Looking to launch the next digital bank or fintech app in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) without waiting years? You’re not alone – the MENA fintech scene is booming! Over 1,000 fintech companies now operate across the region, drawing about $1.9 billion in investment during 2023–24. In the UAE alone, 89% of consumers use digital-first bank accounts – a sign that customers are ready for online banking. No wonder experts predict MENA’s fintech revenues will grow around 35% annually through 2028, far above the global average. This explosive growth means huge opportunities for new digital banking services. But how can banks and startups ride this wave without spending a fortune or getting bogged down in development?
Enter white-label banking app development. Imagine getting a fully-built banking app platform that you can brand and customize as your own – a ready-made digital bank in a box. Instead of coding a banking app from scratch (a process that can easily take 12–18 months or more), a white-label solution lets you launch in a fraction of the time. The result? You hit the market fast while someone else handles the heavy lifting of core banking features and compliance. It’s like using a shortcut: you focus on your brand and customers, and the white-label provider supplies the proven tech under the hood.
What Is White-Label Banking App Development (and Why Use It in MENA)?
In simple terms, white-label banking app development means using a pre-built digital banking platform created by a third party, which you then rebrand and tweak as your own app. All the essential banking functions – account management, payments, cards, KYC/AML compliance – come ready-made. You get to customize the look-and-feel, maybe add or remove certain features, but you’re not building the entire system from scratch. It’s analogous to buying a fully furnished house and decorating it, rather than constructing a house brick by brick.
This approach is especially attractive in MENA, where fintech innovators want to move quickly while meeting local requirements. A good white-label banking platform will support Arabic language and right-to-left layouts, include Shariah-compliant finance options if needed, and meet regional regulatory standards out of the box. That means a neobank in, say, the GCC can launch with all the necessary pieces (from mobile wallets to security and open banking APIs) already tested and in place. Below is a quick comparison of using a white-label banking app versus building a new banking app from scratch:
| Factor | White-Label Banking App | Building from Scratch |
| Time to launch | ~3–6 months with a pre-built platform. | 12–18 months (or more) of development and testing. |
| Upfront cost | Moderate – typically a setup/license fee (far less than full custom development). | High – full development costs (often millions of dollars). |
| Customization | Medium – brand UI and select features can be tailored; core system is fixed. | Very high – you define every feature (but at the cost of time). |
| Compliance & Security | Built-in – comes with KYC/AML, security features and local regulation support ready-made. | DIY – must integrate compliance tools and certify everything yourself. |
| Maintenance | Provider handles updates, new features, and regulatory changes. | You shoulder ongoing updates, fixes, and compliance changes. |
As the table shows, a white-label solution dramatically cuts time-to-market and reduces development headaches. For example, a fintech could roll out a branded digital bank in weeks instead of years. Costs are lower and more predictable, since you’re essentially renting a platform rather than funding a full build.
Now, let’s look at some of the leading companies that offer white-label banking app development in MENA. These providers can help banks, fintech startups, and even non-financial brands launch robust digital banking apps quickly, complete with localized features. Each company below has a track record in fintech and an understanding of the MENA market. Let’s dive in!
1. Itexus
Itexus is a global fintech software development company focused on banking and finance. Since 2013, it has delivered 300+ fintech projects for 250+ clients in 23 countries with a 150+ engineer team (about 70% senior). For Gulf clients, it brings Arabic UX, and fluency in PCI DSS, open banking APIs, GCC/SAMA rules, and GDPR.
Its modular white-label mobile banking app framework pairs with strong custom engineering. The platform adapts to your brand and roadmap; a Coinstar wallet supporting 50+ assets shipped on schedule with strict security. If you need white label banking app development in MENA, Itexus offers a fast path to launch, room to customize, and compliance built in.
2. Intellias
Intellias is a veteran engineering firm with nearly 20 years in fintech across Europe, the US, and the Middle East. In MENA, it’s a go-to partner for ambitious digital banking launches. The team co-built Nomo, a fully digital Islamic bank serving GCC customers via a UK platform, delivered in under a year. That project married Middle Eastern banking rules with UK oversight, proving deep domain skill and an agile delivery model.
Intellias covers core banking, mobile apps, and payments with compliance tuned to SAMA and the UAE Central Bank. A 2,500+ team supports startups and large institutions, with work spanning Anglo-Gulf Trade Bank and Swissquote. Strengths include complex integrations (legacy cores, open-banking APIs) and emerging tech (blockchain payments, AI fraud detection). If you need white label banking app development in MENA or a custom-hybrid build, Intellias offers fast, compliant rollouts.
