South African fintech Payment24 establishes Dubai hub for Middle East expansion

Cape Town-based payment technology company launches regional headquarters and wins major contracts with oil companies in UAE and Saudi Arabia, targeting the region's rapidly modernizing fuel and retail payment sectors.

Payment24 has unveiled its aggressive Middle East growth plans, opening a regional headquarters in Dubai and securing strategic partnerships with leading energy companies across the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The expansion capitalizes on increasing demand throughout Gulf Cooperation Council nations for sophisticated fleet management, fuel payment, and retail transaction technologies. The company's adaptable platform architecture aligns with the region's distinctive market requirements and digital transformation initiatives.

The company's regional breakthrough came through a major agreement with a prominent Gulf oil corporation for comprehensive fleet and payment infrastructure. Following this success, Payment24 established its Dubai operations center and plans additional facilities in Abu Dhabi. The company now serves multiple clients across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, delivering payment automation, customer loyalty programs, mobile transaction systems, and retail technology solutions.

"The Middle East combines digital innovation goals, supportive regulations, and technological adoption in unique ways," explained Shadab Rahil, Payment24's CEO. "We're witnessing widespread modernization efforts that create substantial opportunities for flexible, enterprise-grade platforms with proven operational track records."

Rahil highlighted Saudi Arabia's fragmented fuel retail landscape, where no brand controls more than 6% market share. "Government-led consolidation and digitalization initiatives allow market participants to bypass traditional development phases, implementing cloud-native, mobile-centric systems already validated in African and emerging markets."

The UAE market presents different opportunities, featuring sophisticated retail fuel operations. Payment24's implementations extend beyond payment processing to incorporate facial recognition, license plate scanning, electric vehicle charging, compressed natural gas, and hydrogen refueling capabilities. Future integrations include automated robotic refueling systems.

Payment24 recently reorganized its comprehensive platform into four specialized divisions: Fleet Solutions, Payment Processing, Loyalty & Rewards, and Retail Automation. This modular structure enables customized digital transformation strategies for energy sector clients based on regional market characteristics, ranging from traditional fleet cards to fully automated mobile payment networks.

The company's direct market approach, avoiding third-party distributors in favor of local presence, has proven crucial. "Regional understanding of consumer patterns, cultural factors, and regulatory environments is critical, particularly in Middle Eastern markets," stated Nolan Daniel, Payment24's co-CEO. "Each location demands tailored solutions reflecting distinct customer needs, compliance requirements, and business practices."

Payment24 plans expansion into additional GCC markets including Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar, while maintaining operations across Africa and Latin America, with Asia Pacific markets under consideration.

"Our Middle East achievements demonstrate that combining robust technology architecture with regional expertise delivers enterprise solutions addressing local requirements, regardless of market complexity," Rahil concluded.