WEF names Islamic digital bank Fasset among 100 global tech pioneers
Islamic digital bank Fasset has been named one of the World Economic Forum's 100 Technology Pioneers for 2026, placing the UAE-based startup among a globally selected group of early-stage companies recognised for developing technologies with the potential to reshape business and society.
Through the two-year program, Fasset will participate in WEF initiatives and discussions alongside policymakers, investors and industry leaders.
The Technology Pioneers program, launched in 2000, selects early-stage companies from around the world and invites them to engage with public and private sector leaders through the WEF's global platform. This year's cohort spans 23 countries and covers frontier areas from nuclear fusion and quantum computing to space-based energy and AI infrastructure.
The WEF said the 2026 selection reflects a shift in where innovation is happening. While recent advances in AI have centred on models and consumer applications, many of this year's pioneers are focused on building the software and physical infrastructure needed to run AI at scale.
The US accounts for the largest share of the cohort with 43 companies. China follows with 10, India with nine, the UK with eight, Japan with five, South Korea with four, and Singapore with three. The UAE, where Fasset is headquartered, has one representative in the group.
Founded in 2019 and based in Los Angeles, Fasset is an Islamic digital bank offering Shariah-compliant digital investing, payments, and savings services to more than 2 million customers in 125 countries. The company uses stablecoins to move money across more than 50 payment corridors in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, processing over $32 billion in annualized volume for more than 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses.
The company holds regulatory licenses in the UAE, Indonesia, Malaysia, the EU, Turkey, and Pakistan, and its Shariah-compliant approach has helped it gain traction in Gulf and South Asian markets.
