Paysafe CTO urges AI governance as MENA payments scale
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – April 23, 2026 – Paysafe Chief Technology Officer Ahu Chhapgar’s April 23, 2026 opinion piece signals that payments firms must govern AI to scale responsibly, as MENA fintech growth accelerates in hubs like Riyadh and Dubai. AI now shapes payments approvals, fraud detection, customer experience and financial access in real time across the region.
Overview
Chhapgar published the commentary on PYMNTS.com addressing the governance gap as AI becomes operational infrastructure. Payments firms face fragmented accountability across product, engineering, risk, compliance and operations teams—creating control challenges at scale. No specific transaction volumes were disclosed. Chhapgar emphasizes end-to-end ownership and structured rollouts to balance innovation velocity with risk management.
Data evidence
While specific figures were not provided, the analysis highlights AI’s deployment across multiple payments functions simultaneously. The governance framework must address explainability, audit trails and diversified models, particularly when integrating third-party AI systems.
Expert perspective
“In payments, weak governance does not just create isolated risk, it creates risk at scale.”
— Ahu Chhapgar, Chief Technology Officer at Paysafe
Analysis: This statement underscores the systemic nature of payments AI failures—a single governance lapse can propagate across millions of transactions instantly, making preemptive controls essential rather than reactive.
“AI governance is no longer just a compliance issue. It is a trust issue.”
— Ahu Chhapgar, Chief Technology Officer at Paysafe
Analysis: The shift from regulatory checkbox to trust imperative reflects market maturity. In MENA’s competitive fintech landscape, customer confidence becomes a strategic differentiator as AI adoption intensifies.
What’s next
MENA payments leaders must build governance frameworks early to integrate AI with existing risk policies. In markets where banks test AI pilots, weak controls risk eroding trust amid rapid scaling. Riyadh-based Mozn’s FOCAL platform demonstrates the regional push toward AI compliance infrastructure. Dubai fintechs like NymCard drive payments innovation that requires governance guardrails for sustainable growth.
The timing aligns with broader MENA fintech expansion—firms eye AI for fraud prevention and personalization, connecting to global shifts like Mastercard’s EEMEA tools. UAE and Saudi regulators are positioned to establish AI frameworks that could set regional standards.
What to watch next: Regulatory guidance from UAE Central Bank and Saudi Central Bank on AI deployment standards; governance frameworks from major MENA payment processors; regional AI audit requirements.
Conclusion
AI governance positions MENA payments for controlled expansion, aligning with global trajectories toward accountable technology deployment that preserves customer trust while enabling innovation.
Sources: PYMNTS, Fintech News Middle East, Fintech News
