Ant International’s Bettr Partners with Muslim Pro to Introduce Umrah Financing Service in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 9, 2026--

Bettr, a leading provider of inclusive and embedded finance and fintech solutions under Ant International, today announced its partnership with Muslim Pro, a popular Islamic lifestyle app serving over 190 million downloads worldwide, to launch an Umrah financing solution in Malaysia.

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The solution is designed for eligible Muslims who have the means to undertake the pilgrimage but prefer to spread its cost over time. This flexibility enables individuals and families to manage their cash flow responsibly, maintain regular savings and preserve sufficient liquidity for emergencies and other financial obligations. The launch marks a significant milestone in Bettr’s Islamic finance initiative and builds on Ant International’s long-term commitment to supporting Muslim communities worldwide with trusted, inclusive and technology-enabled financial services.

The financing solution uses a Tawarruq structure to provide eligible individuals with payment flexibility in accordance with Islamic finance principles. The process is facilitated through AS-SIDQ, SEDANIA As Salam Capital’s patented digital commodity trading platform for Tawarruq, or Commodity Murabahah, transactions. The structure has been endorsed by Masryef Advisory Sdn. Bhd., an Islamic finance consultancy, to ensure its compliance with applicable Shariah principles.

As one of the world’s renowned Muslim lifestyle platforms, Muslim Pro has long supported Muslims throughout their faith journey, from daily worship to preparing for major milestones such as Umrah and Hajj. Recognising that financial readiness is often one of the biggest considerations when planning a pilgrimage, the partnership with Bettr enables eligible users in Malaysia to access trusted, Shariah-compliant financing as part of a more seamless pilgrimage planning experience.

Through Muslim Pro, eligible users in Malaysia can discover Umrah packages provided by participating partners, apply for financing digitally and select instalment tenures of between 12 and 24 months, subject to the applicable eligibility criteria and terms. Users may also settle their financing early in accordance with the applicable terms. Available packages range from standard to premium and may cover travel for individuals or families, including flights, accommodation, meals and ground transportation.

The initiative responds to the accelerating digital adoption across Muslim communities. With a global Muslim population of around two billion, including about 22 million in Malaysia (around 65% of the country’s population), demand is rising for financial services that are seamlessly integrated into digital lifestyle platforms.

In Malaysia, many Umrah travellers are aged between 30 and 50, supporting households of two to five members. For most of them, the cost is planned and saved for well in advance, and flexible repayment can help bridge the remaining gap without disrupting other financial commitments. In line with Islamic guidance that pilgrimage financing should never come at the expense of a family's other obligations, this solution is intended for individuals and families who have assessed their ability to repay, offering a secure, Shariah-compliant way to manage the cost of their journey with peace of mind.

This partnership combines Muslim Pro’s trusted digital ecosystem with Bettr’s Shariah-compliant financing capabilities to deliver a seamless Umrah planning experience. With user privacy and data security at the core, Bettr leverages credit risk models to assess each applicant's repayment capability. This inclusive and secure approach lets Bettr serve a broader range of users, including gig workers and small business owners.

"Millions of Muslims turn to Muslim Pro every day for guidance in their everyday lives and increasingly, that includes planning meaningful moments like Umrah," said Nafees Khundker, Group Managing Director and CEO, Muslim Pro. "We're proud to work with Bettr to offer a responsible, Shariah-compliant way for individuals and families in Malaysia to plan their pilgrimage with confidence built on the same trust, privacy and care our community expects from us every day."

"We believe in what individuals and small businesses can achieve when they are properly supported, and our engagement in Islamic finance is driven by a deep faith in the power of technology to do good,” said Quan Yu, General Manager of Bettr Credit, Senior Vice President of Ant International. “Through partnerships with trusted platforms like Muslim Pro, we aim to scale innovative, Shariah-compliant digital financial products that reflect the Muslim community's core values, building an inclusive system that leaves no one behind.”

