands commitment, infrastructure and scale.

Mastercard has prioritized resilience, digital innovation, and inclusive financial solutions—partnering with government bodies and launching vital initiatives to support the economy, empower SMEs, and ensure continued access to services, while adapting to evolving challenges with flexibility and purpose.

Across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA), women are redefining the business landscape. Mastercard’s latest research reveals a powerful trend: 78% of women in the region aspire to start their own businesses. This growing entrepreneurial spirit signals a significant shift, one that has the potential to drive economic development, innovation, and financial inclusion.

At Mastercard, we believe in empowering every business - whether it’s a tech-driven startup in Saudi Arabia, a small retailer in Egypt, or an export-focused SME in Kazakhstan. Through strategic partnerships with fintech companies, governments, and banks, we are ensuring that SMEs have access to cutting-edge digital payment solutions, real-time insights, and credit opportunities.

Over the past two decades, we at Mastercard have been actively involved in introducing cutting-edge digital payment solutions to the Egyptian market in line with the government’s vision for a financially inclusive future.

Mastercard is making the settlement of real-time card payments a reality, starting in South Africa, freeing up capital for businesses and giving people more transparency and control over their money.

STEM fields are among the fastest-growing career sectors of today. However, women representation in these areas remains relatively low. Our global research at Mastercard reveals that girls tend to lose interest in STEM between the ages of 9 and 13, leading to a significant drop in their involvement in these subjects. Additionally, women still hold only 33% of technology roles.

At Mastercard, we don’t see sustainability as a separate agenda – it’s woven into everything we do. Through initiatives like the Priceless Planet Coalition, which aims to restore 100 million trees, and our Sustainability Innovation Lab, we are fostering solutions that benefit both people and the planet.

Recently, we took a significant step toward this goal by furthering our partnership with Ukrainian Railways to adapt its ticketing app, launched together with Mastercard, to better serve people with vision impairments.

At Mastercard, we are committed to leveraging our vast global network to achieve the SDGs, and driving financial inclusion is an important part of our collective efforts.

We announced the launch of world-class technology infrastructure and the opening of new data centers in the Kingdom that will enable the processing of domestic transactions, providing a seamless and secure payments experience for our partners and consumers.

As digitization generates huge amount of data, this needs processing, contextualization, interpretation and insight generation – all in real time. This is where we at Mastercard are leveraging AI to simplify the complex, making commerce easier for consumers and merchants.

In a recent interview with CNBC Arabia, Dimitrios Dosis highlights the game-changing potential of new technologies and the accelerating shift toward digital payments, driven by rising consumer curiosity and the demand for greater convenience.

In line with our shared commitment to fostering innovation and financial inclusion within this evolving digital landscape, we have entered a partnership with Safaricom to accelerate the adoption of payment acceptance and cross-border remittance services in Kenya.

The startup aims to help defuse the continent's "demographic time bomb" with a platform that lets digitally-savvy youth connect with global brands and build businesses as influencers.

In order for its citizens to thrive in the global digital economy, Mauritius is building an ecosystem capable of fostering its people’s ambitions. Here are their stories.

Millions of young Kenyans are juggling multiple gigs in the informal economy. MESH gives them the business, financial and digital skills to grow their business and soon, access to credit.

Mastercard has partnered with Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to launch the third season of the award-winning podcast series, ‘Her Voice’.

At Mastercard, we are contributing to this growth by enabling retailers to leverage innovative channels to reinvent the ways people pay for their purchases and enhance their customer propositions in this highly competitive industry.

The Reach Alliance, which studies sustainable innovation, outlines powerful strategies for tackling climate change in communities on the front lines of global warming, including Kenya's mangrove forests.

At Mastercard, we are committed to supporting Morocco's digital transformation by joining forces with key ecosystem players. In this context, we have entered a long-term strategic partnership with BANK OF AFRICA, one of the country’s largest banks.

