The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has announced that Tap to Pay on iPhone will soon be available to merchants in Saudi Arabia.
The service, announced during the Money20/20 Middle East conference in Riyadh, will allow merchants to accept contactless payments directly on compatible iPhones using near-field communication (NFC) technology.
Customers will be able to pay by holding a smart device or contactless card near the merchant’s iPhone. Supported payment methods will include mada cards, other contactless-enabled cards and digital wallets.
The launch builds on Saudi Arabia’s national payments infrastructure, including the Software Point of Sale (SoftPOS) service introduced in 2021. According to SAMA, the service is being developed to meet international standards and local technical requirements for payment acceptance.
The announcement was made at the Money20/20 Middle East conference, held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center in Malham from 14 to 16 September 2026.
Source: Saudi Central Bank
