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

2 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.

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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

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

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The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.