Najwan Alalawi leads FinTech partnerships at Mawarid Finance, where she has helped build and implement banking-as-a-service capabilities for fintech partners in the UAE. She connects regulated finance with emerging companies to bring embedded cards and lending propositions to market. Her work spans partnership strategy, commercial design, governance and execution – from opportunity assessment and regulatory engagement through integration, testing and launch. She works across financial institutions, processors, technology providers and fintechs to turn partnerships into scalable customer propositions.

EXPERIENCE & PERSPECTIVE Built a UAE fintech partnership platform covering card-as-a-service, embedded finance and digital lending. Led cross-functional work across commercial, technology, risk, compliance and regulatory approvals. Brings nearly two decades of experience across banking, insurance distribution and strategic partnerships in the region.

RELEVANCE TO THE SYRIA FINTECH SUMMIT As a Syrian professional helping fintechs enter and grow in the UAE market, Najwan can offer practical lessons on how banks, regulators and fintechs build a viable ecosystem together – and which models Syria could adapt as its digital financial market develops.