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Checkout.com Gains Acquiring License From UAE Central Bank
The direct acquiring license allows Checkout.com to unlock the full potential of its platform in the UAE while offering cost savings and improved performance for merchants.
The United Arab Emirates Central Bank has granted Global payment service provider Checkout.com a Retail Payment Services license. The recent press release by the platform notes that Checkout.com is “the first global payments provider to be granted an acquiring license in the country”, and the announcement strengthens its position as a leader across the MENA region.
Now that Checkout.com has secured an acquiring license, the company can unlock its full proposition for UAE merchants, including card acquiring, payment aggregation, and cross-border fund transfers. Most importantly, Checkout.com’s new acquiring license gives the company greater control over the entire payment processing mechanism and enables best-in-class payment acceptance rates for merchants.
“Our thanks to the Central Bank of the UAE for their approval. The issuance of this license shows the level of trust, commitment, and strength of the relationship we continue to have in serving both domestic and international brands to expand in the UAE. We’re proud of the small part we’ve played to increase the trust in digital payments and allow businesses in the digital economy to thrive,” says CEO and Founder of Checkout.com, Guillaume Pousaz.
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The UAE has recently witnessed an explosive eCommerce growth trajectory. It is forecast to reach a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11%, increasing the eCommerce market size to $17Bn by 2025. 91% of consumers in the UAE now favor making their purchases online, and Checkout.com already supports some of the country’s top brand names, including Cafu, Washmen, Shahid, Qlub, Carrefour, Namshi, Mamo, MakeMyTrip, and The Entertainer.
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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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