At Mastercard, we are helping accelerate the growth of the hospitality and travel sector by providing seamless, secure and flexible payment solutions that cater to the needs of the region’s travelers, connecting them to priceless experiences across the globe.

To boost the contribution of small businesses and empower them to unlock their full potential, Mastercard pledged to bring 50 million SMMEs worldwide into the digital economy by 2025.

At Mastercard, we are committed to harnessing the power of partnerships with key local and regional ecosystem players to unlock new opportunities for individuals and businesses in this space.

At Mastercard, we believe that when we support women entrepreneurs, we are not only supporting the economy but also their desire to solve real needs. That’s why we are committed to creating an enabling environment for women to make their mark as business leaders.

Innovation is a key enabler of sustainable growth, social development and economic prosperity. For thousands of years, it has been improving people’s lives and accelerating humankind’s journey towards new milestones. With its rapid technological advancements, the digital age has supercharged innovation and amplified its transformative impact.

The Mastercard Fintech Forum 2024 brought together 50 of the biggest fintech companies in Morocco, startup founders, fintech leaders, and investors. Centered around the theme of 'Digital and Financial Inclusion in Africa: Two Faces of the Same Coin,' this premier event fostered discussions, idea exchanges, and partnerships that aim to strengthen the local fintech startup ecosystem.

Accessibility lies at the core of our business at Mastercard. Our mission is rooted in offering consumers and businesses barrier-free access to innovative payment solutions, and we have been driving these efforts in Ukraine for more than 25 years.

Our latest report Affluent Travel: A Middle East Perspective highlights the role of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in driving growth in affluent travel. While much of the world is barely touching pre-pandemic levels, MENA is the only region to show arrivals 22% above 2019. The top five most visited cities in the region include Istanbul, Dubai, Cairo, Jeddah, and Marrakesh.

South Africa’s ecommerce landscape stands as a shining example of resilience and innovation. Faced with unique challenges, the country’s businesses and consumers have not only coped under pressure but have adapted in remarkable ways. This has helped ensure the seamless flow of goods and services in a rapidly growing digital economy.

For more than 25 years, Mastercard has been at the helm of powering an inclusive digital economy in Ukraine in close collaboration with the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), various government stakeholders, partner banks and merchants. These long-term efforts of all market players have become key to the resilience of the country’s financial sector during the Russian invasion.

Africa is a young continent with a median age of 19 years. It is estimated that by 2030, the number of young people in the African labor force will increase to 375 million. This means that by 2035, there will be more young people entering the workforce each year than in the rest of the world combined.

Saudi Arabia is one of the most dynamic financial services markets in the MENA region. In line with its pioneering Vision 2030, the country is driving innovation and embracing cutting-edge technologies to achieve its digital transformation ambitions, including increasing the growth rate of digital payments to 70% by the end of the decade.

The Mastercard MENA Business Forum held in Luxor featured insightful business sessions and discussions on various themes such as retail banking transformation, data utilization for growth, personalization and loyalty, cross-border remittances, and cybersecurity.

While people have migrated to new countries in pursuit of brighter futures throughout history, ubiquitous digitization has opened new pathways for economic growth and opportunity around the globe. Digital nomads – professionals who travel while working remotely – have emerged in recent years alongside technological advances and the post-pandemic era of flexible work.

At Mastercard, we are committed to providing everyone with equal opportunities to connect their greatest passions with their fullest potential. Our efforts start with fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, regardless of gender, background or physical abilities.

In our fifth episode of "Eye on ESG" podcast HE Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Former UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment discusses how technologies like solar, wind, and hydrogen can decarbonize our energy sector and combat the climate crisis.

In our fourth episode of "Eye on ESG" podcast, Gihan Hyde, CEO and Founder of CommUnique and recipient of the UK’s “CEO of the Year” Award, explores the importance of the social pillar in ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance). Gihan shares why social impact is so vital to organizations, what consumers expect in a more socially-conscious world and what companies can do to design social initiatives that tie to organizational growth.

