“This licence is more than approval—it is a powerful endorsement of MBME Pay’s vision to lead the UAE’s next wave of secure, digital payment innovation.”
CBUAE: Landmark Approval Positions MBME Pay Among UAE’s Elite Regulated Fintech Players Driving Cashless Economy
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has granted MBME Pay a coveted Payment Service Provider (PSP) licence, marking a major milestone in the company’s journey and reinforcing the UAE’s leadership in digital payments innovation and financial transformation.
The newly issued Category 3 licence authorises MBME Pay to conduct merchant acquiring and payment aggregation activities, placing the company among an exclusive group of fully regulated payment service providers in the country. This recognition highlights the strength of MBME Pay’s technological infrastructure and its commitment to compliance, security and operational excellence.
With this approval, MBME Pay is now fully equipped to deliver end-to-end payment solutions, covering the entire transaction lifecycle—from merchant onboarding and integration to settlement and ongoing support. The licence enables the company to provide secure, scalable and compliant digital payment services tailored to businesses across multiple sectors.
Company leadership described the licence as a defining moment, emphasising that it reflects strong regulatory confidence in MBME Pay’s capabilities and long-term vision. They noted that the approval positions the company to accelerate the transition towards a cashless economy, not only within the UAE but across the wider Middle East and North Africa region.
As part of its expanded role, MBME Pay will act as a licensed payment aggregator, enabling businesses, SMEs and government entities to streamline digital transactions and enhance customer experiences. By offering a unified platform that integrates advanced payment technologies, APIs and financial services, the company aims to simplify complex payment processes while maintaining high levels of security and transparency.
The licence also strengthens MBME Pay’s ability to build strategic partnerships with financial institutions, technology providers and ecosystem players. This collaborative approach is expected to drive innovation and expand access to next-generation payment solutions, supporting the evolving needs of both businesses and consumers.
Operating as a subsidiary of MBME Group, MBME Pay sits at the centre of a broader digital ecosystem that connects consumers, merchants and institutions through a unified technology platform. The company currently supports millions of users across the UAE, offering a wide range of services including payment gateways, point-of-sale systems and smart kiosks.
Through this ecosystem, MBME Pay is playing a key role in enabling frictionless, secure and efficient payment experiences across sectors such as e-commerce, retail, government services and digital platforms. Its infrastructure is designed to handle high transaction volumes while ensuring reliability and regulatory compliance.
The Central Bank’s decision aligns with its mandate to regulate and supervise financial institutions, ensuring that only entities that meet stringent standards of safety, transparency, and operational capability are authorised to operate in the market.
By granting this licence, the CBUAE continues to strengthen the UAE’s financial services landscape, promoting innovation while safeguarding consumer interests. The move also reflects the country’s broader strategy to build a resilient, inclusive and technology-driven financial ecosystem.
Industry observers note that licensing new payment service providers is critical to fostering competition and accelerating the adoption of digital financial services. As consumer expectations continue to evolve, businesses are increasingly seeking reliable, scalable payment solutions that enable seamless transactions across channels.
MBME Pay’s enhanced capabilities are expected to contribute significantly to this shift, enabling organisations to modernise their payment infrastructure and deliver improved customer experiences. The company’s focus on integrating advanced technologies and maintaining regulatory compliance positions it as a key player in the region’s rapidly expanding fintech landscape.
As the UAE continues to advance its digital economy agenda, initiatives such as this highlight the importance of strong regulatory frameworks alongside innovative private-sector participation. Together, these elements are driving the transformation of the financial services sector and shaping the future of digital commerce.
With its newly acquired licence, MBME Pay is set to play a pivotal role in accelerating digital payments adoption, supporting financial inclusion and contributing to the UAE’s vision of becoming a global hub for fintech and digital innovation.
