Astra Tech, a leading consumer technology holding group, has introduced the ‘Botim Payroll Solution’, the UAE’s first fully digital payroll solution.
The new platform enables real-time salary processing in compliance with the UAE’s Wage Protection System (WPS). This initiative aims to transform payroll management for the UAE’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a more streamlined and integrated approach.
It is designed to support over 557,000 SMEs in the UAE, which contribute 63.5 percent to the non-oil GDP and account for more than 90 percent of the country’s businesses, according to the Central Bank of the UAE.
Botim Payroll Solution provides a fully digitized process and access to advanced financial management tools, including a dedicated business wallet with an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) that keeps payroll finances separate from daily operations. This system harmonizes payroll management by reducing fragmentation, mitigating errors, and enhancing overall efficiency, thereby ensuring a streamlined and effortless process.
Abdallah Abu-Sheikh Founder – Astra Tech and CEO – Botim
“The Botim Payroll Solution is a testament to our commitment to innovation and to promoting financial inclusion by providing the underbanked segment with equal access to a full suite of banking services within Astra Tech and Botim’s growing fintech ecosystem. Specifically engineered to empower SMEs by simplifying payroll processes and providing real-time salary management, we are offering a fully digital solution that is tailored to the unique needs of SMEs in the MENA region. By addressing this market gap, we are empowering a wider portion of the population, enhancing both individual and business access to advanced financial solutions, and supporting the UAE’s goal of becoming a fully cashless society.”
With Botim Salary Card, users can enjoy enhanced transparency and take control over their finances, along with access to Botim’s fintech features. These features include local and international digital money transfers, globally accepted Botim Multi-currency Prepaid Cards, bill payments, and more—all integrated within a single platform.
The initiative highlights Astra Tech’s commitment to simplifying financial management, driving financial inclusion, and advancing financial literacy. According to GlobalData, the value of card payments in the UAE increased by 17.7 percent in 2022, followed by a 14.6 percent increase in 2023, reaching Dh451.4 billion ($123.1 billion).
This figure is expected to reach Dh764.1 billion ($208.2 billion) within four years, fueled by a surge in electronic payments and rising consumer expenditure. The fintech revolution in the region, characterized by the launching of solutions that promote financial literacy and address the needs of underbanked communities, has been a key driver of this expansion. There are today over 134 fintech companies in the UAE, with Dubai emerging as one of the region’s leading financial technology hubs.
