Muscat – Walletii by Ooredoo was awarded Oman’s Most Trusted Brand 2025 in the fintech category. Officially launched in Oman by Ooredoo Fintech in 2024, walletii has quickly established itself as a trusted digital wallet, offering customers a simple and secure way to manage their everyday financial needs. The platform is positioning itself as a key player in Oman’s evolving digital payments landscape. In this interview, Noor Al Lawati, Country Head of Ooredoo Fintech Oman, discusses how the walletii platform is building trust among users, differentiating itself in an increasingly competitive fintech market, and supporting the sultanate’s broader goals of digital transformation and financial inclusion.

Walletii by Ooredoo operates in the fintech space where adoption is built on trust. What do you believe are the key reasons consumers in Oman choose walletii for their everyday transactions?

Walletii succeeds on a simple promise: making money movement both effortless and secure. People use it daily because it addresses real-life needs in one place – local transfers, bill payments, mobile top-ups and international remittances. Trust is central to this proposition. Walletii operates under the regulation of the Central Bank of Oman and is backed by Ooredoo, giving customers confidence that it meets rigorous standards.

Competition in digital payments is intensifying across GCC markets. How does walletii differentiate itself in the Omani market while maintaining strict compliance and risk discipline?

We are not aiming to be the loudest wallet; we aim to be the most useful one in everyday life. What sets us apart is our deep connection to the communities we serve. We design around real Omani use cases rather than generic fintech assumptions. Our focus is on simplicity, fairness and clarity, particularly for users new to digital finance. Ultimately, walletii is built to promote financial inclusion and empowerment, enabling more residents and merchants to participate confidently in the digital economy.

Interoperability is becoming essential in the payments ecosystem. How does walletii enable seamless transfers across networks and merchants without compromising security?

Interoperability is only valuable when it is trusted, so we prioritise connectivity with control. Walletii is connected to the national payment switch operated by the Central Bank of Oman, enabling full interoperability across the financial ecosystem. Users can send money within Oman to another wallet or directly to a bank account, avoiding closed-loop systems. For international transfers, walletii supports remittances to more than 200 countries with full tracking, allowing customers to monitor their transactions at every stage.

Trust in fintech entities is often built through reliability rather than visibility. How do you reassure customers about the strength of your systems and infrastructure they do not directly see?

We translate “invisible strength” into visible assurance. walletii is regulated by the Central Bank of Oman and is designed to deliver secure and reliable transactions—governance customers can depend on. We conduct regular independent audits and testing to identify potential gaps, adhere to global technology standards, and maintain transparent communication with our customers.

Merchant adoption plays a key role in scaling digital payments. How is walletii expanding its acceptance network across Oman while ensuring service quality for both merchants and customers?

We are building adoption the right way: prioritising utility first, then scaling without compromising the user experience. Our platform is designed for both individuals and merchants, making acceptance expansion a core growth driver rather than a side initiative. Service quality is as important as network reach, which is why we combine expansion with strong support systems and service readiness.

Oman Vision 2040 places strong emphasis on digital transformation and financial inclusion. How does walletii contribute to advancing digital financial inclusion in the sultanate?

Walletii’s mission is centred on practical inclusion – bringing more people and businesses into secure, everyday digital finance. By enabling payments, transfers and bill payments through a mobile-first platform, we reduce barriers for customers seeking convenience and transparency instead of relying on cash. This aligns closely with Oman’s broader objectives for digital transformation and financial inclusion.

Customer onboarding is critical in fintech adoption. What steps has walletii taken to ensure a smooth and inclusive onboarding experience for first-time users?

Onboarding is where trust is established, so we focus on making it fast, clear, accessible and secure. Walletii offers fully digital verification, allowing customers to register in just a few steps without lengthy processes. We also ensure inclusivity by making walletii available to all users – not limited to Ooredoo customers – so the product serves the broader market rather than a niche segment.

In your view, how has the fintech landscape in Oman evolved over the past few years?

Oman has transitioned from “digital experimentation” to a more structured and regulated fintech environment. The Central Bank of Oman has introduced key initiatives, including a regulatory sandbox, enabling innovation to develop within a controlled framework. At the same time, the market is moving towards more connected financial ecosystems. Open banking is becoming part of the broader conversation, and customers increasingly expect interoperability rather than isolated applications.

Who are walletii’s primary target audiences, and how has user adoption been so far?

Our target audience is deliberately broad. It includes everyday users seeking simple local payment solutions, as well as residents who depend on international remittances. We place strong emphasis on financial inclusion, particularly for underserved communities and individuals who prefer a faster, mobile-first alternative to traditional banking. Merchants are also a key focus, as acceptance is what transforms a wallet from being merely installed to being actively used. Adoption has been driven by daily utility, remittance capabilities and the added confidence of operating under Central Bank of Oman regulation.