The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has announced a series of strategic collaborations with global fintech leaders Ant International, Google Pay, and Thunes, significantly advancing the Kingdom’s digital payment ecosystem. These partnerships are a key component of the Saudi Vision 2030 program, which aims to enhance financial inclusion, support a growing tourism sector, and diversify the national economy.
Ant International To Enable Cross-Border QR Payments
In a major move to open up the local market to international visitors, SAMA and Ant International will launch cross-border QR code payments in 2026. The initiative will link Saudi Arabia’s national payment scheme, mada, with Ant International’s Alipay+ wallet gateway. This will allow Saudi merchants, including SMEs, to seamlessly accept QR payments from 1.7 billion users connected through Alipay+’s global partners.
Google Pay Integration With Mada Network Goes Live
Further enhancing convenience for local consumers, SAMA has confirmed the full integration of Google Pay with the mada payment network. This development allows users across the Kingdom to add and manage their mada cards and digital credit cards directly within the Google Wallet application, expanding the flexibility and accessibility of digital payments for everyday transactions.
Thunes and Barq To Power Global Remittances
In the remittance sector, global payments firm Thunes and barq, a fast-growing Saudi digital wallet, have rolled out enhanced international transfer services. By leveraging Thunes’ Direct Global Network, barq customers can now send real-time payments to billions of bank accounts and mobile wallets worldwide. This partnership strengthens barq’s position in one of the world’s largest remittance markets and builds on a collaboration first established in 2024.
About The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)
The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) is the central bank of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its responsibilities include managing the nation’s monetary policy, overseeing the banking and financial sectors, and maintaining the stability of the Saudi Riyal. SAMA is also at the forefront of developing the Kingdom’s financial infrastructure and promoting fintech innovation in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Source: MEA TechWatch
