The Largest Non-Banking Financial Services Provider in the GCC

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About Us

Al Ansari Financial Services is the largest non-banking financial services provider in the GCC.

It empowers its operating subsidiaries, Al Ansari Exchange, Al Ansari Exchange in Kuwait (full acquisition by the Group is currently ongoing and expected to be completed soon), Blue Remit, CashTrans, Al Ansari Digital Pay and BFC Group to unlock their growth potential through synergy.

The Group’s global platform provides cross-border payments, foreign currency exchange solutions, access to the Wage Protection System, and other services such as bill collection and pre-paid cards, as well as payment technology solutions to consumers and businesses in the large and growing payments and foreign currency exchange and remittance market in the GCC.

Through its subsidiaries, Al Ansari Financial Services provides its products and services to a diverse range of customers, including:

  • Retail: residents and inbound and outbound tourists
  • Corporates: large, medium and small enterprises in the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, global sending and receiving institutions and agents, and other exchanges

The Group delivers its products and services through a comprehensive global network underpinned by its proprietary technology and relationships with third parties.

 

Vision

To be the customers’ first choice for financial services.

Mission

To empower individuals and businesses with accessible, secure and innovative financial solutions that enhance their financial wellbeing and enable growth.

Competitive Advantage

Al Ansari Financial Services has the competitive advantage of an extensive physical presence across the UAE, state-of-the-art digital platforms, and an untarnished reputation with zero regulatory breaches or penalties to date. Meanwhile, its strong and growing digital capabilities are driving scale, enabling it to capture greater market share and supports customer retention rates while boosting efficiency.

Al Ansari Financial Services expanded into Kuwait with the establishment of Al Ansari Exchange in Kuwait in 2002.  In 2025, the Group has completed the purchase of BFC Group giving it access to Bahrain, Kuwait and India market. With this acquisition the group strengthens its regional footprint, securing a #1 market position in Bahrain, #3 in Kuwait, and access to a wider customer base in India, in addition to its leading position in the UAE remittance and foreign exchange market.

 

Our History

Since the founding of our first business, Al Ansari Exchange, in 1966 by the Late Ali Abualhassan Al Ansari, we have expanded our physical presence across the UAE while introducing innovative products and services and establishing specialised entities, such as WorldWide Cash Express and CashTrans, to adapt to market trends and changing regulations. As we continue to expand the business over time, the only constant has been our focus on catering to our customer’s evolving needs and preferences. This is demonstrated through our investment in our digital channels while also maintaining a prominent physical presence to offer face-to-face interactions. We are proud of our accomplishments to date and look forward to continuing our journey.

Board of Directors

MOHAMMAD AL ANSARI
Chairman

Mohammad Ali Abualhassan Al Ansari is the Chairman of the Company. He is the founding Chairman of the Foreign Exchange..

MOHAMMAD AL ANSARI
Chairman

Mohammad Ali Abualhassan Al Ansari is the Chairman of the Company. He is the founding Chairman of the Foreign Exchange and Remittance Group (“FERG”), a non-profit association for exchange companies in the UAE established in conjunction with the UAE Central Bank. He pursued his higher education in the United States and returned to the UAE in the early 1980s.

FUAD AL ANSARI
Vice Chairman

Fuad Ali Abualhassan Al Ansari serves as the Vice Chairman of the Company. He joined the Group in 1995, and led the organization’s..

FUAD AL ANSARI
Vice Chairman

Fuad Ali Abualhassan Al Ansari serves as the Vice Chairman of the Company. He joined the Group in 1995, and led the organization’s digitalization efforts through overseeing the development of automated systems to process the volume of transactions. Prior to joining the Group, he had a decade-long tenure in Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations – “ADCO”. Fuad Ali Abualhassan Al Ansari earned his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, U.S.A.

EISA AL ANSARI
Director

Eisa Ali Abualhassan Al Ansari serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. He joined the Group in 1995 and has over 27 years..

