Alaan has launched what it describes as the UAE’s first AI-native business bank account, powered by ruya’s Banking-as-a-Service infrastructure. The new account brings corporate cards, domestic and international payments, invoice automation, approvals, and accounting into one integrated financial workflow. The launch marks another step in Alaan’s ambition to build a financial operating system for modern businesses across the region.
AI-Native Banking Workflow
The business account is designed to help finance teams manage payments and expenses from a single dashboard. Companies can pay suppliers in the UAE or contractors abroad, with local transfers and cross-border payments available to more than 40 countries. Alaan said cross-border payments through the platform carry no transfer fees, supporting businesses that operate across multiple markets.
A key feature of the account is Alaan Intelligence, which automatically reads invoices received by email or uploaded to the platform. The system extracts vendor details, VAT information, due dates, and line items, while flagging duplicate invoices before payment. This reduces manual data entry and helps finance teams prevent errors that can lead to repeated payments or reconciliation delays.
Approvals and Accounting Integration
The platform also includes automated approval routing, giving businesses a clearer audit trail for spending decisions. Once payments are approved, transactions can sync directly with accounting platforms including Odoo, Zoho, Xero, QuickBooks, and other major systems. Businesses can also receive customer payments into the same account used to manage outbound supplier and contractor payments.
Alaan said the account supports unlimited users and unlimited cashback on corporate card spending. This means companies can give team members access to a shared account while maintaining visibility and control over expenses. The platform combines banking, cards, payments, and accounting workflows in a way intended to reduce the fragmented systems many finance teams currently use.
Embedded Finance and Compliance
The account is powered by ruya, a digital Islamic bank headquartered in Ajman and launched in 2024. Through ruya’s infrastructure, Alaan users can access Shariah-compliant banking services directly within the spend management platform. The Alaan Business Account is issued by Ruya Community Islamic Bank, which is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011.
Parthi Duraisamy, Co-founder and CEO of Alaan, said UAE finance teams have long faced manual processes for payments and supplier invoices. He said the new account allows invoice processing that previously took hours to be completed within minutes. Christoph Koster, CEO of ruya, said the partnership supports businesses with simple, ethical banking embedded into the tools they already use.
Market Context and Company Growth
The launch comes during a period of rapid growth in the UAE’s business environment and wider regional demand for digital financial services. According to the announcement, the UAE added 250,000 new companies in 2025, while the Middle East now has more than 1.4 million businesses. Many of these companies are shifting from traditional banking processes toward AI-first platforms that can automate finance operations.
Alaan launched in 2022 and has grown into one of the Middle East’s leading spend management platforms. The company recently closed a $48 million Series A round led by Peak XV Partners and is backed by Y Combinator. Its platform is used by more than 3,000 finance teams, including organizations such as G42, Careem, Tabby, McDonald’s, and Al Barari.
The launch of Alaan’s AI-native business bank account reflects the growing role of embedded finance in the UAE’s corporate banking market. By combining payments, invoice automation, corporate cards, and accounting integrations, the company is targeting finance teams that want faster and more transparent workflows. With ruya’s Shariah-compliant banking infrastructure, Alaan is positioning the new account as a digital finance hub for businesses seeking greater efficiency and control.