标签： Africa

South Africa’s outsourcing industry, encompassing accountancy support, call centers, and IT services, is experiencing robust growth, providing a lifeline in a country grappling with a 33% unemployment rate. The sector, which now contributes 35 billion rand ($2 billion) annually to the economy, has become a beacon of opportunity for many South Africans, including Esethu Dywili, a 31-year-old accountant whose career in outsourced financial services has enabled him to build a new home for his family in the Eastern Cape province.

Dubizzle Group, the leading digital classifieds marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced the postponement of its planned initial public offering (IPO) on the Dubai Financial Market. The decision, revealed on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, aims to evaluate the most favorable timing for the offering in the future. Despite the delay, the company emphasized strong investor engagement and interest, underscoring its market leadership, profitability, and growth potential across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Since its initial announcement to float, Dubizzle Group has garnered significant attention from investors, reflecting confidence in its strategic direction. The company remains committed to expanding its highly profitable UAE operations and increasing its presence in Saudi Arabia. In a statement, Dubizzle Group reiterated its focus on executing its growth strategy while maintaining disciplined cost management and scalable infrastructure.

Originally, the IPO was set to offer approximately 30.34% of the company’s total issued share capital, equivalent to 1,249,526,391 shares. This included 196,114,887 new shares issued by the company and 1,053,411,504 existing shares from selling shareholders. The paid-up share capital post-offering was projected at Dh82.368 million, divided into 4,118,412,630 shares with a nominal value of Dh0.02 each.

The UAE remains Dubizzle Group’s core market, generating $105 million in adjusted revenue during the first half of 2025, accounting for 89% of its total adjusted revenue. The region also delivered $48 million in adjusted EBITDA, up from $25 million in H1 2024, and $43 million in adjusted net profit, a significant increase from $21 million in the same period last year. CEO Imran Ali Khan highlighted the company’s exceptional profitability, with nearly 50% profit margins and 85% cash flow conversion, attributing these results to its asset-light business model and efficient growth strategies.

Dubizzle Group’s decision to delay the IPO reflects a cautious yet strategic approach to maximize shareholder value and capitalize on favorable market conditions in the future.

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has announced unprecedented financial results for the first nine months of 2025, with a 24% surge in net profit to Dh16.02 billion. This marks the highest earnings ever recorded by the bank for this period. The third quarter alone saw a 21% increase in net profit, reaching Dh5.39 billion. Loans and advances grew by 13% year-to-date to Dh596 billion, while customer deposits rose 8% to Dh848 billion. Total assets climbed 14% to Dh1.38 trillion, with capital and liquidity ratios comfortably exceeding regulatory requirements.

The bank’s robust performance is attributed to broad-based growth across all divisions, driven by strong client activity, diversified revenue streams, and significant productivity gains from its AI-driven transformation strategy. Operating income increased by 16% to Dh27.65 billion, supported by sustained business momentum. Net interest income rose 2% to Dh14.96 billion, while non-interest income surged 37% to Dh12.7 billion, accounting for nearly half of total revenue.

Group CEO Hana Al Rostamani emphasized the success of FAB’s diversification strategy and its growing international presence. The bank is expanding its footprint in Europe, Turkey, and Nigeria, with plans to open a new branch in India. Al Rostamani highlighted the transformative impact of AI integration across operations, which has enhanced agility and efficiency. “By embedding intelligent technologies across the Group, we are redefining how we serve clients and driving long-term value creation,” she said.

Group CFO Lars Kramer noted the bank’s resilient margins and double-digit revenue growth across all divisions, supported by a strong balance sheet. FAB’s commitment to sustainable finance was also underscored, with the issuance of its inaugural Blue Bond and Low Carbon Energy Bond. International operations contributed 17% of Group revenue, with loans and deposits from overseas markets rising 23% and 18%, respectively.

FAB continues to lead in AI-enabled transformation, deploying 18 live AI agents across functions such as trade operations, customer service, and finance analytics. These systems have doubled processing capacity and reduced turnaround times by up to 50%, solidifying FAB’s position as a pioneer in technology-driven banking excellence. Analysts predict strong momentum for FAB as it enters the final quarter of 2025, with high confidence in sustaining its growth trajectory into 2026 and beyond.