A new partnership between LuLu Exchange and ABHI is set to transform how expatriate workers in the UAE access, manage, and send their earnings across borders.
LuLu Exchange, one of the UAE’s trusted financial services providers and part of LuLu Financial Holdings, has announced a strategic partnership with Abhi Middle East Limited, the regional neo-bank backed by Hub71 and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), with funding support from Commercial Bank International (CBI). The collaboration aims to significantly enhance financial access for expatriate workers by combining instant Earned Wage Access (EWA) with seamless, reliable cross-border remittance solutions.
Through this initiative, workers across the UAE will gain the ability to access their earned wages instantly and send money home without having to wait for their monthly pay cycle. This marks a major shift in financial empowerment for expatriate communities who rely on timely remittances to support their families. By integrating EWA with fast, familiar remittance channels, the partnership provides a practical bridge between daily income needs and long-distance financial responsibilities.
The collaboration brings together LuLu Exchange’s established remittance network and deep market trust with ABHI’s advanced financial technology. This combined capability is expected to reshape how workers manage liquidity, plan expenses, and maintain financial stability. It also highlights LuLu Exchange’s commitment to driving customer-centric innovation and expanding its suite of accessible, tech-enabled financial services. For ABHI, the partnership reinforces its mission to deliver inclusive financial tools that promote long-term financial wellness across the region.
LuLu Exchange CEO Thampi Sudarsanan noted that timely access to wages remains a critical need for many workers, and the partnership marks a meaningful step toward addressing this challenge. He explained that merging ABHI’s EWA technology with LuLu’s remittance expertise will create an ecosystem that strengthens customer confidence and provides workers with more control over their finances.
ABHI Co-Founder and CEO Omair Ansari highlighted that the combined strengths of both organizations will enable workers to support their families without financial strain, underscoring the importance of accessible, secure, and empowering financial solutions. He emphasized that integrating ABHI’s technology with LuLu’s scale represents a significant advancement in regional financial inclusion.
Founded in 2021, ABHI has rapidly grown across Pakistan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, serving over one million users and more than 5,000 businesses while processing over $500 million in transactions. Its collaboration with LuLu Exchange marks another milestone in accelerating financial empowerment for workers and SMEs across the region.
