Al Ansari Exchange Wins ”Best Remittance and Foreign Exchange Service Provider” for the Fifth Consecutive Year at MEA Finance Awards 2026
Al Ansari Exchange, the leading remittance and foreign exchange service provider in the United Arab Emirates and a subsidiary of Al Ansari Financial Services PJSC (DFM: ALANSARI), has been named the "Best Remittance and Foreign Exchange Service Provider" at the MEA Finance Payment Leaders Awards 2026 for the fifth consecutive year.
Additionally, Al Ansari Exchange in Kuwait, which specializes in exchange and remittance services under the Al Ansari Financial Services Group, won the award for "Outstanding Innovation in Cross-Border Payments - Remittance." The accolade recognizes the company's successful implementation of "Visa Direct," a service that enables near real-time money transfers to eligible Visa cards worldwide.
Organized by MEA Finance magazine, the annual awards celebrate exceptional achievements in the regional payments and financial services sectors.
The UAE accolade follows the company's continuous investments in expanding its branch network and enhancing its digital channels. Al Ansari Exchange currently operates 290 branches across the UAE, with 30% of its total transactions now executed digitally. Furthermore, the number of digital channel users and the volume of digital transactions have surged by 32% since the beginning of the year compared to the same period last year.
The company also plays a pivotal role in promoting financial inclusion through the Wage Protection System (WPS) and remittance solutions tailored to a diverse customer base. Strategic partnerships with government entities and institutions across financial services, loyalty programs, insurance, and the payments sector have further broadened its service offerings.
Maintaining Reliability and Accessibility
Commenting on the achievement, Ali Al Najjar, CEO of Al Ansari Exchange, said: "This recognition reflects the trust of our customers and the dedication of our teams across the UAE. We remain focused on evolving our services to meet changing customer needs while upholding the reliability and accessibility that are the hallmarks of Al Ansari Exchange."
Launched in December 2024, the "Visa Direct" service allows Al Ansari Exchange customers in Kuwait to transfer funds directly to eligible Visa debit, credit, or prepaid cards via the global VisaNet payment processing network. The service is accessible through the company's mobile application and its branch network.
Mohammad Bitar, Deputy CEO of Al Ansari Financial Services, stated: "This achievement in Kuwait exemplifies our progress in executing our regional growth strategy. Developing advanced cross-border payment capabilities strengthens our standing in key markets and supports the creation of a more interconnected regional platform."
Vivek Nair, Head of International Business for the Group at Al Ansari Financial Services, added: "'Visa Direct' offers customers a faster, more seamless way to transfer money internationally. This award represents a significant milestone for our business in Kuwait and motivates us to continue developing solutions perfectly tailored to the needs of the local market."