In our third episode of "Eye on ESG" podcast we explore new frontiers as we look at Sustainability Beyond Earth with Rick Tumlinson, Founding Partner of SpaceFund and a leader in the new space movement. He discusses how can innovations and resources like space solar power can fuel sustainability right here on earth.

In our second episode of Mastercard’s Eye on Sustainability podcast, we hear from Karl Feilder, Global Net Zero Advisor and Implementor of McDonald’s biofuel global program, who challenged himself to save our species.

In our first episode of "Eye on ESG" podcast from Mastercard we explore how the aviation industry is navigating the crucial balance between growth and sustainability, with Shashank Nigam, CEO of SimpliFlying and #1 Amazon bestselling author of “SOAR”.

Bahrain’s digital payments landscape is fast evolving. It’s only natural that the country’s connected consumers expect speed, convenience and security from their payment services. At Mastercard, we are dedicated to providing them with all that and more as part of our efforts to drive digital transformation and boost financial inclusion in the country

Economic sectors worldwide have been undergoing a rapid transformation in recent years. Looking ahead, by the end of the decade, we anticipate witnessing innovative changes that will give rise to a ‘new economy’. These include redefining the concept of money, introducing new asset exchange methods, offering intelligent solutions that span physical as well as digital environments, expanding inclusivity and sustainability principles, and transforming how companies build products

Financial inclusion is one of the key development priorities in the Middle East and Africa. Over the past decade, we have witnessed significant progress in this space, including the introduction of mobile trading platforms, educational campaigns and leveraging technological developments to address the needs of underserved segments

A field visit to a mangrove reforestation site on the Arabian Gulf brought climate action to life.

A psychologist helped develop soccer games that enhance resilience and bolster mental well-being for children traumatized by February’s massive quake.

Centered around the theme 'Reimagining Tomorrow's Transactions,' the event brought together industry experts to explore emerging trends that will reshape the approach to digital commerce.

The event explored diverse topics, from inclusive workplaces and leadership to the impact of AI, the metaverse and disruptive innovations, sparking transformative ideas in every session.

With the 43rd edition of GITEX GLOBAL, the world’s largest and most inclusive tech event, opening its doors once again in Dubai, Mastercard EEMEA was present, actively exploring opportunities to harness partnerships and innovation for transformative impact.

During times of humanitarian crises, it is important that we all stand in solidarity with affected people around the world. At Mastercard, we continue to mobilize our resources to support relief efforts globally including the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The second edition of the Mastercard EEMEA SME Confidence Index reveals that 75% of SMEs in EEMEA project similar or increased revenue in the next 12 months. Top three areas for support required by SMEs are training and upskilling staff, access to a wider range of financial services and better telco infrastructure.

The first central bank digital currency card issued by Eurasian Bank and powered Mastercard was presented on the 30th anniversary of the Tenge, Kazakhstan’s national currency. The Digital Tenge Card instantly converts funds to traditional Tenge currency and is available to make purchases anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Mastercard’s contactless technology revolutionized the country’s payment landscape, while further introduction of mobile contactless payments enhanced the client experience, offering Ukrainians even more seamless digital payment options.

Mastercard’s presence in Pakistan has enabled people and businesses to achieve financial security and prosperity for over 20 years. We're a trusted partner to the government, banks, fintechs, payment service providers and merchants in driving financial inclusion and digitizing new payment flows.

Mastercard is harnessing the power of our advanced technology to help translate visions to reality as part of our efforts to drive global digital transformation.

Following the unprecedented rainfall in Libya on September 10th that caused the collapse of two major dams, Mastercard will donate $200,000 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to strengthen Libyan Red Crescent’s first aid response.

Anonymized spending trends and other data helps refugees pinpoint smaller communities where they could thrive after the upheaval of war.

