The urban skyline of Amman, Jordan, representing the city's growing role as a regional hub for financial technology and innovation.
Amman is reinforcing its position as a regional hub for financial technology and sustainable development through two major digital initiatives. Arab Bank, via its innovation hub AB Xelerate, has partnered with Fuze to pilot digital asset services within Jordan’s Central Bank regulatory sandbox (JoRegBox). Simultaneously, the EU-funded ReTour project is deploying blockchain and AI to bolster the digital resilience of tourism SMEs. Together, these moves signal a strategic shift toward a modernized, tech-driven economy in Jordan, aligning with the national Economic Modernisation Vision.
AB Xelerate and the Rise of Regulated Digital Assets
The memorandum of understanding between Arab Bank’s AB Xelerate and Fuze marks a significant step for Jordan's banking sector. By leveraging Fuze’s Digital Assets-as-a-Service (DaaS) infrastructure, the bank aims to integrate secure digital asset offerings directly into its digital channels. This collaboration operates within the JoRegBox, a supervised testing environment that ensures compliance with national risk management and regulatory standards. The initiative focuses on product design and technical integration, providing a blueprint for how traditional financial institutions can navigate the burgeoning digital asset landscape while adhering to strict regulatory oversight.
ReTour: EU-Funded Tech Adoption in Tourism
While the financial sector pivots toward blockchain, the ReTour project is ensuring that the tourism industry: a vital pillar of Jordan’s economy: is not left behind. This EU-funded initiative provides small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the tools to implement AI and blockchain technologies. The goal is to build digital resilience, allowing local businesses to optimize operations and reach global markets more effectively. By bridging the gap between traditional hospitality and emerging tech, ReTour facilitates a more sustainable, competitive, and technologically integrated tourism ecosystem.
Source: Amman Net, Business News Editor, Zawya, Petra News Agency.
