Over the past 18 months, the MENA Fintech Association’s SHIFT Payments Working Group convened a series of
closed-door boardroom sessions bringing together senior leaders from banks, fintechs, payment networks, regulators,
investors, and technology providers.
These discussions revealed a strong alignment on where payments in MENA are heading and what must change to
support sustainable growth. The ecosystem is moving beyond early disruption toward a more mature phase
defined by collaboration, security, and interoperability.
This white paper synthesizes those insights into a shared vision for the future of payments in the region. It focuses on
three core pillars: cross-border payments, payments security, and the evolution of customer loyalty. Together, they form a practical roadmap for ecosystem stakeholders shaping the next phase of payments in MENA.
