Ant International, a global provider of digital payment, digitisation, and financial technology services, has announced two developments that mark a step forward in its expansion in the UAE.

The company has signed a MoU with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and received In-Principle Approval (IPA) for the Stored Value Facilities (SVF) and Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes (RPSCS) licenses from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE).

The MoU with ADIO is aimed at supporting the growth of Abu Dhabi’s financial technology sector by using Ant International’s technological expertise to assist local businesses and promote financial inclusion, as well as connectivity between the UAE and other markets.

Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO, said:

“This agreement with Ant International reflects a broader inflection point in digital finance, where scale is no longer just about reach, but about resilience, trust and regulatory clarity. More than just welcoming global fintech players to join our thriving financial ecosystem, Abu Dhabi is actively shaping digital innovation for the future.”

Peng Yang, Chief Executive Officer of Ant International, said:

“The support from ADIO has been instrumental in helping us to establish our presence in Abu Dhabi. This strategic collaborative relationship is foundational to our mission to empower local businesses, especially SMEs, and connect them to new global growth opportunities. We are excited to contribute to the UAE’s growing digital economy and look forward to a future of shared success.”

The IPA from the CBUAE is a prerequisite for obtaining full licenses to operate in the country.

Once granted, Ant International intends to offer payment and related services in the UAE, including merchant acquiring, payment aggregation, e-wallet issuance, and domestic and cross-border fund transfers.

These services are intended to support the UAE’s digital ecosystem in line with the nation’s ‘We the UAE 2031’ digitisation and fintech strategy.

Yang added:

“Receiving this In-Principle Approval from the Central Bank of the UAE is a testament to our productive collaboration and shared vision for a digitally driven, inclusive economy. We are grateful for the guidance and support of CBUAE’s Fintech Office as we work to bring our AI-powered fintech solutions spanning merchant services, wallet technology, and digitisation tools to help scale the UAE’s growth.”

Featured image credit: Ant International