PAGA Case:
Tap Payments

Leading Digital Payments Across MENA

PAGA Case:
Tap Payments

Leading Digital Payments Across MENA

Description

Tap Payments is transforming digital commerce across MENA, powering payments for over 100,000 businesses in 9 countries. Our secure, user-friendly products serve businesses of all sizes - from micro and small businesses to medium-sized and large enterprises - helping them accept payments easily across online, mobile, and in-person channels.

 

Key Features

  • Complete Payment Coverage: Accept all popular MENA payment methods including Apple Pay, mada, Visa, Mastercard, Amex, KNET, Benefit, Qpay-NAPs, Careem Pay, STC Pay, PayPal, Tabby, and many more. 
  • Easy Integration: Quick setup with our SDKs and APIs, letting you start accepting payments in minutes. 
  • Local Bank Transfers: Get paid directly into any local bank account with instant automated payouts. 
  • Smart Payment Controls: Use Authorize to block funds temporarily, reducing unnecessary refunds. 
  • Marketplace Ready: Built-in tools for marketplace payments, including automated split payments. 
  • Security & Scale: Enterprise-grade security with real-time fraud detection, built to handle growing transaction volumes. 
  • Local & Global: Support for multiple currencies and languages, tailored for MENA customers.

 

Year of introduction

2014

Territory

The MENA (Middle East & North Africa) region including: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan.

Participants

Tap Payments performs its financial activities as a Payment Institution licensed by the Saudi Central Bank and Bahrain.

Tap Payments is licensed as an E-Payment Service Provider (EPSP) by the Central Bank of Kuwait. 

Tap Payments is licensed as a Payment Service Provider (PSP) by the Qatar Central Bank. 

Challenges, best practices and lessons learned

Fragmented Payment Landscape

The Middle East's payment landscape is highly fragmented, with each GCC country favoring its own local payment methods. Businesses expanding in this region must integrate multiple payment options to meet consumer expectations. Tap Payments addresses this by offering a single integration that unifies major regional payment methods (e.g., mada, KNET, Benefit, Fawry) alongside international options like Visa, Mastercard, and Amex, as well as alternative methods such as BNPL, Apple Pay, and STC Pay. This unified approach simplifies integration for eCommerce businesses and enhances consumer confidence and convenience.

Payment Fraud and Security

Fraud poses a significant challenge, leading to potential financial losses and reputational damage for eCommerce businesses. Tap Payments prioritizes security by implementing advanced fraud detection algorithms, biometric authentication, and tokenization, protecting both merchants and customers. Maintaining high security standards is critical for building trust and sustaining business growth in the digital payments space.  

Compliance and Regulation

Tap Payments simplifies compliance with complex regulations by working closely with regulators across all markets we serve. We offer merchants a single contract covering all payment methods, banking relationships, and PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance. This approach streamlines compliance, reduces administrative burdens, and ensures that businesses remain aligned with local and international financial regulations. 

Overcoming Challenges and Industry Standards 

Tap Payments has successfully addressed interoperability challenges by adhering to global industry standards and best practices. Our platform's design aligns with PCI DSS, ensuring robust security measures and data protection. By leveraging a unified integration approach, we eliminate the need for multiple complex integrations, providing a scalable solution that facilitates cross-border payments. 

Public materials

Submitter

Martin O'Leary
Group Head, Marketing
m.oleary@tap.company

Disclaimer

The information and examples presented herein are provided for informational purposes only and do not represent the official position or views of the World Economic Forum or the IDB Lab. The World Economic Forum and the IDB Lab do not endorse, recommend, or advocate for the implementation of any specific practices, policies, or approaches described. Rather, this content simply showcases examples and perspectives shared by members of our PAGA Community.

Payments to Advance Growth for All (PAGA)Part of  Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics
Powered by
© 2025 All rights reserved
Privacy Policy & Terms of Service