EISA AL ANSARI
Director

Eisa Ali Abualhassan Al Ansari serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. He joined the Group in 1995 and has over 27 years of experience with the Group. Eisa Ali Abualhassan Al Ansari earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in the U.S.A. He also undertook executive education in the fields of financial and business management skills at the Michigan School of Business.

RASHED A. AL ANSARI
Director

Rashed A. Al Ansari is the Group Chief Executive Officer and a Board Member of Al Ansari Financial Services, the parent company of Al Ansari Exchange..

RASHED A. AL ANSARI
Director

Rashed A. Al Ansari is the Group Chief Executive Officer and a Board Member of Al Ansari Financial Services, the parent company of Al Ansari Exchange, one of the UAE’s most trusted financial services group.

Since joining in 2010, Rashed has driven the Group’s strategic transformation and market expansion, leading the successful public listing of Al Ansari Financial Services on the Dubai Financial Market in 2023. Under his leadership, the Group is the largest non-banking financial institution in the GCC, serving millions of customers across remittances, foreign exchange, payments, and digital financial solutions.

Rashed’s career includes senior roles at Dubai Holdings, Dubai Industrial City, and the Dubai Mercantile Exchange, where he led operational, commercial, and strategic initiatives. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Bradford and an MBA from Leeds University Business School, and is a graduate of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Program.

Recognised among Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 CEOs in 2023 and 2025, he serves on the Dubai Chamber of Commerce Board and as Vice Chairman of the Foreign Exchange & Remittance Group (FERG), contributing to the UAE’s financial services industry.

NITIN KHANNA
Director

Nitin Khanna serves as an independent non-executive member of the Board of Directors of the Company. He has over 40 years of experience in the Middle East region..

NITIN KHANNA
Director

Nitin Khanna serves as an independent non-executive member of the Board of Directors of the Company. He has over 40 years of experience in the Middle East region, mainly with PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”). Whilst with PwC, he held several senior positions including serving on the Middle East leadership and Deals leadership teams, heading Transaction Services and the Corporate Finance practices of the firm in the region.. He currently serves as a member of the executive committee of Bin Dawood Holdings Ltd (“BDH”), a company listed on the Saudi Tadawul Exchange. Until May 2022, he was an independent non-executive director of BDH. He continues to act as a Director of Future Tech Retail, a wholly owned subsidiary of BDH engaged in making technology related investments. He is an advisor to several subsidiaries of Transmed Holdings and is a senior partner of Nucleus Consulting FZC. Previously, he served as an advisory board member of Emirates Hospital Group and as an adviser to the Chairman of PNCI LLC, a private company engaged in the real estate sector. He pursued a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Delhi University, India and is a chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Raja Director Profile Picture
RAJA AL MAZROUEI
Director

Named among the global “Top 100 Women in FinTech” by Innovate Finance, Raja Al Mazrouei has been a key figure in solidifying the United Arab Emirate’s position..

