External | what does this mean? This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. FinTech In The Middle East: 2021 Forecast 07 February 2021 2 The Middle East is one of the world's most heterogeneous regions, spanning three continents and 21 countries, with a population of close to 600 million. It is a culturally, politically and economically diverse region that also encompasses the six Arab states that are members of the Gulf Coordination Council. This diversity is reflected in the vastly different stages of advancement of the FinTech industries across the region. The number of FinTechs per country across the Arab world also differs considerably. The UAE is the leader in FinTech innovation, comprising some 24% of the FinTechs in the region. Both Morocco and Egypt follow, with 12% and Tunisia with 10% of FinTechs.