News

Improving In-App Payment Processing For Ramadan

Checkout.com’s MENA representative believes in-app payments present an untapped opportunity for revenue growth, especially during busy calendar events.

Published

3 years ago

March 12, 2024

Nour Nasir

improving in-app payment processing for ramadan

In today’s digital-first era, Ramadan witnesses a massive surge in app browsing and mobile shopping. Payment processor Checkout.com reported a 69% increase in online transaction processing volumes during Ramadan in 2023, with a remarkable 143% rise from 2021 to 2023. This trend underscores the growing trust in digital payment systems fueled by advancements in security and fraud prevention measures. Notably, based on further data from Checkout.com, fraud rates for online transactions during Ramadan in the region decreased by two-thirds between 2021 and 2023.

According to Checkout.com’s MENA General Manager Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, one way to capitalize on e-commerce surges is by optimizing in-app payment processing. In-app payments present an untapped opportunity for revenue growth during Ramadan, offering various monetization avenues, such as subscription payments for exclusive content.

In-app payment processing enables merchants to accept payments directly within their mobile apps, streamlining the checkout process and enhancing security. However, integrating mobile payment technology via a payment service provider (PSP) requires compliance with Apple or Google’s app store guidelines.

Checkout.com’s Abbondandolo also emphasizes the significant benefits merchants in the GCC can reap from refining their in-app payments, including:

Improved Conversions: Simplifying the checkout process within the app reduces cart abandonment rates, leading to higher conversion rates.
Increased Revenue: Seamless in-app payments translate to enhanced conversions, resulting in higher revenue generation.
Enhanced Customer Retention: In-app payments deliver a frictionless experience, encouraging users to spend more time within the app and boosting retention rates.
Expedited Settlements: Direct account-to-account payment methods enable faster settlement times compared to card payments.

Also Read: Qatar Airways Unveils The World’s First AI Cabin Crew

However, merchants should consider potential drawbacks, such as high commissions and limited flexibility in payment methods beyond Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Despite these challenges, Abbondandolo suggests that the benefits of in-app payments outweigh the drawbacks, especially during busy seasons like Ramadan. The takeaway from payment processors like Checkout.com is clear: Merchants must adopt a strategic approach to optimize user experience while managing commission costs and adhering to app store regulations.

News

Abu Dhabi’s Robot Kitchen Is Serving Up Biryani, Not Burgers

Circus SE wants to put a tiny automated factory inside the buildings where Gulf residents live and work, bypassing part of last-mile delivery.

Published

6 days ago

October 20, 2026

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi's robot kitchen is serving up biryani not burgers

Circus SE

The most telling thing about a new autonomous kitchen now running in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Square is what it won’t cook:

“We don’t do fast food,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder and CEO of Circus SE. “We’ve actively decided not to build a machine that can only do burgers”.

Instead, the CA-1 system is built around pot-based cooking: curries, pastas, soups and rice dishes. After experimenting with highly personalized recipes, Circus deliberately leaned back toward recognizable food. “We’re going with a chicken biryani because you know it,” Bullwinkel says of the AED 40 dish.

circus se ca-1 robot system

The Germany-based robotics and food technology company operates across eight countries, and Abu Dhabi is its first deployment outside Europe. More locations are expected there and in Dubai.

In Germany, its units can be placed in supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hospitals. In the Gulf, Bullwinkel wants them inside residential and office buildings, replacing some of the complexity of last-mile delivery. “We’re basically bringing a very tiny factory a few square meters into your building,” he says. Catering company Royal Prestige supplies the ingredients and knowledge of local tastes.

The CA-1 manages up to 36 refrigerated ingredient silos alongside automated induction cooking, robotic plating and a self-cleaning dishwasher. Two robotic arms move ingredients through the system with minimal human intervention. It can produce up to 120 hot meals an hour, and a meal such as rice and curry can take around three to four minutes.

Also Read: Ooredoo Qatar’s 5G+ Network Is Built For Machines As Much As People

Five cameras and multiple sensors monitor heat, temperature and consistency, an attempt to approximate what a chef perceives. “You can hear something gets burned, you can smell it, you can see it at some point,” Bullwinkel says. CircusOS, the company’s operating system, adjusts recipes in real time.

You might think of the platform as a threat to kitchen staff, but Bullwinkel frames Circus as a way for chefs to develop recipes and distribute them at scale. With that being said, rising labor costs and shortages are also part of his case for automation.