RAJA AL MAZROUEI
Director

Named among the global “Top 100 Women in FinTech” by Innovate Finance, Raja Al Mazrouei has been a key figure in solidifying the United Arab Emirate’s position as one of the top ten global Fintech hubs. A natural visionary, Raja is committed to scaling the latent potential of each individual and fearlessly broadening the boundaries of what is considered possible. Raja’s career in FinTech was launched with an MBA in Global Leadership and Management from the United Arab Emirates University in 2005. Since then, she has held senior executive positions within the IT, operations, and marketing teams at Dubai Holding, National Bonds Corporation, and Dubai International Financial Center. She has expanded her credentials by completing programs at Harvard Business School, London Business School, University of California at Berkeley, Singularity University, and Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance. In 2017 Raja helped launch FinTech Hive, a collaborative community encompassing over 200 FinTech, RegTech, and InsurTech firms operating at the DIFC. As Executive Vice President, Raja recruited over 1000 startups and oversaw their integration into the UAE economic scene, running acceleration programs for early stage, growth stage, and scale-ups. Her fearless forward thinking has inspired countless individuals, helping to make FinTech Hive one of the region’s most successful technology hubs and one of the world’s top financial innovation labs. Raja’s contributions as a pioneer in the field have been widely recognized. In addition to the recognition from Innovate Finance, she has been named among the “50 Most Influential Women in Middle East Finance” by Dow Jones’ Financial News and the “Top 100 Power Businesswomen in The Middle East” by Forbes. She also helps shape the future of financial services in the region by serving on various boards, including the Harvard Business School MENA Advisory Board and the boards of Zand Digital Bank, National Cement Company, Etihad Credit Insurance, Al Masraf Arab Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade and a trustee member of Mohammad Bin Rashid School of Government. Additionally, she served as the Vice President of the Harvard Business School Club of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a non-profit fostering the professional and personal growth of over 1,200 Harvard Business School alums in the Gulf region. Raja’s entrepreneurial vision and passion for innovation, combined with her commitment to the growth and development of individuals and institutions alike, have made her a significant contributor to the dynamic success of FinTech in the UAE, the Gulf region, and beyond.

MARCELLO BARICORDI
Director

Marcello serves as an independent non-executive member of the Board of Directors of the Company. Marcello is a Senior Executive..

MARCELLO BARICORDI
Director

Marcello serves as an independent non-executive member of the Board of Directors of the Company. Marcello is a Senior Executive with 25+ years of experience in accelerating growth especially for Multinationals across Emerging Markets and Payments. Marcello brings the experience of Senior Roles at Network International (Group President Processing), Visa International (General Manager MENA) and First Data (Managing Director Italy, currently FISERV). Marcello is currently helping Companies to accelerate growth in the region as Board Member for Strands LLC (Barcelona) and Enza Group (Abu Dhabi) and as Senior Advisor for Kearney. Marcello holds a Laurea in Business Administration from the University of Venice Italy and a corporate governance diploma and ESG certificate from the Corporate Governance Institute.

Executive Management

RASHED AL ANSARI
Group Chief Executive Officer

Rashed Ali Abualhassan Al Ansari is the Group Chief Executive Officer. He joined the Group in 2010. He has previously worked at Dubai Holdings..

RASHED AL ANSARI
Group Chief Executive Officer

Rashed A. Al Ansari is the Group Chief Executive Officer and a Board Member of Al Ansari Financial Services, the parent company of Al Ansari Exchange, one of the UAE’s most trusted financial services group.

Since joining in 2010, Rashed has driven the Group’s strategic transformation and market expansion, leading the successful public listing of Al Ansari Financial Services on the Dubai Financial Market in 2023. Under his leadership, the Group is the largest non-banking financial institution in the GCC, serving millions of customers across remittances, foreign exchange, payments, and digital financial solutions.

Rashed’s career includes senior roles at Dubai Holdings, Dubai Industrial City, and the Dubai Mercantile Exchange, where he led operational, commercial, and strategic initiatives. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Bradford and an MBA from Leeds University Business School, and is a graduate of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Program.

Recognised among Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 CEOs in 2023 and 2025, he serves on the Dubai Chamber of Commerce Board and as Vice Chairman of the Foreign Exchange & Remittance Group (FERG), contributing to the UAE’s financial services industry.

MOHAMMAD BITAR
Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer

Mohammad Bitar is the Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer. He has more than two decades of experience in the financial services industry..

MOHAMMAD BITAR
Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer

Mohammad Bitar is the Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer. He has more than two decades of experience in the financial services industry across a broad range of strategy, organization, operations, and information technology assignments. Bitar has previously worked with various local and international firms in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, including the National Bonds Corporation, Union National Bank and Accenture. He holds a post graduate diploma in Information Technology and Management from Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Jordan University of Science & Technology. He is also certified in investments and wealth management from the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

ALI AL NAJJAR
Chief Executive Officer

Ali Al Najjar is Al Ansari Exchange’s Chief Executive Officer with over 23 years of experience in the exchange industry.

