PayPal has opened a new regional hub in Dubai, marking its first physical presence in the Middle East and Africa.
Located in Dubai Internet City, the site aims to support the company’s customers and partners in the region and increase access to the global digital economy for consumers and businesses alike.
The expansion will bring PayPal’s international commerce capabilities to the region, including seamless payment services, enhanced security features, and wider access to global payment networks.
These offerings are expected to support both large enterprises and small businesses in conducting cross-border transactions.
Speaking at the Dubai AI Festival 2025, Suzan Kereere, President of Global Markets at PayPal, said:
“PayPal is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between consumers and businesses for cross-border commerce, fostering growth in local economies. We want to empower businesses in this region to connect with our global consumers, while enabling consumers here to shop with confidence internationally.”
Kereere also noted the role of artificial intelligence in reshaping commerce:
“AI rapidly transforms the way we shop and pay, PayPal is developing its next generation shopping experiences at speed, including smart wallets and agentic commerce. I cannot wait to take our customers and partners on this journey with us.”
The announcement follows a number of recent agreements PayPal has signed with merchants and partners in the region such as TerraPay and Ignyte.
Otto Williams, Senior Vice President, Regional Head and General Manager of PayPal Middle East and Africa, said:
“Through strategic partnerships with banks, fintechs, telecommunications providers, and other commerce players, we can collectively expand access to the global digital economy.With our new regional hub in Dubai, we are poised to achieve much more, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses, who we will equip with the tools to attract, convert and retain customers on a global scale.”
Featured image credit: Paypal
