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Alaan Secures $48M Series A Funding, Redefining Spend Management in MENA

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

August 5, 2025

From Personal Frustration to Fintech Innovation

While working as a consultant at McKinsey’s Dubai office, Parthi Duraisamy experienced first-hand the challenges of relying on American Express for corporate expenses—a card seldom accepted in the Middle East. Faced with mounting out-of-pocket costs and endless expense reports, Duraisamy’s frustrations sparked the idea for a solution that would revolutionize corporate spend management in the region.

Empowering Finance Teams Across the Region

Teaming up with fellow McKinsey alumnus Karun Kurien, Duraisamy launched Alaan—today the Middle East’s leading spend management platform. With a recent $48 million Series A funding round led by Peak XV Partners, alongside investments from noteworthy figures such as Hosam Arab of Tabby, Mudassir Sheikha of Careem, and popular regional influencer Khalid Al Ameri, Alaan is poised to redefine corporate finance in MENA.

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Navigating Complex Regulatory Hurdles

Alaan’s journey to the forefront of fintech was not without significant challenges. Initial regulatory complexities and the necessity for robust banking partnerships delayed its launch by nearly a year. Similar obstacles were encountered during its expansion into Saudi Arabia. Despite these hurdles, Alaan has steadily built a reputation for its customer-centric, product-led approach.

Pioneering Technological Integration

Innovation has been key to Alaan’s success. The platform became the first in the region to integrate Apple Pay into its B2B offerings, thereby addressing gaps in the market. In early 2023, Alaan also embarked on integrating OpenAI—initially trialing a consumer-facing chatbot, before shifting to background AI technology that streamlines processes such as receipt matching, reconciliation, and VAT extraction. This move has notably saved finance teams over 1.5 million hours of manual work.

Strong Fundamentals and Future Expansion

Since its 2022 launch, Alaan has processed over 2.5 million transactions for more than 1,500 finance teams across major enterprises including G42, Careem, Tabby, and Lulu Group. With a profitable operating model—spending $5 million to generate $10 million in revenue—the company has demonstrated resilient fundamentals. Duraisamy emphasizes that capital efficiency and robust revenue generation were central to securing investor confidence, rather than pure transaction volume.

Looking Ahead

The new funding will accelerate Alaan’s expansion in Saudi Arabia and further enhance its AI-driven finance automation. As the platform continues to challenge the status quo of traditional spend management, its strategic blend of regulatory navigation, innovative technology, and disciplined execution sets a compelling example for fintech innovators in emerging markets.

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WhatsApp Introduces Parent-Supervised Accounts For Users Under 13

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 12, 2026

Enhanced Security And Messaging Control

WhatsApp has introduced a new type of account designed for users under the age of 13, allowing parents to supervise messaging activity. The accounts are limited to messaging and voice calls and do not include advertising features, reflecting growing demand from families for safer communication tools for younger users.

Streamlined Verification And Parental Oversight

Creating a supervised account requires a parent or guardian to complete a dual-device verification process using a QR code. This procedure links the child’s device with the parent’s account, allowing guardians to monitor certain activities. Once the connection is established, parents can receive notifications when their child adds, blocks or reports contacts. The system is designed to provide oversight while still allowing children to communicate with approved contacts.

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Restricted Features With Full Encryption

Several WhatsApp functions are restricted within supervised accounts. Access to Meta AI, Channels and Status updates is disabled, and disappearing messages are not available in individual chats. Despite these limitations, conversations remain protected with WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption, ensuring that messages and calls remain private between participants.

Controlled Interactions And Transition Options

Additional safety tools help pre-teens manage interactions with unfamiliar contacts. Context cards provide details about messages received from unknown users, including shared groups and the country where the account originated. Users also have the option to silence incoming calls from numbers that are not saved in their contacts.

Chat requests and invitations to join group conversations require a six-digit parental PIN before they can be accepted. As children grow older, WhatsApp will inform them about the option to convert their supervised profile into a standard account. Parents can postpone this transition for up to 12 months if they wish to maintain supervision for a longer period.

A Broader Commitment To Digital Safety

WhatsApp’s initiative builds on Meta’s longstanding efforts to enhance the safety of young users across its platforms, including Instagram and Facebook. With over 3 billion active users worldwide, WhatsApp is reinforcing its commitment to a secure digital environment. This move also coincides with regulatory trends in countries such as Denmark, Germany, Spain, and the U.K., where steps are being taken to restrict social media access for younger users.