ALI AL NAJJAR
Chief Executive Officer

Ali Al Najjar is Al Ansari Exchange’s Chief Executive Officer with over 23 years of experience in the exchange industry. He has a proven track record of driving operational excellence and fostering business growth in dynamic market environments. He plays a pivotal role in shaping the success of the company’s services, spearheading the growth and diversification initiatives, demonstrably propelling the company’s leading market position.

Aside from overseeing the exchange business, Ali ensures that the company adheres to the highest standards of governance, regulatory compliance and risk mitigation in his capacity as the Manager in Charge for Al Ansari Exchange, serving as the primary contact for the Central Bank of the UAE.

Ali brings a wealth of expertise in optimising commercial strategies, managing risks and enhancing financial performance, encompassing Operations in Back Office and Branches, Treasury, Cards, Business Development, Corporate Relations and Digital Channels. He leverages his strong collaborative leadership style and skills to guide diverse departments and his analytical approach to optimise digital channels.

Ali holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Al Yarmouk University in Jordan.

GEORGETTE YOUSEF
Group Chief Human Resources Officer

Georgette Yousef is the Group Chief Human Resources Officer responsible for leading on all aspects of Human Resources within the Group..

GEORGETTE YOUSEF
Group Chief Human Resources Officer

Georgette Yousef is the Group Chief Human Resources Officer responsible for leading on all aspects of Human Resources within the Group. Prior to joining the Group, Georgette held the position of Director of Human Resources and Support Service at Amanat Holdings PJSC, a publicly listed company on the DFM. Georgette, holds a Diploma in Human Resources Practice – CIPD from Oakwood International, UK.

ASHRAF MOUSSAD
Group Chief Corporate Services Officer

Ashraf Moussad is the Group Chief Corporate Services Officer. He is in charge of the Company’s network expansion, leasing, projects, procurement, logistics, and facilities management..

ASHRAF MOUSSAD
Group Chief Corporate Services Officer

Ashraf Moussad is the Group Chief Corporate Services Officer. He is in charge of the Company’s network expansion, leasing, projects, procurement, logistics, and facilities management. In addition to the above, Ashraf was leading the Human Capital, Administration and Legal functions of Al Ansari Exchange for the past eight years prior to this new role. He has around 30 years of experience in leading strategic human resources management, administration, leasing, quality management and training with prominent some of the conglomerate groups in the UAE, Kuwait, Egypt and KSA, such as DAMAS Jewellery, Sharjah Cooperative Society, Corinthia Palace Group and Shamil Group. Ashraf holds a post graduate diploma in strategic human resource management from the American University. He is a certified ISO auditor and has a diploma in Lean Management.

SADIQ ALI ANSARI
Group Chief Risk & Compliance Officer

Sadiq Ali Ansari is the Group Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, bringing 16 years of extensive experience, predominantly in anti-money laundering and financial crimes compliance and supervision.

SADIQ ALI ANSARI
Group Chief Risk & Compliance Officer

Sadiq Ali Ansari is the Group Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, bringing 16 years of extensive experience, predominantly in anti-money laundering and financial crimes compliance and supervision. Before joining the Group, he served as a Compliance and Examination Manager at the Central Bank of the UAE and as a Senior Director for the Middle East & North Africa region at FTI Consulting.

Sadiq brings a wealth of experience when it comes to managing regulatory landscapes and implementing robust and risk-based compliance frameworks. His focus areas are Regulatory Compliance Management, Anti-Financial Crime Compliance, Financial Crime Prevention Technology and Policy Making.

Sadiq is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant, and a Certified Financial Risk Manager. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Karachi University in Pakistan.

