PayPal, the global digital payments giant with a market cap of $61 billion, has officially landed in the Middle East with the launch of its first regional hub in Dubai Internet City. This marks the company’s first-ever office in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), and signals a major step toward deepening its footprint across the region.
From its new base in Dubai, the firm will serve users in 80 countries, offering tools that help both large enterprises and small businesses tap into international markets. This includes smoother cross-border payments, access to global networks, and PayPal’s hallmark security features.
The move comes as UAE and wider Gulf nations ramp up their digital economy goals, encouraging the adoption of digital payments across sectors. “PayPal is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between consumers and businesses for cross-border commerce, fostering growth in local economies,” said Suzan Kereere, President of Global Markets at PayPal.
Speaking at the Dubai AI Festival 2025, Kereere also noted the company’s rapid adoption of AI to power the future of commerce. “As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the way we shop and pay, PayPal is developing its next-generation shopping experiences at speed, including smart wallets and agentic commerce.”
PayPal Dubai: A regional boost for digital commerce
The new Dubai hub is more than just a symbolic expansion. According to Otto Williams, Senior VP and GM for MEA at PayPal, it’s a strategic move designed to support a broader ecosystem of financial partners in the region.
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“Through strategic partnerships with banks, fintechs, telecommunications providers, and other commerce players, we can collectively expand access to the global digital economy,” he said.
PayPal already works with major regional players in aviation, tourism, digital goods, and retail, but now, it’s putting a sharper focus on supporting SMEs, which form the backbone of most MENA economies.
“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,” Williams added.
PayPal has been a major player in the digital commerce scene since 2000, and this latest move confirms that MENA is no longer just a growth market—it’s a priority one.
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