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Dubai Duty Free And TerraPay Partner For Seamless Digital Wallet Payments
The move will enhance convenience for the 100 million customers traveling through Dubai Airport each year.
Dubai Duty Free (DDF), the world’s largest single airport retailer, has teamed with payment provider TerraPay to simplify transactions for international travelers. The partnership will allow over 100 million customers to pay using their home-country digital wallets, including Airtel Money, M-PESA, and MTN MoMooffering, allowing for seamless and accessible shopping experiences.
With TerraPay’s global network of 3.7 billion mobile wallets and its cross-border payments infrastructure, Dubai Duty Free is expanding its payment options to meet evolving consumer preferences. By integrating digital wallets into its system, DDF provides a convenient alternative to traditional payment methods, making transactions much smoother for travelers.
Digital wallets are rapidly becoming the dominant payment method worldwide: In 2025, they are expected to handle 52% of global eCommerce transactions and 30% of all in-store purchases. In addition, digital wallets are already projected to surpass 35% of all cross-border payments this year, highlighting the growing demand for fast, easy, and secure transactions.
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Ambar Sur, Founder & CEO of TerraPay, stated, “Our partnership with Dubai Duty Free […] reflects our shared vision […] to enhance convenience and accessibility, building an inclusive ecosystem that prioritizes customers. It also aligns with the launch of TerraPay’s Wallet Interoperability Council, which aims to create a more connected global payment landscape”.
Echoing this sentiment, Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, said, “We are reinforcing our commitment to empowering our customers by enabling them to pay with their preferred methods. Dubai Duty Free has always been at the forefront of technological advancements, and with access to TerraPay’s vast network, we’re excited to offer this new payment solution”.
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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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