Balance selects Tencent to facilitate Palm Payments in the Middle East

By Gloria Methri

Tencent continues to expand its focus on the Middle East with a strategic partnership with Balance, an e-wallet provider in Dubai. This partnership will bring cutting-edge technology to Balance, including palm payments and the popular WeChat mini-app solution (TCMPP).

Tencent has committed to the region, and Tencent Cloud has experienced over 80% business growth, driven by strong interest from both the public and private sectors in digital transformation and cloud-based innovations.

Tencent Cloud, by entering a new partnership with Balance, is now also looking to help revolutionise the Middle East payment landscape. Balance will integrate the Tencent Cloud Palm Verification capability into its payment system, enabling secure and seamless identity authentication for payment authorisations. The authentication will occur within Balance’s private, dedicated environment, ensuring a fully compliant and secure payment ecosystem.

Balance is also working on incorporating the TCMPP platform into its app, which would provide brands and users with solutions for accessing a host of essential daily services and products through a single interface.

Kartik Tikku, Founder and CEO of Balance, is looking forward to this partnership with Tencent, which will bring the world’s best payments experience to the UAE and beyond. The smart POS with palm payments is the leading technology currently only available with Tencent and Amazon. Balance projects that the UAE’s young population craves innovation and the best in global technology. “We are proud to bring this solution to multiple partners, including restaurants, gyms, salons, hotels and supermarkets in the UAE.

Dan Hu, Vice President of Tencent Cloud International for the Middle East and Africa, said, “As Tencent Cloud continues to deepen its presence in the region, we are confident that our cloud and AI solutions are fully aligned with the local market’s needs and digital transformation goals. The new partnership with Balance is a testament to our technology’s ability to empower local businesses and government services alike, creating secure, efficient, and innovative platforms that enhance the everyday lives of users”.