Three social impact and tech organizations joined forces to power data insights that can boost the economic resilience of these vulnerable entrepreneurs.

We have worked with our corporate security team and people and capabilities team to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees and their families and will continue to support them during this difficult time.

In Ukraine, digital payments have become mainstream with 60% of payments with Mastercard cards being made digitally today, a testament to the country's innovative spirit. This trend is not new, and it has been evolving considerably.

Releasing music as NFTs could help bring more African creativity to a global audience, he says.

To accelerate Ethiopia’s digital transformation, we at Mastercard partnered with EthSwitch, Ethiopia’s national payment switch, to enable financial institutions across the country to boost the adoption of digital payments

As part of its pledge to connect one billion people worldwide to the digital economy by 2025, Mastercard is building partnerships with public and private sector entities as well as NGOs to develop, incubate and scale locally relevant digital solutions.

Shehryar Ali, Country Manager for East Africa participates in a panel session with NTV Kenya which was centered around the challenges and opportunities faced by small and medium-sized enterprises.

Gaurang Shah, executive vice president of Product and Engineering, EEMEA, Mastercard spoke with CNBC Africa on the future of payments, the evolving economy, and the transformative impact of innovations on commerce.

Mark Elliott, Division President, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mastercard recently sat down with CNBC Africa to discuss Mastercard's strategic approach in harnessing Africa's immense potential.

Gabriel Swanepoel, country manager, Southern Africa, Mastercard, speaks to CNBC Africa about the recently launched ‘Informal Economy’

Novek’s IoT-enabled vending machines help kiosk owners in Kenya sell washing powder in the quantities its shoppers can afford, without excess plastic packaging.

Mastercard and WIRED Middle East recently joined forces to celebrate women in the tech industry and inspire the next generation of female leaders.

As the digital economy becomes a more connected place where commerce thrives, it’s essential that everyone has access to it. We at Mastercard are passionate about driving financial inclusion in locally relevant ways.

As part of our commitment to empower female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia and the wider region, we have launched the second season of our award-winning podcast series ‘Her Voice’.  

Mastercard signed a strategic agreement with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) that will allow tech-enabled companies to issue their own payment cards through the bank using Mastercard’s technology.

A campaign in the U.A.E. and Egypt will deliver two million meals to hungry schoolchildren through the World Food Programme with support from Amazon.

Mastercard is leveraging its partnerships and technology to make in-game payments easier, curate more immersive experiences, deliver fan-first touchpoints, and stage unforgettable moments for gamers to enjoy.

The Online Retail in South Africa 2023 report, released by World Wide Worx in conjunction with Mastercard, showed that online shopping shot up from 27% of adult South Africans in 2020 to 38% in 2022.

The world thrives when fintech companies have access to the technology they need to democratize finances. Through partnerships, we can close the digital divide, co-create solutions, and innovate for real impact to accelerate the shift to a cashless economy.

To date, over 3.5 million girls in 60 countries have benefited from the inquiry-based educational program that is available in 20 languages, including Arabic. Mastercard is halfway to achieving its goal of reaching 5 million girls globally by 2025.

Mastercard entered a strategic partnership with e&, a UAE-based technology and investment group that is undergoing a major transformation. The collaboration will enable consumers and businesses in 16 markets across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa

As Mastercard celebrates twenty-five years of “Priceless”, we are proud to showcase twenty-five women leaders from around the world who are making a difference on a global scale.

For 31 years, Imelda Ngunzu’s mother taught at a rural Kenyan school that didn’t even have power. Today it has a library and digital lab built in memory of her late mother.

The Cape Wine Auction, one of the world’s most renowned charity wine auctions, opened its doors to wine connoisseurs and philanthropists from across the globe for the 10th time. The event unites the industry around the common goal of raising money for education.

The Mastercard Trust Center helps SMEs to defend their critical assets, business, and reputation by providing online access to cybersecurity research, curated education, resources, and tools from Mastercard and trusted external sources.

