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Advanced Tech Adoption & Innovation Are UAE’s Top Priority
The United Arab Emirates is actively seeking to overcome technological challenges and will explore futuristic approaches to improve the digital economy.
Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, has explained that the adoption of advanced technologies is a top priority for the region, as the Emirates continues to push forward with its vision of an advanced digital economy through innovation. Although there are many challenges to overcome, the UAE is making incredible progress across multiple scientific and technological sectors, and has embraced a future-centric approach to developing and overhauling its economy.
Omar Sultan Al Olama recently visited the Industrial Innovation Group (IIG), a leading security printing, biometric and global systems innovator, headquartered in Sharjah. The Minister’s mission was to explore the group’s scientific research lab, uncover new trends in advanced technology, and discuss potential collaboration opportunities.
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The Minister of State for all things digital noted that when it comes to technology, the most innovative and forward-thinking tools must be deployed to ensure safety, quality, and reliability. Omar Sultan Al Olama praised the Industrial Innovation Group for its success in building a sizable operational base, with 263 centers for passports around the globe and 367 centers for licenses. In addition, the IIG group’s 400 intellectual property assets will help the UAE to lead in security documents and technology solutions worldwide.
The Industrial Innovation Group is the first group in the MENA region to establish real industrial production and implement system integration. IIG is the only company in the field of production of identification documents and security printing worldwide that does not depend on third-party technologies in its activities.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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