3. ScienceSoft
ScienceSoft (est. 1989) brings decades of banking and fintech delivery to MENA, backed by a UAE office since 2020. The focus is security, scalability, and compliance. Experience spans core banking, mobile front-ends, payment integrations, and cloud migrations. A UAE fintech moved its entire analytics stack to the cloud with ScienceSoft in three months, gaining real-time BI while staying aligned with Central Bank rules.
The team includes certified cybersecurity and compliance specialists, so builds meet PCI DSS, GDPR, and local regulations from day one. Strength lies in back-end architecture that scales and passes audits, whether for startups or large enterprises (their resume includes IBM, eBay, NASA). If you need white label banking app development in MENA, ScienceSoft is a credible partner for fast, secure rollouts that leave you free to ship features.
4. Appinventiv
Appinventiv builds award-winning fintech and banking apps with a mobile-first, user-centric approach. Founded in 2014, the 1,000+ team ships sleek mobile banking, digital wallets, trading, and wealth platforms with clear UX and smooth customer journeys.
They add practical innovation: AI chatbots for support, budgeting tools that read spending patterns, and blockchain where it solves real problems. For MENA, they localize fast—Arabic/English, right-to-left layouts, regional payment gateways, and Gulf data-security requirements. If you need white label banking app development in MENA, Appinventiv offers design precision, strong engineering, and delivery at pace.
5. Intellectsoft
Intellectsoft is a global development firm with a strong UAE presence and 20+ years in finance tech. It bridges legacy core banking with modern stacks, serving both major banks and fintech startups. Work spans core modernization, mobile banking, crypto exchanges, and DeFi platforms—where blockchain and AI solve concrete product needs.
Clients pick Intellectsoft for end-to-end delivery, security-first architecture, and DevSecOps baked into every release. The team understands Gulf open-banking specs and rules from the UAE Central Bank and SAMA. Strengths include complex integrations and crypto payments with smart contracts. If you need white label banking app development in MENA or a custom-hybrid build, Intellectsoft focuses on tangible outcomes: faster processing, smooth UX, and compliance by design.
6. LeewayHertz
LeewayHertz specializes in fintech builds powered by blockchain and AI. HQ in the US, delivery centers in India, and an active UAE presence. Work spans blockchain payment rails, DeFi, mobile banking, and digital lending—with AI for fraud detection, risk scoring, and smart support. Examples include an AI-driven trading platform and a blockchain cross-border engine that cut settlement time and fees. Security is table stakes: multi-sig, strong encryption, and rigorous key management.
For MENA buyers, the team ships Arabic-ready UX, aligns with local rules, and integrates with regional payment networks. They focus on mechanisms that move the needle—faster KYC, lower fraud, transparent ledgers where it helps, and simple apps where that’s enough. If you’re exploring white label banking app development in MENA, LeewayHertz brings modular components, solid integrations, and practical delivery that balances innovation with compliance.
7. Velmie
Velmie offers a modular white-label digital banking platform plus delivery services. It’s cloud-native, built for scale, and proven at 20M+ users with 99.9% uptime. Banks and fintechs launch faster and iterate quicker than building from scratch—clients report up to 6× faster revenue rollout.
Founded in Europe, Velmie serves the UAE and Gulf with Arabic UX, multi-currency support, and integrations to regional rails like Benefit (BH) and Mada (SA). Services cover mobile/web customization, extra APIs, and compliance guidance. The platform ships with PCI DSS controls and current open banking specs. If speed and scale matter, Velmie is a strong pick for white label banking app development in MENA.
8. Emaratech
Emaratech is a UAE-born tech provider at the crossroads of fintech and gov services. Backed by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, it powers core national rails—from airport e-Gates to visa payment portals—and built the original e-Dirham platform. In banking, the team delivers payment gateways, secure transaction processing, and e-wallet platforms for government bodies and large financial institutions.
Their edge is deep local know-how. Solutions ship with Arabic UX, UAE PASS and Emirates ID flows, and compliance baked to UAE Central Bank standards. Emaratech acts as a one-stop partner across software, hardware, hosting, and support—suited to mission-critical, large-scale rollouts. For banks seeking white label banking app development in MENA, Emaratech brings credibility, security, and reliability when failure isn’t an option.
Conclusion
The MENA fintech market is moving fast. These ten firms show what works today. Some provide ready-made platforms you can brand in months. Others bring long experience to build exactly what your bank or fintech needs. All can meet regional realities like Arabic UX, Shariah-compliant features, and connections to local payment rails.Pick a partner that matches your goals. If speed matters, choose white label banking app development in MENA with proven modules and compliance baked in. If differentiation matters, pick a team that can extend the stack without risking stability. Make the call, launch on a clear roadmap, and win the region’s digital-first customers with a secure, fully compliant mobile bank.