Mastercard taps Qlub to drive contactless payments

By Vriti Gothi

Mastercard has partnered with Dubai-based hospitality FinTech Qlub, marking a step forward in advancing seamless and contactless payment solutions across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The partnership, which includes a minority investment by Mastercard, underscores both organisations’ commitment to redefining digital payment experiences in the fast-evolving hospitality sector.

At the heart of this initiative, Mastercard will process Qlub’s card-not-present transactions through Mastercard Gateway in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. By combining Mastercard’s secure global infrastructure with Qlub’s proprietary QR-based payment technology, the partnership is set to accelerate the region’s shift towards frictionless, digitally enabled dining experiences.

“By combining Qlub’s cutting-edge QR-based payment technology with Mastercard’s global expertise, we’re delivering simpler, faster, and more secure payment experiences for restaurants and consumers alike,” said Gina Petersen-Skyrme, Senior Vice President and Country Manager, UAE and Oman, Mastercard.

John Mady, Managing Director, UAE, Qlub, said, “By combining Qlub’s frictionless QR-based dining technology with Mastercard’s global expertise and secure infrastructure, we’re reimagining how guests and restaurants connect. We aim to make every dining experience faster, safer, and more rewarding, not just in the GCC, but wherever great food brings people together.”

Founded in 2021, Qlub has rapidly established itself as a digital-first hospitality payments leader, now serving more than 3 million users across 3,000 restaurants in 10 countries. The company recently closed a $30 million funding round, backed by Shorooq Partners and Cherry Ventures, with participation from e&, Mubadala Investments, and Legend Capital.

With this collaboration, Mastercard and Qlub are strengthening the foundations of the region’s digital economy, ensuring restaurants and consumers benefit from greater convenience, enhanced security, and future-ready payment innovation.