In the darkest of times, ordinary people have become everyday heroes, and government and businesses have formed powerful partnerships to mobilize resources to keep the economy going.

Mastercard has partnered with the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and Network International to roll out the first transit payment ecosystem in its capital city Amman

At Mastercard, we continue to leverage our technology, insights, global expertise, and partnership approach to empower every business everywhere to grow digitally and become stronger than before.

At Mastercard, we focus on connecting and powering an inclusive digital economy that benefits everyone everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible.

To help small and medium-sized businesses, we launched the Mastercard Start Path Ukraine initiative, which provides mentoring and financial aid.

Small businesses are recognizing the practical benefits of digitalization in day-to-day operations, as opposed to viewing it as a long-term project for the future.

Employees from Mastercard's Eastern Europe, Middle East and North America region climbed Mardi Himal. It was the trip of a lifetime — and a trip that could change lives for Nepalese children.

In Africa alone, 9 in 10 people said that they’re willing to take individual action to combat environmental and sustainability issues, making this a key focus area for governments and businesses.

Mastercard was honored with the Ukraine Peace Prize. Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, announced the award to recognize the companies, governments, and world politicians who have supported the country during the ongoing conflict.

In this ecosystem full of potential, Mastercard has an important role to play. We are excited about nurturing the region’s fintech landscape through innovative strategy, strong collaboration, and acquisitions.

Digital transformation harbors great potential for emerging markets who want to build strong, modern, resilient digital economies, and Georgia is no exception.

With small businesses representing 98 percent of all businesses, creating more than half of the private sector workforce and contributing a third to South Africa’s GDP, the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will only aggravate an already struggling economy.

There are some things that money can’t buy; for everything else, there’s Mastercard. This simple sentence uttered 25 years ago, captured the imagination of millions and thrust Mastercard’s Priceless campaign onto the global platform.

A nonprofit initiative that supplies villages with pumps for clean drinking water has blossomoned into a tree restoration plan that brings jobs to local women.

Mastercard Farm Pass is helping farmers digitize their operations, access new buyers, and secure capital to grow.

Nigeria’s Mono is bringing financial innovation to Africa — and boosting financial inclusion — through open banking.

Seymur Rasulov, whose Azeri-based SmilePay is part of Mastercard Start Path’s latest cohort, says facial recognition can transform the financial ecosystem for consumers.

In Lagos, Modupeola Lucy Asuku’s store grew in baby steps, nurtured by microloans and access to e-commerce.

The technology is being used to ensure traceability in supply chains, and smallholder cattle farmers hope it can help jump-start beef exports.

In this podcast, we speak to Mastercard experts and business leaders across the Middle East and Africa and around the world who are working together to build a more inclusive and sustainable digital economy that works for everyone, everywhere.

When it comes to fighting climate change, there is only one way to make a tangible impact: by joining forces. Partnerships are crucial to building a greener future for all. Living and working sustainably is the only way we can protect our planet for generations to come, and everyone must be on board.

As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of an evolving pandemic, digital transformation presents organizations with a historic need for resilient leadership that can turn ideas into action and lead people to a better future with empathy

As the Official Payment Technology Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, Mastercard is leveraging the mega event as a platform to build a more inclusive and connected future.

Now, as Expo 2020 Dubai is upon us, revealing how it is connecting minds and creating the future, the element that really stands out for me, is partnership.

With a history of women often feeling they should simply be content with what they have, it is wonderful to see more and more support for women to persevere and pursue the extraordinary, reach for the stars, and achieve the until-now-impossible.

The pandemic is a watershed moment for gender equality and an African Union report notes the importance of a gendered perspective in the analysis of this multi-dimensional event, to improve outcomes for women, and the wider society that benefits when women contribute.

As long as people are trapped in a cash economy, they are locked out of many economic opportunities in the financial mainstream.