Checkout.com has announced an expansion into card issuing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – a move that could reshape the region’s digital payments landscape.
Checkout.com card issuing in the UAE
The initiative marks the first time a global digital PSP has committed to launching card issuing capabilities domestically in the UAE, signalling a deepened strategic commitment to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The company plans to begin issuing physical and virtual cards in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
This development will allow businesses to launch branded payment cards, streamline expense management, deliver rewards programmes, and enhance B2B payout capabilities.
Crucially, it empowers businesses to take greater control over financial flows, an increasingly important need in a region undergoing rapid digital transformation.
The announcement was made at Thrive Abu Dhabi, Checkout.com’s inaugural UAE conference, where CEO and Founder Guillaume Pousaz presented the plans alongside MENA General Manager Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo.
“This is more than a product expansion,” said Abbondandolo. “It’s a vote of confidence in the region’s appetite for innovation and a commitment to building the infrastructure that fuels it.”
The announcement follows several recent milestones for Checkout.com in the region.
It was the first international PSP to secure a Retail Payment Services licence from the UAE Central Bank and was instrumental in enabling access to Mada and Apple Pay across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Its new issuing initiative builds on these credentials, as well as recent product launches like Flow Remember Me, a checkout optimisation tool, and Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution for domestic and international payouts.
Notably, experiential travel marketplace Headout has already deployed Checkout.com’s issuing capabilities in Europe and is eyeing similar expansion in the MENA region once the UAE programme goes live.
With regional frameworks such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda driving digital transformation, Checkout.com’s latest move positions it as an enabler of the region’s payment future.
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