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Cyprus Expands Air Connectivity With New European and Middle Eastern Routes

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 9, 2025

Enhanced Air Network for a Growing Market

Cyprus is set to bolster its air connectivity this summer, unveiling an expanded network at both Larnaca and Paphos airports. Driven by Hermes Airports in strategic collaboration with key airlines and tourism stakeholders, this initiative is designed to offer residents a broader range of travel options and to sustain the island’s upward trajectory in visitor arrivals.

Strategic Expansions at Larnaca Airport

Larnaca Airport has significantly widened its direct services, linking major cities with emerging holiday destinations. Newly introduced routes include Condor’s services to Frankfurt, Zurich, and Düsseldorf, as well as SkyExpress’s route to Heraklion. Moreover, Cyprus Airways has refreshed its schedule by adding twice-weekly services to Venice, Barcelona, Preveza, Rhodes, Santorini, and Skiathos. The air travel landscape is further enriched by Helvetic Airways connecting to Bern, Eurowings operating flights to Berlin, Salzburg, and Graz, and Saudia inaugurating services to Riyadh. Additional launches include EasyJet’s routes to Belfast and Nantes along with TUI’s connections to Belfast, Cardiff, and Newcastle. Further growth is marked by Braathens launching services to Gothenburg and Helsinki, Smartwings expanding reach to Prague, Bratislava, and several Eastern European cities, Swiss adding Geneva, and Wizz Air serving Vienna.

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Boosting Paphos Airport’s Role as a Gateway

In tandem with Larnaca’s developments, Paphos Airport is reinforcing its status as a crucial entry point to Cyprus. Ryanair has augmented its offerings with four-times-weekly flights to Mykonos and Rhodes, as well as twice-weekly services to Toulouse and Marseille. Additionally, TUI’s newly added routes to Luton and Norwich, along with Transavia’s weekly connection to Lyon, mark significant steps in diversifying the travel choices available to visitors.

Conclusion

This comprehensive expansion of Cyprus’s air network underscores the country’s commitment to sustaining robust connectivity with major markets in Europe and the Middle East. With strategic route partnerships and an increased frequency of services, Cyprus is poised to further enhance its appeal as a prime destination for tourists and business travelers alike.

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FinTech’s Dominance In MENA: Three Strategic Drivers Behind Unyielding VC Success

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 11, 2025

Despite facing tightening global liquidity and macroeconomic headwinds, the FinTech sector continues to assert its leadership in the MENA region. In the first half of 2025, FinTech emerged as the most resilient and appealing arena for venture capital investments, proving its worth as a catalyst for financial innovation and inclusion.

Addressing Structural Financial Gaps

In many parts of MENA, a significant proportion of the population remains underbanked and underserved by traditional financial institutions. FinTech companies are uniquely positioned to address these persistent challenges by bridging critical access gaps and driving financial inclusion. With the proliferation of payment apps, digital wallets, and micro-lending platforms, investors have witnessed firsthand how these solutions pave the way for scalable growth and eventual exits. Early-stage momentum in the region is underscored by a doubling of pre-seed deals year-over-year, reinforcing the sector’s capacity for rapid innovation and sustainable expansion.

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Highly Scalable and Replicable Business Models

One of the key factors behind FinTech’s dominance is the inherent scalability of its business models. Once the necessary infrastructure and regulatory approvals are in place, these models have demonstrated robust performance across borders. The first half of 2025 saw a marked acceleration in deal activity, with payment solutions leading the charge with 28 deals in MENA—a significant increase over the previous year. Lending platforms, in particular, experienced a meteoric 500% year-over-year increase in funding, emerging as the fastest-growing subindustry. Such replicability makes FinTech an attractive proposition for investors seeking high-growth opportunities in diverse markets.

Supportive Regulatory And Government Backing

The strategic support offered by key government initiatives in the UAE and Saudi Arabia has been instrumental in propelling the FinTech sector forward. Progressive frameworks, such as the UAE’s open finance and digital asset directives, coupled with Saudi Arabia’s live-testing sandboxes, have materially lowered entry barriers for startups. These measures not only foster innovation but also streamline the path to commercialization. Consequently, the combined efforts of these regulatory bodies have enabled the UAE and Saudi Arabia to account for 86% of MENA’s total FinTech funding in H1 2025.

The resilience of FinTech in MENA is not merely a reflection of contemporary market trends—it signals a fundamental shift in the region’s economic fabric. With an unwavering commitment to addressing real financial challenges, scalable and replicable business practices, and robust regulatory support, FinTech is setting the benchmark for sustainable innovation. As capital markets become increasingly discerning, this sector stands out as a beacon of long-term growth and transformative impact.