About Muslim Pro

The Muslim Pro app is the world’s most popular Muslim lifestyle app with more than 190 million downloads worldwide in over 190 markets.

Starting in 2010 as a mobile application with a founding ambition of providing accurate prayer times for the Muslim community, Muslim Pro has grown with the evolving needs of its users into a comprehensive app serving millions of users.

The app’s main features support the religious needs of users through its accurate prayer times and tracker, azan (call to prayer), full audio of the Holy Quran, qibla compass, Hijri calendar, zakat (alms) calculation, as well as lifestyle-inspired content, Community features and now, NUSUK-accredited Umrah services, that cater to the diverse interests of the global Muslim community.

The app is available on both Apple App Store and Google Play Store. For more information, please visit: https://www.muslimpro.com

About Bettr

Ant International's Bettr provides inclusive embedded financial solutions for businesses and institutions. Its offerings include credit service, treasury management, and liquidity solutions. By harnessing AI, blockchain technologies and alternative data, Bettr aims to expand trusted financial services for the underserved by working with partners.

Ant International's Bettr and Muslim Pro launch an Umrah financing solution in Malaysia to help families better manage their cash flow and spread pilgrimage costs responsibly.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — It took Austin Hays just four pitches to show the San Diego Padres they made the right decision to sign him as a free agent.

Hays hit a pinch, two-run home run in his first at-bat with the Padres to cap San Diego's four-homer game in a 7-2 win against the AL West-leading Houston Astros on Sunday night.

He was signed earlier in the day and resumed a season that's seen him play only 13 games because of various leg injuries. He was designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

Hays drove a 2-1 pitch from lefty Bryan King and pumped his fists as the ball sailed into the left-field corner. His teammates raised their arms in celebration in the dugout.

“I've been feeling good in Triple-A for the past month, so I’ve been waiting to do that up here,” the 31-year-old Hays said. “It was a good feeling. I let out a lot of excitement there on that swing. It was a long road for me to get back this year. It was a battle, but I’m feeling good right now, and I was able to put a good swing on the ball on my first night here, so, it’s a good feeling.”

His big swing allowed All-Star closer Mason Miller to have the night off.

“He told me afterward, ‘You’re my favorite player,' ” Hays said. “I think he was glad to be able to have a night where he wasn't going to go out there let it rip for 15 pitches.”

That was exactly why the Padres, who are one game out of the NL's third wild-card spot, signed Hays.

“We’ve been missing that, that right-handed bat off the bench that we could throw in for a pinch-hit, with (Luis) Rengifo playing as much as he can," manager Craig Stammen said. "And, you know, that’s a good way to get in good with your teammates and your coaching staff, to homer on your first pinch-hit at-bat, which is not easy to do, but, you know, great swing by him and welcome to the Padres, Austin Hayes.”

Stammen said the situation was perfect for Hays.

“I talked to him when I walked in this morning and said, ‘Hey, if they bring a lefty in you’re going to be pinch-hitting for one of our lefty hitters and be ready for that,' “ Stammen said. ”As the week goes, he’ll probably get some starts but that’s kind of the spot, he’s on the roster for that opportunity. When they bring a lefty in and we’ve got some of our lefties up, that we’d rather have a righty hitting, he can be someone with some pop off the bench and take a good at-bat.”

Hays said he was ready for the situation.

“Around the fourth or fifth, you’re looking out there. They've got quite a few lefties in their bullpen. So it was a close game. I saw where the lineup was, and thought, ”I've got a shot here.' I saw him stand up and I was ready to go up there and take some hacks."

Fernando Tatis Jr., who hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the fourth inning, said Hays' homer was “Huge. Coming in with the right step. I'm happy for him. He's definitely going to help us in the long run.”

Hays has been sidelined much of this season by hamstring and calf injuries and played in only 12 games with the White Sox.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

San Diego Padres third baseman Gage Workman, left, misses a grounder but Padres shortstop Sung-Mun Song, right, of South Korea, fields the grounder hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Tyler Locklear during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)