VISWANATH RAMASUBRAMANIAN
Group Chief Internal Auditor

Viswanath Ramasubramanian is the Group Chief Internal Auditor. Viswanath has over 25 years of experience in leading internal audit, regulatory compliance..

VISWANATH RAMASUBRAMANIAN
Group Chief Internal Auditor

Viswanath Ramasubramanian is the Group Chief Internal Auditor. Viswanath has over 25 years of experience in leading internal audit, regulatory compliance, banking operations, governance, risk management, fraud investigation and business advisory services in banking and financial services industry spanning across the Middle East and Asia Pacific region. Viswanath’s former appointments include Union National Bank, RSM International – Kuwait, KPMG – Kuwait, Deutsche Bank – Mumbai etc., where he led various Internal Audit Functions.

He is a Chartered Accountant from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He is also a Certified Financial Crime Specialist, a Certified Information Systems Auditor and a Certified Internal Auditor.

BRUNO LOPES
Group Chief Technology Officer

Bruno Lopes is the Group Chief Technology Officer (GCTO), responsible for driving the company’s technology strategy, delivery and support to ensure secure, scalable, and innovative customer experiences across all channels.

BRUNO LOPES
Group Chief Technology Officer

Bruno Lopes is the Group Chief Technology Officer (GCTO), responsible for driving the company’s technology strategy, delivery and support to ensure secure, scalable, and innovative customer experiences across all channels.
With over 28 years of experience, Bruno has led major Digital Transformations, Business Growth, and Product Management initiatives for leading FinTech organisations in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, including Network International and Fidelity Information Services (FIS). His career reflects a deep understanding of diverse markets and technology landscapes in banking and payments.

Bruno holds a master’s degree in software engineering from the University of Coimbra, Portugal.

SUHAIL HOOSAIN
Group Chief Financial Officer

Suhail Hoosain is the Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO), responsible for overseeing the organisation’s financial strategy, planning, and performance, while driving initiatives that support sustainable growth and operational excellence.

SUHAIL HOOSAIN
Group Chief Financial Officer

Suhail Hoosain is the Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO), responsible for overseeing the organisation’s financial strategy, planning, and performance, while driving initiatives that support sustainable growth and operational excellence.
With over 18 years of global experience across South Africa, the United Kingdom, the USA and the UAE in financial services, banking, FinTech, and audit, including Deem Finance, First National Bank, and PwC. Suhail has led complex financial initiatives, including business turnarounds, management of large-scale P&L’s and balance sheets, execution of a multi-million-dollar asset-backed securitisation, finance function transformations, and strategic partnership models.
Suhail is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy and a Bachelor of Commerce degree, both from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. In addition, he has also completed executive education in Digital Transformation – Platform Strategies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

HUSAM SHABANI
Group Head of Marketing

Husam Mahmoud Shaker Shabani is the Group Head of the Marketing Department. He is a seasoned professional with 20+ years of experience in advertising..

HUSAM SHABANI
Group Head of Marketing

Husam Mahmoud Shaker Shabani is the Group Head of the Marketing Department. He is a seasoned professional with 20+ years of experience in advertising, branding and in developing and executing innovative marketing strategies. He holds a master’s degree in Business Administration at Halifax University in the U.S.A. Husam’s former appointments include Havas Creative (Formerly known as Euro RSCGME), Webtec e-Solutions & Stallions Home Entertainment where he led various Marketing & Advertising functions.

NAWAL KEBOURI AMMOR
Group Head of Financial Institutions

As the Group Head of Financial Institutions at Al Ansari Financial Services, Nawal Kebouri Ammor leads strategic partnerships with local and international financial institutions..

NAWAL KEBOURI AMMOR
Group Head of Financial Institutions

As the Group Head of Financial Institutions at Al Ansari Financial Services, Nawal Kebouri Ammor leads strategic partnerships with local and international financial institutions, driving the Group’s expansion efforts and ensuring regulatory excellence in collaboration with central banks and global partners.
She brings over two decades of global experience in the financial services, specialising in Cash Management, Trade Finance, Correspondent Banking, and Payments.

