Dubai — UAE fintech platform Botim has joined hands with the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) to enable seamless money transfers for more than 200,000 Ethiopians living in the Emirates.
The partnership allows Botim’s 8.5 million UAE users to send money directly to Ethiopian bank accounts, mobile wallets, or collect cash at nearly 2,000 CBE branches across the country.
Ethiopia received $5.1 billion in remittances in the first nine months of its current fiscal year, underscoring the crucial role these flows play in its economy. The deal reflects a growing demand for secure and affordable cross-border financial services among expatriate communities in the UAE.
“Remittances are a lifeline for many expat communities in the UAE, and our partnership with the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia reflects our commitment to delivering secure, seamless cross-border financial solutions,” said Dr Tariq Bin Hendi, CEO of Botim.
The agreement comes as Ethiopia’s foreign reserves climbed to $3.4 billion in early 2025, aided partly by strong remittance inflows. Officials describe the improvement as part of a broader economic recovery.
Abi Sano Mehammed, president of CBE, said the collaboration would enhance access to financial services while strengthening economic and cultural ties between the two nations.
Ethiopian Ambassador to the UAE, Oumer Hussien Oba, welcomed the initiative, highlighting its role in supporting families and contributing to Ethiopia’s wider development goals.
The deal marks Botim’s first direct banking partnership in Ethiopia and signals a major step in expanding the Dubai-based platform’s regional fintech ecosystem. Botim, owned by Astra Tech, has been rapidly diversifying its services across the Middle East and North Africa, from payments to digital investments.
