In a rich episode of Melh Al-Kalam, presented by journalist Huda Mohamed, the program hosted engineer Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Dulaimi, founder and CEO of SkipCash and PayLater. The discussion went beyond the usual entrepreneurial narrative to a deeper examination of the legal and regulatory dimensions of digital financial technology in Qatar, and the opportunities and challenges it presents within the country’s ongoing economic and digital transformation.
The episode demonstrated that digital financial technology is no longer a purely technical or commercial matter. Rather, it has become a comprehensive legal domain in which financial regulation, consumer protection, regulatory compliance, cybersecurity, and Sharia considerations intersect. It was clear from the discussion that no successful venture in this sector can endure without a precise understanding of the legal framework that governs it.
The conversation highlighted the pivotal role played by the Qatar Central Bank in regulating the sector, not through restriction or limitation, but by adopting a flexible supervisory model that allows new solutions to be tested within a monitored environment before final licenses are granted.
The episode also addressed consumer protection as one of the core legal pillars of any digital financial system. The shift toward electronic payments, installment services, and digital financing imposes heightened legal obligations on companies, beginning with transparency in contractual terms and extending to platform liability in cases of error or dispute.
Al-Dulaimi emphasized that building trust with users is not achieved through technical interfaces alone, but through a fair and transparent legal framework that protects the weaker party in the contractual relationship.
In this context, the Sharia dimension emerged as an institutional choice adopted by the company, rather than a regulatory requirement imposed on the sector as a whole. Al-Dulaimi explained that PayLater took Sharia compliance into account from the earliest design stages of its financial products, based on the founders’ conviction that adherence to Islamic principles enhances user trust and provides social and ethical sustainability for the financial model.
The discussion also examined legal challenges related to data protection and cybersecurity. Financial technology companies handle vast amounts of sensitive data, placing them under significant legal responsibilities concerning privacy, breach prevention, and the integrity of digital infrastructure.
Through these themes, the episode offered an implicit vision of Qatar’s future in financial technology, portraying it as an environment capable of combining sound regulation with smart innovation. The presence of a flexible legislative framework, alongside a clear commitment to digital transformation, positions Qatar to become a regional hub for testing and developing new financial solutions, rather than merely a consumer market for imported technologies.
In conclusion, the Melh Al-Kalam episode with engineer Mohammed Al-Dulaimi presented a rare model of dialogue that connects entrepreneurship with legislation, and innovation with legal responsibility. It framed digital financial technology not merely as an individual success story, but as an integrated ecosystem that requires deep legal awareness to ensure that financial development serves people and society, rather than coming at their expense.
