Lydia Foott graduated from the University of Limerick in 2020, a period when Ireland was deep in recession and jobs were scarce. Like thousands of her classmates, she left the country with a degree and few options. Her plan was to spend a year or two abroad and return home.
Instead, she built a business in the Middle East. Today, the Cork native is bringing that venture back to Ireland, opening a Dublin office for Qashio and committing to create 50 new jobs over the next 12 to 18 months.
Expanding from Dubai to Europe
Qashio is a spend management platform based in Dubai. The firm helps businesses track and control spending through smart corporate cards linked to real-time expense software. Launched in 2022, the platform serves close to 3,000 customers and has partnered with major players Visa and Emirates.
The founders identified a gap in the market while working together at a previous company, where they dealt with two corporate cards shared across the entire organization. This led to inefficiencies such as unclaimed spends and a weekly process of distributing one-time passwords.
Recognizing these challenges, Foott and her co-founder Armin Moradi decided to build a similar solution for the UAE market. While fintech was well-established in the US and parts of Europe, the concept was new in Dubai. The duo had to build trust from scratch and educate potential clients about the value of real-time spend visibility and control. The strategy relied heavily on word of mouth, which drove significant growth. The firm now serves thousands of customers in the UAE and around 400 to 500 in Europe.
Leadership for the European push
To spearhead the European expansion, Qashio appointed Irishman Kevin Gallagher as general manager for Europe. He previously scaled Workday’s commercial presence in Ireland and grew new business revenue in Europe by over 400% for Trulioo.
Gallagher explained that the core value of the platform is the control and visibility it gives businesses. It allows companies to understand where money is being spent and why, putting them in charge of spend across the organization. Additionally, the cards offer a reward element on necessary spend, which he believes will help differentiate the business in the Irish market.
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Establishing a base in Ireland
The decision to establish in Ireland goes back to 2023, when an Irish entity was created to support UAE customers operating in Europe or needing Euro and Sterling-denominated cards. Growth was organic at first, but by late 2025 the company decided that Dublin would serve as its European home.
An office opened in March, and the team has already hired into commercial roles. The next step is building out Qashio Labs, an R&D and innovation hub in Dublin that will become the centre of product development. From there, Ireland serves as the launchpad for the wider European market, including the UK.
Strategic ties between Ireland and the UAE
Qashio’s positioning is grounded in the strong business ties between Ireland and Dubai. The founders note that the Irish business community in the UAE is incredibly strong, and the political relationship between the two countries is also solid. Both nations are small and share strong family values, which shapes their business culture.
Ireland is a strategic partner for the UAE, a status reflected in €8 billion in bilateral trade. Foott believes the firm sits right at that intersection, offering a tool that leverages these existing connections.
Resilience amid regional tensions
Despite tensions in the Middle East, particularly the blockade of the Straits of Hormuz, Foott insists business is continuing as usual in the UAE. Certain sectors, such as tourism, have been affected, but the market has shown remarkable resilience.
The company learned to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now doubling down to ensure business keeps moving forward. Within the team, the shared goal of keeping operations stable has created a sense of unity and energy. She admits that she never imagined 16 years after leaving Ireland she would be creating jobs in her native land.
Driving innovation from Dublin
The new office in Dublin will house the product team and act as the centre for development. This location allows the firm to tap into the talent pool in Ireland. The team will work on features that benefit the global user base. Expanding the R&D function in Europe supports the long-term strategy and creates a bridge between the Irish market and the wider region.
