The digital payments landscape in the Middle East and Africa is experiencing rapid transformation, fueled by the growing adoption of innovative payment solutions. A recent multi-year partnership between Mastercard and Amazon Payment Services marks a significant step in this evolution, aiming to enhance digital payment acceptance across key markets, including Bahrain, Egypt, South Africa, and the UAE.
Mastercard Gateway, a unified platform for payment processing, will play a central role in this collaboration. By integrating this technology, merchants can offer faster, more secure transactions while benefiting from a wide array of digital payment options, such as biometrics, wearables, and QR codes. This shift reflects the region’s growing appetite for seamless, cashless transactions, with 95% of consumers open to using emerging payment methods, according to Mastercard’s Payment Industry Insights Index.
The partnership is expected to benefit thousands of merchants, including Amazon online stores across the Middle East and Africa. In addition to improving the checkout experience, the collaboration opens the door to new synergies with telecom companies and governments, enhancing digital payment options across sectors. Both Mastercard and Amazon Payment Services aim to accelerate the digitization of payments, improving financial inclusion and driving economic growth in the region