Key Facts At A Glance
- Bettr, the embedded finance and fintech unit of Ant International, has partnered with Islamic lifestyle app Muslim Pro to launch Umrah financing in Malaysia
- Eligible Malaysian users can discover Umrah packages, apply for financing digitally, and select installment tenures of 12 to 24 months within the Muslim Pro app
- The financing uses a Tawarruq (Commodity Murabahah) structure to maintain Shariah compliance, facilitated through AS-SIDQ, a digital commodity trading platform operated by Sedania As Salam Capital
- The structure has been endorsed by Islamic finance consultancy Masryef Advisory
- Muslim Pro has more than 190 million downloads worldwide
- Available packages range from standard to premium and may cover flights, accommodation, meals, and ground transportation for individuals or families
- Bettr uses credit risk assessment models to evaluate applicants, extending eligibility to non-traditional earners including gig workers and small business owners
- Early settlement of the financing is available under the applicable terms
- The partnership was announced August 9, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur
Embedded Finance Meets Pilgrimage Planning
Bettr, described as a provider of inclusive and embedded finance and fintech solutions under Ant International, has integrated Umrah financing directly into Muslim Pro, giving the Islamic lifestyle app’s Malaysian user base a way to plan and pay for pilgrimage travel without needing a separate financial services provider. The feature lets eligible users browse Umrah packages offered by participating partners, apply for financing digitally, and choose a repayment tenure between 12 and 24 months, all within the existing app experience.
The move extends embedded finance into a category, religious travel financing, that has traditionally been handled through banks, travel agencies, or informal payment plans. By building the financing layer into an app already used for daily worship practices and pilgrimage planning, Bettr and Muslim Pro are positioning digital Islamic finance as a default feature of the pilgrimage journey rather than a separate transaction.
Shariah Compliance Built Into The Structure
The financing relies on a Tawarruq, or Commodity Murabahah, structure, a widely used Islamic finance mechanism that avoids interest-based lending by structuring the transaction around the sale and resale of a commodity. The underlying commodity transactions are processed through AS-SIDQ, a patented digital commodity trading platform operated by Sedania As Salam Capital, and the overall structure has been endorsed by Islamic finance consultancy Masryef Advisory.
Packages available through the service span standard to premium tiers and may include flights, accommodation, meals, and ground transportation, covering both individual and family travel. According to the companies, most Umrah travelers in Malaysia fall between ages 30 and 50 and support households of two to five members, a demographic profile that shaped the tenure and eligibility design of the product.
Broader Financial Inclusion Angle
Bettr’s credit risk assessment models are built to extend eligibility beyond traditionally banked salaried workers, reaching gig workers and small business owners who may otherwise struggle to access structured pilgrimage financing. The companies frame the offering as intended for Muslims who have the financial means to undertake Umrah but prefer to preserve liquidity and manage cash flow by spreading the cost over time, rather than as a product for those without the underlying ability to repay. Early settlement options are built into the terms for users who want to close out financing ahead of schedule.
The launch adds to a wider pattern of Southeast Asian fintechs and international players building Shariah-compliant financial products for the region’s Muslim-majority markets, an area where Malaysia has positioned itself as a hub alongside its broader Islamic finance and takaful industry.