Prior to joining Al Ansari Financial Services, Nawal held senior leadership roles at NIUM, Mastercard, Deutsche Bank, and Citibank, where she consistently delivered transformative growth across the MENA region.

She is recognised for her ability to navigate complex financial ecosystems, spearhead innovative cross-border payment solutions, and build sustainable, high-impact banking relationships.

Nawal holds an MBA in Marketing from Université du Québec à Montréal and is fluent in English, Arabic, and French.

MUHAMMAD HAROON
Head of Operations of CashTrans

Muhammad Haroon is the Head of Operations of CashTrans, leading and managing the entire operations of the company from cash management, cash logistics, security..

MUHAMMAD HAROON
Head of Operations of CashTrans

Muhammad Haroon is the Head of Operations of CashTrans, leading and managing the entire operations of the company from cash management, cash logistics, security, loss prevention and regulatory compliance. Haroon’s former appointments include G4S Cash Services, Abana Enterprises KSA, Transguard and Emrill Services. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science.

VIVEK NAIR
Country Head of Kuwait Operations

Vivek Nair is the Country Head of Kuwait Operations. He brings with him over 20 years of experience in cross border payments..

VIVEK NAIR
Country Head of Kuwait Operations

Vivek Nair is the Country Head of Kuwait Operations. He brings with him over 20 years of experience in cross border payments, product expansions and business development from Kuwait & Qatar. Vivek’s former appointments include UAE Exchange & Unimoni Exchange.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Diploma in Strategic Management from the International Business Management Institute in Germany.

OMER FAROOQ
Head of Operations of Blue Remit

Omer Farooq is the Head of Operations of Blue Remit (former Worldwide Cash Express). Omer leads Blue Remit’s business expansion strategies, market penetration and overall operations.

OMER FAROOQ
Head of Operations of Blue Remit

Omer Farooq is the Head of Operations of Blue Remit (former Worldwide Cash Express). Omer leads Blue Remit’s business expansion strategies, market penetration and overall operations. Omer has extensive experience of more than 23 years in remittance business, cash management, and transaction banking. Prior to joining Al Ansari, Omer worked at Faysal Bank, Pakistan as Head of Global Remittances. He holds a master’s degree in Business Administration at Hamdard University in Pakistan.

Our Story

01
1966

Al Ansari Exchange opened its first branch

02
2002

Commenced Operations in Kuwait

03
2010

Launched Payroll solution “Payplus”

04
2011

Launched Cashtrans

05
2017

Launched Blue Remit

06
2018

Launched Mobile App

07
2022

Introduced Smart Counters

08
2023

Listed on Dubai Financial Market (DFM)

09
2023

Al Ansari Exchange inaugurates its 250th Branch in the UAE

10
2023

CashTrans launches state-of-the-art Cash Management Centre in Dubai

11
2025

Acquired BFC Group – Became GCC’s Largest NBFS Provider

12
2025

Launched Business Solutions Centre in India

Awards & Accolades

4018

Gold Medal for Excellence in Recruitment of Local Candidates (For Emiratisation): Economic Times Human Capital Awards (2025)

3940

Al Ansari Financial Services Announces Dual Wins for its subsidiaries at the MEA Finance Leaders in Payments Awards 2025

3474

Best Financial Institution IPO in Europe, Middle East, and Africa region for 2023 – EMEA Finance

3938

Best User Experience in Payments in the UAE – MEA Finance Leaders in Payments Awards (2023)

GET IN TOUCH

Contact Us

  • UAE Call Center: 04 222 0800
  • Call Center Timing: 08:00 AM – 05:00 PM
  • Email: [email protected]

Office No. 804, Al Ansari Business Center, Al Barsha 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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