Lean and Ziina Advance UAE Open Finance with One-Tap Pay by Bank

Talal Toukan (Co-Founder and Head of Engineering at Ziina) and Omar Hamada (VP of Sales at Lean)

Lean Technologies and UAE fintech Ziina have launched the country's first One-Tap Pay by Bank experience under the UAE's Open Finance framework, representing an important milestone in the evolution of digital payments and account-to-account (A2A) transactions.

Built on Lean's Deposits infrastructure, the new capability allows Ziina users to securely connect their bank account once and instantly top up their wallet with a single tap thereafter. The experience removes the need to repeatedly authenticate with banking credentials or navigate through bank portals, significantly improving payment convenience.

The launch reflects the next phase of Open Finance adoption in the UAE, where regulated infrastructure is now enabling recurring, low-friction payment experiences rather than only one-off bank transfers.

Why Does One-Tap Pay by Bank Matter for UAE Open Finance?

Historically, Pay by Bank services in the UAE supported only single-use instant payments. Lean and Ziina's latest integration demonstrates how Open Finance infrastructure can now support seamless recurring account-to-account transactions.

For consumers, this means:

• One-time secure bank account connection
• Single-tap wallet top-ups
• No repeated banking authentication
• Faster payment journeys
• Reduced transaction friction

The solution combines Ziina's consumer-focused wallet experience with Lean's Open Finance infrastructure, illustrating how regulated financial connectivity is improving everyday digital payments.

What Is Changing in the UAE's Digital Payments Ecosystem?

The UAE has emerged as one of the Middle East's leading Open Finance markets following the rollout of its regulatory framework. Financial institutions, fintech companies, and regulators are increasingly focusing on improving customer experience rather than simply enabling payment initiation.

This latest launch demonstrates a broader market shift:

Traditional Pay by Bank	One-Tap Pay by Bank
One-time payments	Recurring wallet funding
Repeated authentication	Single initial authentication
Bank portal redirects	No redirects
Higher payment friction	Low-friction user experience
Transaction-focused	Everyday payment experience

The development also aligns with the UAE's wider digital economy ambitions, supported by innovation ecosystems including ADGM, DIFC Innovation Hub, and fintech initiatives driving Open Finance adoption across the region.

What Scale Have Lean and Ziina Achieved?

Both companies have established meaningful scale within the UAE fintech ecosystem.

Company	Key Metrics
Lean Technologies	Founded in 2019; supports 400+ businesses; processed US$5 billion+ in transaction volume; connected 2 million+ financial accounts; completed 3 million+ account verifications
Ziina	Founded in 2020; serves 260,000+ businesses and consumers across the UAE

These figures demonstrate growing demand for Open Finance infrastructure and consumer-friendly payment experiences in one of the region's fastest-growing fintech markets.

What Did Lean and Ziina Say About the Launch?

According to Omar Hamada, VP of Sales at Lean, Pay by Bank has already been operational in the UAE, but until now has largely supported only single instant payments. He said the collaboration with Ziina demonstrates that the infrastructure is now capable of powering recurring, low-effort payment experiences that integrate naturally into consumers' daily financial habits.

Talal Toukan, Co-Founder and Head of Engineering at Ziina, added that users increasingly expect financial services to offer the same simplicity as leading consumer technology. Since wallet funding is among the most frequent actions within Ziina, reducing friction was a logical next step in enhancing the customer experience.

What Does This Mean for the Future of Open Finance in the Middle East?

The announcement was made during Lean's "Pay by Bank: The Default Way to Pay" industry event, attended by more than 150 leaders from banking, fintech, commerce, and regulatory sectors.

As Open Finance frameworks mature across the GCC, including ecosystems such as ADGM, Hub71, NEOM, and Saudi Arabia's expanding fintech sector, financial infrastructure providers are expected to focus increasingly on embedded, recurring payment experiences rather than standalone payment initiation.

The Lean-Ziina partnership illustrates how regulated Open Finance infrastructure is evolving from enabling connectivity to delivering frictionless consumer experiences—an important step toward broader adoption of account-to-account payments throughout the Middle East.

 

 

 

FAQ

1. What is One-Tap Pay by Bank?
One-Tap Pay by Bank allows users to securely connect their bank account once and complete future payments or wallet top-ups with a single tap, eliminating repeated authentication.

2. What is Open Finance in the UAE?
Open Finance is a regulated framework that enables consumers to securely share financial data and initiate payments through licensed third-party providers using standardized APIs.

3. Who are Lean Technologies?
Lean Technologies is a UAE-based financial infrastructure provider founded in 2019. The company has supported more than 400 businesses, processed over US$5 billion in transactions, connected more than 2 million accounts, and completed over 3 million account verifications.

4. What is Ziina?
Ziina is a UAE-licensed fintech founded in 2020 that provides digital payment and wallet services to more than 260,000 businesses and consumers across the UAE.

5. Why is this launch significant?
The launch marks the UAE's first recurring One-Tap Pay by Bank experience under the Open Finance framework, demonstrating the evolution of account-to-account payments from one-time transfers to seamless everyday payment experiences.