Africa: Mastercard and Amazon Join Forces to Accelerate Digital Payment Adoption Across Middle East and Africa

Mastercard, a global leader in payment technology, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Amazon Payment Services to drive the adoption of digital payments across nine countries in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. The partnership will cover Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Under this collaboration, Amazon Payment Services will integrate Mastercard Gateway, a unified payment processing platform, across 40 markets in the region. This move is aimed at strengthening the digital payments ecosystem as consumer demand for innovative payment solutions continues to rise. According to Mastercard’s Payment Industry Insights Index, 95% of consumers in the MEA region are open to embracing emerging payment methods, including digital wallets, biometrics, QR codes, wearables, and contactless payments.

The partnership will also introduce a suite of advanced payment solutions, such as Secure Card on File, Click to Pay, and token authentication services, designed to enhance payment security and streamline the checkout experience. Mastercard Gateway will offer merchants access to multi-rail payment options, enabling them to process transactions across multiple networks for faster and more convenient customer experiences.

Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President of Market Development for Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Mastercard, expressed optimism about the partnership:
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Amazon Payment Services to expand digital payment acceptance and support the region’s growing demand for innovative payment solutions.”

Peter George, Managing Director of Amazon Payment Services for the Middle East & North Africa, emphasized the benefits of Mastercard Gateway, noting that the integration will allow Amazon Payment Services to expand its reach as a Payment Service Provider (PSP) and facilitate easier integration with major global acquirers.

This partnership represents a significant milestone in accelerating digital transformation and enhancing the digital payment infrastructure across the MEA region, fostering economic growth and creating a seamless payment experience for consumers and businesses alike.