News
Fintech In The UAE Is Set To Add $900 Per Capita By 2030
The United Arab Emirates will add the highest value to its GDP per capita, followed by Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Analysts from UnaFnancial have calculated the value of fintech investment for the Gulf Coast Countries (GCC) in terms of the per-capita increase to GDP using Tracxn data.
In 2022, the United Arab Emirates was a regional leader, with $636.4 (1.01%) in GDP per capita coming from fintech. It was followed by Bahrain with $89 (0.24%) and Saudi Arabia with $75 (0.18%), highlighting the substantial gap between the UAE and its neighbors.
For the GCC region as a whole, the impact of fintech equaled $161 added to the GDP per citizen. Meanwhile, according to UnaFinancial’s forecast, the UAE will still have the highest value of fintech contribution to GDP per capita by 2030, equaling $915.6 (a 44%-increase over 2022). Saudi Arabia is expected to remain in second place but with a massive 650% increase to $561.5. For the GCC region as a whole, fintech will add $506.7 to the GDP per capita by 2030.
Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East
UnaFinancial’s analysts commented: “In terms of investment in fintech, the UAE makes up 62% of the entire GCC region. This is explained by the level of economic development of the country compared to other countries in the region. The GDP per capita for the population aged 15+ in the UAE equals $63,359, which is almost 4 times higher than the average in the GCC (excluding the UAE). Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are the countries with high average annual growth rates of fintech influence – 182.4%, which exceeds the region’s average by 1.5 times. Meanwhile, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar are in a transition phase. The average growth rate of fintech influence on the well-being of their citizens equals 166.3% per year. Yet, there are higher investment risks due to lower economic stability”.
News
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.
Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips
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”.
Free VPNs: Should You Be Using Them?
Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
Hyper-Personalization: How Far Is Too Far?
Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
