Al Ansari Exchange, the UAE’s leading remittance and foreign exchange company and a subsidiary of Al Ansari Financial Services PJSC (DFM: ALANSARI), has secured the “Best Remittance and Foreign Exchange Services Provider” title at the MEA Finance Leaders in Payments Awards 2026 for the fifth consecutive year.

Al Ansari Exchange Kuwait, a Kuwait-based exchange and remittance provider operating under the Al Ansari Financial Services, also received the “Landmark Innovation in Cross-Border Payments – Remittances” award for implementing Visa Direct, which enables near real-time transfers to eligible Visa cards worldwide.

Organised by MEA Finance magazine, the annual programme celebrates leading achievements in payments and financial services across the region.

The UAE win follows continued investment in Al Ansari Exchange’s physical and digital presence. The company operates 290 branches nationwide, while 30% of its transactions are completed digitally. Digital users and transaction volumes have grown by 32% year to date compared with the same period last year.

The company also supports broader access to financial services through the Wage Protection System and remittance solutions serving a diverse customer base. Partnerships across government, financial services, loyalty programmes, insurance and payments have further expanded its offering.

Ali Al Najjar, Chief Executive Officer of Al Ansari Exchange, said: “This honour reflects the trust of our customers and the commitment of our teams across the UAE. We remain focused on evolving our offering to meet changing customer needs while maintaining the reliability and accessibility that define Al Ansari Exchange.”

Introduced in December 2024, Visa Direct allows customers of Al Ansari Exchange Kuwait to send funds directly to eligible Visa debit, credit and prepaid cards through VisaNet, Visa’s global processing network. The service is available through the company’s mobile app and branch network.

Mohammad Bitar, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of Al Ansari Financial Services, said: “The achievement in Kuwait demonstrates the progress of our regional growth strategy. Building advanced cross-border payment capabilities strengthens our position in key markets and supports the development of a more connected regional platform.”

Vivek Nair, Group Head of International Business at Al Ansari Financial Services, said: “Visa Direct gives customers a faster and simpler way to send money internationally. This award is an important milestone for our Kuwait business and encourages us to continue developing solutions tailored to the needs of the local market.”