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Benefit, Bahrain’s leading fintech and electronic transactions provider, has entered into a strategic partnership with Ant International to introduce cross-border QR payments between the BENEFIT QR scheme and Alipay+ beginning in 2026. The collaboration supports Bahrain’s broader goal of building a more inclusive, interoperable and globally connected digital payments ecosystem.
Formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding, the partnership will focus on developing innovative cross-border payment solutions, facilitating financial integration between Bahrain and international markets, and creating a framework that aligns with global advancements in digital finance.
Once deployed, more than 15,000 merchants across Bahrain will be able to accept QR payments from Alipay+’s international partner wallets. Alipay+ currently links over 1.8 billion user accounts through more than 40 digital payment partners, connecting them to 150 million merchants in more than 100 markets worldwide.
Beyond enabling inbound international payments, both parties are also exploring outbound payment capabilities. This would allow Bahraini consumers to use their preferred local payment methods abroad via the BENEFIT network, enabling seamless payments across millions of Alipay+-enabled merchants globally.
The cooperation includes joint knowledge exchange, technical capacity building and coordinated marketing initiatives designed to drive the adoption of advanced fintech solutions across Bahrain’s economy.
Commenting on the partnership, Abdulwahed AlJanahi, Chief Executive of BENEFIT, said the collaboration reflects the company’s strategic ambition to expand its global footprint and strengthen Bahrain’s position as a regional fintech leader.
“This initiative supports an advanced infrastructure that connects local and international markets and delivers secure, seamless and world-class payment experiences,” AlJanahi said. “It marks a pivotal step in enhancing cross-border payment innovation, accelerating digital transformation and reinforcing Bahrain’s vision of a knowledge-driven digital economy.”
He added that the partnership forms part of BENEFIT’s wider strategy to bridge national payment systems with major global platforms, positioning Bahrain to attract high-value investments and strengthen its economic competitiveness.
Pietro Candela, General Manager for EMEA at Alipay+, described the collaboration as an important milestone in Alipay+’s Middle East expansion.
“We are honoured to work with BENEFIT, one of the region’s foremost digital payments innovators,” he said. “Together, we aim to empower Bahraini merchants to seamlessly accept payments from international travellers and, in the future, enable BENEFIT users to access Alipay+ services worldwide.”
The Bahrain rollout follows Ant International’s growing presence in the Middle East, including the opening of its first regional office in Riyadh earlier this year. Alipay+ is already integrated with 10 national QR schemes globally, including those in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Cambodia, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
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