PayPal today announced a landmark $100 million commitment to fuel innovation, support entrepreneurs, and drive inclusive economic growth across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), one of the world’s fastest-growing digital commerce regions. The multi-year program is designed to expand access to the digital economy for millions of consumers and businesses, from small merchants to large enterprises.
“The Middle East and Africa are home to some of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving businesses in the world,”
said Alex Chriss, President and CEO, PayPal.
“By dedicating a $100 million investment to this region over the coming years, we’re investing in the technologies, partnerships, and solutions that will help entrepreneurs scale faster, expand their reach beyond borders, and unlock new opportunities for growth in the digital economy.”
How the $100M Will Be Deployed
The investment will be allocated through a mix of mechanisms, including minority investments, acquisitions, PayPal Ventures funding, people, and technology deployments to help local businesses scale, unlock opportunities for innovators, and connect more communities to trusted digital payments and global markets.
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Strengthening MEA With a Regional Hub in Dubai
This announcement follows the April launch of PayPal’s first regional hub in Dubai, a gateway designed to deliver global commerce capabilities to MEA by providing frictionless payments, robust security, and greater access to international markets.
Building on PayPal Ventures’ MEA Track Record
The new commitment builds on PayPal Ventures’ existing investments in the region’s most promising startups such as Tabby, Paymob, and Stitch, underscoring PayPal’s role as a long-term partner in shaping the future of digital commerce.
“This commitment underscores our dedication to expanding PayPal’s presence in the Middle East and Africa and our focus is to build stronger connections between local businesses and the global marketplace,”
said Otto Williams, Senior Vice President, Regional Head and General Manager of PayPal Middle East and Africa.
“We’re focused on expanding our footprint in the region and ensuring millions of consumers and businesses can access more of the digital services they need to thrive.”
What This Means for MEA Entrepreneurs and SMBs
- Access to capital and expertise: Funding plus strategic guidance via PayPal and PayPal Ventures
- Global reach: Tools that make cross-border selling simpler and more secure
- Modern infrastructure: Frictionless payments, risk and fraud protections, and developer-friendly APIs
- Job creation and ecosystem growth: Investment in people and technology to catalyze regional talent and innovation.
