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Tourists Can Now Use Their Home E-Wallets In The UAE
A new partnership between Ant Group, Astra Tech and G42 enables seamless transactions for visitors without the hassle of currency conversions.
Dubai-based technology investment company Astra Tech, backed by Abu Dhabi AI company G42, has partnered with Alibaba’s payment platform Ant Group to enable tourists in the United Arab Emirates to pay for goods and services using their home e-wallets.
The new service will help to avoid the hassle of currency conversion, integrating the Alipay cross-border payment platform with Astra Tech’s PayBy merchant network.
When the system goes live later this month, over 1.4 billion wallet users will be able to make seamless transactions in their home currencies in 3,000 retail establishments and make speedy payments for trips in Abu Dhabi’s fleet of 7,000 taxis.
“Our milestone collaboration with Alipay aligns perfectly with the UAE’s commitment to enhancing the payment ecosystem and fostering a commerce-friendly environment,” explained Abdallah Abu Sheikh, co-founder of Astra Tech and chief executive of Botim.
The new service will primarily cater to tourists from China, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Italy. However, anyone who signs up for an Alipay, MPay, Kakao Pay, GCash, TrueMoney, and Tinaba e-wallet can enjoy the service.
The Astra Tech and Ant Group partnership will facilitate speedy settlement processes and smooth mobile-based transactions through Alipay in physical and online settings. Meanwhile, both Alipay and PayBy plan to expand the service to further boost spending from Asian and European visitors.
Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East
“Our alliance with Astra Tech not only opens the doors to a seamless and integrated digital payment experience at physical stores in the Middle East, but also propels us towards a new era of strategic collaboration,” said Guoming Cheng, Ant Group’s general manager of Europe and the Middle East.
The UAE is the Middle East’s second-largest economy and has begun investing heavily to expand its tourism sector. In May, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced that tourism sector spending had risen 70% to Dh121 billion ($33 billion) in 2022 — the highest in the region.
News
Space42 & Cobham Satcom Launch New Satellite Broadband Terminal
IP NEO has been engineered to provide uninterrupted, high-speed connectivity for sectors that rely on secure communication.
UAE-based SpaceTech firm Space42, has teamed with Cobham Satcom, a global player in satellite communications, to introduce IP NEO — a next-generation satellite broadband terminal built for reliability and security.
Developed through a collaboration between Cobham Satcom and Space42’s satellite solutions division, Thuraya, IP NEO is engineered to provide uninterrupted, high-speed connectivity for sectors that rely on secure communication. Its design, optimized for compactness and durability, ensures seamless data transmission across Thuraya’s network, making it a valuable asset for government agencies, NGOs, corporations, and even individuals operating in remote areas where traditional technologies may fall short.
As the exclusive provider of Thuraya 4 terminals for Space42, Cobham Satcom has also played a crucial role in building the ground infrastructure for the upcoming Thuraya 4 satellite network. This strategic integration reinforces Cobham Satcom’s standing as a leading global provider of L-band connectivity solutions.
Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Yahsat Space Services at Space42, emphasized the terminal’s strengths, stating: “IP NEO demonstrates our commitment to delivering secure, resilient, and future-ready satellite communication solutions. Built on robust L-band technology, the platform ensures reliable connectivity, even in the most challenging environments. Its compatibility with Thuraya 4 further strengthens its capabilities, enabling high-throughput speeds that meet the evolving demands of mission-critical operations”.
Designed to support critical applications such as internet access, video conferencing, surveillance, and VPN connectivity, IP NEO is built to withstand tough conditions, featuring water and dust resistance — ideal for use in extreme environments.
Also Read: Pure Electric Expands To UAE, Boosting Micro-Mobility Sector
Christophe Duret, CEO of Cobham Satcom, highlighted the impact of this innovation: “Along with Space42’s state-of-the-art Thuraya 4 satellite’s advanced capabilities, our new terminals for government and commercial end-users will provide the fastest standard L-band connectivity ever achieved, unlocking new opportunities for secure and resilient high-speed connectivity for demanding land and ocean environments”.
Part of Space42’s next-generation product lineup, IP NEO is designed for long-term adaptability and is fully compatible with the Thuraya 4 satellite. Once operational, Thuraya 4 will enable IP NEO to deliver speeds of up to 1024 kbps, along with simultaneous voice and data communication along with remote terminal access.
The official launch of IP NEO is set to take place at the 2025 SatShow (March 11-13, 2025), at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
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