One of the biggest digital payments systems in the world, Ant Group, has collaborated with Astra Tech, a consumer technology holding company in the MENA area.
Through this groundbreaking partnership, Alipay+’s worldwide cross-border digital payment and marketing solutions will be integrated into the PayBy merchant network, which includes the full fleet of over 7,000 cabs in Abu Dhabi and more than 3,000 businesses nationally.
The connection seeks to make it possible for the over 1.4 billion wallet users to perform transactions without any currency conversion while visiting the UAE, directly from their home e-wallets.
“Our landmark collaboration with Alipay+ aligns perfectly with the UAE’s commitment to enhancing the payment ecosystem and fostering a commerce-friendly environment,” said Abdallah Abu Sheikh, Co-founder of Astra Tech and CEO of Botim. In keeping with Astra Tech’s mission to promote global financial inclusion, we are happy to collaborate with Alipay+ to improve secure and hassle-free payment operations. Additionally, the fact that we are extending our fintech services abroad demonstrates our commitment to making payment solutions easily accessible everywhere.
This innovative partnership streamlines settlement procedures and mobile-based Alipay+ transactions, whether they take place in brick-and-mortar establishments or on digital marketplaces. More digital choices make it easier for customers to pay in-store; they can scan a QR code at the register, input their payment amount, and confirm the transaction, or retailers can scan payment QR codes that customers present on their mobile devices.
According to Guoming Cheng, general manager of Ant Group in Europe and the Middle East, “Our agreement with Astra Tech not only propels us towards a new era of strategic collaboration, it also opens doors to a seamless and integrated digital payment experience at physical stores in the Middle East. Through this partnership, the region will benefit from the combined global reach of flexible and scalable integration solutions driven by PayBy and Alipay+. Additionally, it invites business owners to embrace digitalization, change the retail industry together, and join this cutting-edge ecosystem.
