Alipay+ Expands to Saudi Arabia, Enabling QR Payments for Merchants
▼ Summary
– SAMA and Ant International will launch cross-border QR payments between mada and Alipay+ starting in 2026 to support digitization and Vision 2030 goals.
– The integration will allow Saudi merchants to accept payments from Alipay+’s global partners, connecting them to over 1.7 billion user accounts across 36 wallets.
– Ant International’s president emphasized that this initiative supports Vision 2030’s tourism and innovation goals through public-private partnerships.
– Saudi Arabia aims for 70% non-cash transactions and 150 million visitors by 2030, with digital payments aiding economic diversification.
– Ant International has expanded its Saudi presence with a PTSP certificate, a unified merchant solution, and a Riyadh office, following similar integrations in other Asian countries.
The strategic partnership between the Saudi Central Bank and Ant International is set to revolutionize digital payments across the Kingdom, with cross-border QR functionality linking mada and Alipay+ by 2026. This collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing financial inclusion and supporting the broader economic objectives outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.
Local merchants will soon be able to accept payments from a vast network of international consumers through Alipay+’s extensive partner ecosystem. This integration connects Saudi businesses with more than 1.7 billion user accounts across 36 digital wallets worldwide, offering seamless transaction capabilities and opening new revenue streams for retailers of all sizes. With Alipay+ already serving over 100 million merchants globally, this expansion promises to simplify international spending while driving domestic commercial growth.
Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International, emphasized the alignment of this initiative with Saudi Arabia’s goal of becoming a leading global tourism and innovation destination. He highlighted the role of tourism as a major economic driver and praised the collaborative efforts between public and private sectors in building a resilient and forward-looking digital economy.
Saudi Vision 2030 targets a 70% non-cash transaction rate and aims to welcome 150 million visitors by the end of the decade. Having already exceeded 100 million tourists in 2024, the country is prioritizing digital payment infrastructure as a cornerstone of its strategy for sustainable economic diversification.
Ant International has been steadily expanding its footprint in Saudi Arabia, recently introducing its Antom unified merchant solution after securing a Payment Service Provider (PTSP) license from SAMA. The company also established its first Middle Eastern office in Riyadh earlier this year. The rollout of Alipay+ in the Kingdom follows similar successful integrations with national payment systems in countries including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Cambodia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
(Source: MEA Tech Watch)
