Ant International Signs MOU with Abu Dhabi Investment Office

Ant International, a leading global digital payment, digitisation and financial technology provider, has achieved two milestones last week that marked a significant step forward for its business expansion in the UAE.

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

These developments underscore Ant International’s commitment to supporting the Central Bank’s digital transformation agenda and contributing to the UAE’s fintech ecosystem, the company said.

Ant International’s MoU with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) solidifies its commitment to the UAE by leveraging its technological expertise to support the growth of Abu Dhabi’s financial technology sector, empowering local businesses with advanced digital tools, and promoting financial inclusion and connectivity between the UAE and the rest of the world.

ADIO Director General Badr Al-Olama said that with progressive regulation, robust digital infrastructure and a strategic location, Abu Dhabi is a key jurisdiction for fintech firms that operate globally and seek to partner for longevity.

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 ADIO’s thriving financial ecosystem, Abu Dhabi is actively shaping digital innovation for the future, he explained.

Ant International CEO Peng Yang said that the support from ADIO has been instrumental in helping them to establish the company’s presence in Abu Dhabi.

This strategic collaborative relationship is foundational to their mission to empower local businesses, especially SMEs, and connect them to new global growth opportunities,” Yang added.

IPA from CBUAE

The In Principle Approval for CBUAE’s SVF and RPSCS licenses is a prerequisite for obtaining the full licenses required to introduce Ant International’s innovative fintech solutions to the country.

Once the final licenses are granted, Ant International will be positioned to offer a comprehensive suite of payment and other related solutions in the UAE.

These include merchant acquiring, payment aggregation, e-wallet issuance, and domestic and cross-border fund transfers, which will help bolster the country’s digital ecosystem in line with the nation’s ‘We the UAE 2031′ digitalisation and fintech strategy.

Yang said that receiving IPA from the CBUAE is a testament to their 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,” he added.

The Singapore-based firm has main operations across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, and it a leading global digital payment, digitisation and financial technology provider. Through collaboration across the private and public sectors, its unified techfin platform supports financial institutions and merchants of all sizes to achieve inclusive growth through a comprehensive range of cutting-edge digital payment and financial services solutions.