e& money, the fintech arm of e&, has announced a planned partnership with PayPal that will introduce account linking and instant fund withdrawals in the UAE. The collaboration will establish e& money as the country’s first and only digital wallet to link directly with PayPal, enabling users to access their balances in UAE dirhams (AED) seamlessly through the e& money application.
A Landmark Partnership for UAE Fintech
This strategic collaboration bridges a global payment leader with a key regional fintech player, aiming to eliminate friction in cross-border transactions. Once the service is live, PayPal customers in the UAE will be able to link their accounts to their e& money wallet and instantly move funds, which will be converted from US dollars to AED at a fixed exchange rate with no hidden fees.
“Cross-border commerce depends on fast, reliable payment rails,” said Melike Kara, CEO of e& money. “By joining forces with PayPal, we’ll be eliminating the friction freelancers, creators, and everyday consumers face when bringing their earnings into the local economy. This is what financial inclusion looks like in action: Instant, transparent, and secure.”
Otto Williams, SVP, Regional Head and General Manager at PayPal Middle East and Africa, added, “By combining our global network and trusted capabilities with e&’s regional leadership, we’re empowering people and businesses to shop, send money, and transact across borders with greater ease than ever before.”
Solving Key Pain Points for Freelancers and Creators
The partnership is set to directly benefit the UAE’s rapidly growing community of freelancers and digital creators. Historically, receiving international payments has involved cash-flow bottlenecks, reliance on costly third-party services, and long waiting periods for bank-clearing cycles.
This integration will provide instant access to earnings 24/7. Funds transferred will be immediately available to spend on bill payments, peer-to-peer transfers, cash-outs to bank accounts, or for purchases using the e& money card. The transparency of upfront exchange rates and disclosed fees will also eliminate the surprise charges common in traditional payout channels.
How the Integration Will Work
The initial phase of the partnership will focus on enabling withdrawals from PayPal to e& money. A planned second phase will create a two-way bridge, allowing users to send money from their e& money wallets back to their PayPal accounts. As part of a broader roadmap, e& also intends to join PayPal World, a global initiative connecting major payment systems and digital wallets on a unified platform.
Aligning with National Digital Economy Goals
At a national level, this collaboration supports the UAE’s financial inclusion agenda and is poised to accelerate the country’s shift toward a cashless society. It directly aligns with the UAE’s digital economy strategy, which aims for the digital economy to contribute 19.4 percent of the nation’s GDP by 2031. Both companies plan to co-invest in marketing and further product innovation to deepen the integration of global digital platforms into daily life in the UAE.
About e& money
e& money is the fintech arm of e& life and the first digital payment service to be regulated and licensed by the UAE Central Bank. As a financial super-app, it provides UAE citizens and residents with safe and convenient payment solutions through a seamless mobile application. Serving both banked and unbanked segments, e& money offers a wide range of services, including remittances, merchant payments, bill payments, card payments, investments, loans, and insurance.
Source: Zawya
