Anwar Marafi Leading Growth Across MENA
Anwar Marafi takes on the role of Group Head of Business and Financial Institutions at Tap Payments.
At Tap Payments, strong leadership is how we turn ambition into real progress. With Anwar Marafi taking on an expanded role as Group Head of Business and Financial Institutions, we are ready to deliver more for our merchants, and partners across MENA.
A Leader Who Knows the Region
Anwar joined Tap in 2022, bringing 17 years of banking experience shaped by senior roles at some of the region’s most respected institutions.
He began his career at Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait, managing large corporate portfolios. At HSBC, he worked in both Kuwait and London with clients in fashion, eCommerce, and manufacturing. At Kuwait International Bank (KIB), he led the SME and Trading Unit. Most recently at BBK, he served as Head of Business, overseeing both corporate and retail banking. He has also served on the board of KNET, one of MENA’s key payment networks.
This mix of corporate banking, SME leadership, and payment network insight gives Anwar a perspective that blends strategy with practical execution.
Building on Three Years of Impact
Since joining Tap, Anwar has led our Financial Institutions team, strengthening partnerships with banks and payment providers across MENA. His ability to combine deep market knowledge with decisive action has set a higher standard for how we work with the region’s financial ecosystem.
A Bigger Role, A Bigger Vision
Now, as Group Head of Business and Financial Institutions, Anwar will lead both teams. This new structure brings our bank and merchant relationships under one vision, aligning strategy, execution, and growth.
For our merchants, that means access to smarter products, stronger partnerships, and a payments experience built for regional and cross-border growth. For our partners, it means a single point of leadership driving commercial opportunities across MENA.
We are proud to see Anwar take on this expanded role and excited for what it means for the future. With his leadership, Tap Payments will continue building the payment infrastructure that powers MENA’s digital economy.
