The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and Ant International will launch cross-border QR code payments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during 2026. The collaboration involves integrating Ant International’s global wallet gateway, Alipay+, with the Kingdom’s national payment scheme, mada, to drive digitisation for local merchants.
Through this integration, local merchants in Saudi Arabia, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will be able to accept cross-border QR payments from users of Alipay+’s international payment partners. The Alipay+ network currently connects more than 1.7 billion user accounts across 36 partners to over 100 million merchants in 70 markets.
Supporting Vision 2030 and tourism goals
The launch is aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a national strategy aimed at transforming the country’s economy through innovation, sustainability, and diversification. Digital payments and tourism are central to these goals. The Kingdom has set a target of achieving 70 per cent non-cash transactions by 2030 and aims to attract 150 million visitors annually to create new growth and job opportunities.
In 2024, Saudi Arabia surpassed its goal of 100 million domestic and international tourists ahead of schedule and ranked first globally in tourism revenue growth.
Douglas Feagin, president of Ant International, said: “We are deeply honoured to support the ambitious goals of Vision 2030 and build on the strong digital infrastructure by SAMA to enhance payment connectivity and boost Saudi Arabia’s status as a global tourism hub. Tourism is a powerful force for economic growth and cultural connectivity. Through such joint innovations across public and private sectors, we can unlock more opportunities and help local businesses and communities flourish, while creating a more seamless experience for global consumers.”
Ant International’s recent developments in Saudi Arabia
The upcoming launch of Alipay+ builds on other recent milestones for Ant International in the Kingdom this year. The company’s unified merchant payment solution, Antom, received a PTSP certificate from SAMA, and Ant International opened its first Middle East office in Riyadh.
“This agreement deepens our presence and commitment to Saudi Arabia, and we look forward to working to promote QR payments locally as we build a thriving digital future for the Kingdom,” added Feagin.
The integration with Saudi Arabia’s mada scheme follows similar Alipay+ collaborations with national payment schemes in other countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Cambodia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
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