Lean Technologies and Ziina have collaborated to introduce a customer-led Open Finance payment system in the UAE, adhering to the Central Bank’s guidelines.
Ziina, operating under its SVF authorisation as a licensed financial institution (FI), will handle payments initiated by customers. The app facilitates instant person-to-person (P2P) bank transfers via regulated Open Finance APIs that directly connect to users’ accounts. This ensures faster and more transparent fund movements without the need for switching apps or manual transfers.
Enhanced Customer Experience
Ziina is responsible for crafting the payment experience, from designing the flow to user interaction. Meanwhile, Lean Technology provides the regulated infrastructure necessary for this journey, encompassing secure connectivity, compliant payment initiation, and enterprise-level resilience. Their partnership seeks to address consumer needs effectively and provide seamless solutions.
This initiative marks a significant step in Open Finance’s implementation within the region, moving from technical readiness to practical application through regulated API connections that support production-level payment processes. The UAE’s Open Finance Regulation, coupled with Nebras—the national Open Finance platform—and Al Tareq—the Central Bank’s API framework—forms the basis for secure connectivity. These elements enable licensed API providers like Lean and Ziina to deliver consent-based solutions, fostering inclusivity, innovation, and consumer choice.
Lean has extensive experience in constructing Open Finance infrastructure across the UAE, working closely with regulators, banks, and fintech companies to facilitate scalable payment and data connections. Their platform was rigorously tested in production applications and is designed for nationwide adoption.
Ziina’s role involves developing a unified payments interface utilized by both individuals and small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country, integrating account transfers, card acceptance, invoicing, and everyday payment experiences into one convenient platform. This underscores how regulated connectivity can simplify interactions and meet users’ expectations in a rapidly digitalizing economy.
