Paymob, a prominent MENAP (Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan) financial services provider, has announced its acquisition of a Payment Service Provider (PSP) license from the Central Bank of Oman (CBO). The groundbreaking achievement marks a significant milestone for the fintech firm, as it becomes the first international company to obtain full licensing within the Sultanate.

With the newly issued PSP license, Paymob gains official authorization to accept and manage both online and in-store payments within Oman. This functionality is made possible through a seamless integration with OmanNet, the CBO’s secure payment infrastructure.

Now, Oman-based merchants will be able to facilitate payments locally and across borders via Paymob’s gateway, streamlining the cumbersome process of multiple integrations.

Islam Shawky, co-founder and CEO of Paymob, explained the significance of the new license: “It is a proud moment for Paymob to be the first international fintech company to receive PSP licensing in Oman. We appreciate the vote of confidence that CBO has placed in our technology. We are committed to enabling SME growth in Oman by making cutting-edge payment solutions accessible to all merchants and processing transactions seamlessly and securely through our local gateway”.

Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East

Oman has been steadily advancing towards the digital transformation of its banking sector, driven by the Vision 2040 initiative aimed at economic diversification. The data from 2018 to 2022 reveals a remarkable surge in ATM, POS, and e-commerce transactions processed through OmanNet, with a staggering 300% increase from 82.4 million to 252.9 million transactions.

Paymob’s attainment of the Central Bank of Oman’s PSP license signifies a remarkable stride for the company and the fintech landscape as a whole, promising substantial benefits for Oman’s digital payments ecosystem and further strengthening Paymob’s position as a leading player in the MENAP region.