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UAE usurps UK in global fintech rankings

The UK has been pushed into third place in global fintech rankings for the first time following a strong showing by the UAE.

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UAE usurps UK in global fintech rankings

Editorial

This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community.

In the first half of 2025, global fintech investment reached $24 billion across 2,597 deals, a 6% increase on H2 2024, according to data compiled by Innovate Finance. The US remains dominant, with $11.5 billion raised across 1,082 deals, while other markets like India ($1.4 billion) and Singapore ($798 million) are gaining ground.

For the first time the UAE is the second-largest fintech market globally with $2.2 billion in investment mainly due to the $2 billion deal of Binance in H1 2025.

The UK is now the third-largest fintech market globally with $1.5 billion and 240 deals in the first half of the year and first in Europe, ahead of France and Germany combined. However, global competition for capital is increasing with India and Singapore not far from the UK.

Despite funding challenges, UK fintech companies continue to outperform on core business metrics. New analysis in the report shows that 11 of the UK’s most profitable FinTechs - Allica Bank, Atom, Funding Circle, Iwoca, Monzo, OakNorth, Revolut, Starling, Tandem, Wise and Zopa - generated a combined $3.3 billion in profits before tax in 2024, $848 million in tax charge, and employ over 26,000 people.

Fintechs across the rest of Europe excluding the UK raised $2.9 billion in H1 2025, up 28% from H2 2024. France and Germany saw strong performances, with $693 million and $668 million raised respectively.

Janine Hirt, CEO of Innovate Finance, said: "Despite the broader market adjustment, it is encouraging to see signs of stabilisation and resilience, in the UK and across Europe. To retain our global lead however we need to continue working with industry, government and regulators to improve access to growth capital and innovation."

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Comments: (3)

A Finextra member 

Then U.A.E will become the fintech hub in the world.
As they are using upi and Brics system also with Us swift.

A Finextra member 

How is this even possible. Khalifa, NPV, untold strategies and two months ago the French claimed to have usurped the UK and now UAE. Isn't time for new leadership at these goverment funded business travel committees?

A Finextra member 

The UK's Tax and Governance systems have finally succeeded in driving entrepreneurs out of the most creative country on Earth.  Why would someone who wants to lead a Unicorn want to do it in a jurisdiction that is going to punitively tax that individual, his company and his employees out of existance, whilst charging the highest costs for Energy in the world.  Our regulators are not doing enough to convince Fintechs that this is the place to be.   We may have the ideas, but exploitation will happen in the USA and Middle and Far East from now on.

Congratulations to the UAE for creating a welcoming place for creative business builders.  Have worked there, and in KSA for years, and can only say that there is lots to be said for the GCC as it blossoms into a great financial jurisdiction,  welcoming environments for expat workers and a fun place to live.  Mumtaz, and Mabrouk! 

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