Checkout.com to introduce card issuing capabilities in the UAE

By Gloria Methri

Checkout.com plans to expand its card issuing capabilities in the UAE, making it the first digital payments services provider to invest in domestic card issuance in the region. Subject to regulatory approval, the company aims to launch issuing services by 2026.

Once operational, the offering will enable businesses to issue branded physical and virtual cards, power customer rewards programmes, manage expense flows, and simplify B2B payouts. The move will give businesses greater control over financial operations and unlock new avenues to deliver value to end users.

“As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy,” said Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, MENA General Manager at Checkout.com. “The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it.”

Checkout.com was the first global payment service provider to receive a Retail Payment Services licence from the Central Bank of the UAE and was instrumental in bringing Mada and Apple Pay to merchants in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The upcoming issuing rollout signals a significant next step in its regional growth.

The company recently launched Flow Remember Me, a solution allowing shoppers to securely save their card details for one-click use across Checkout.com’s global merchant network. Earlier this year, Checkout.com also became the first provider to launch Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and cross-border payouts.

“With bold moves like Saudi’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda, MENA is fast becoming a global standard for digital transformation,” added Abbondandolo. “At Checkout.com, we are here to support that momentum. Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity.”