Ant International Partners with Abu Dhabi Investment Office for Fintech Expansion in UAE.

Ant International has partnered with Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) to support local digitalisation and fintech strategy. The partnership aims to promote deeper collaboration in Abu Dhabi and contribute to the UAE's fintech ecosystem. Ant International will offer a range of payment and related solutions, including merchant acquiring, payment aggregation, and fund transfers, once the final licenses are granted.

Ant International, a leading global digital payment and financial technology provider, has taken significant strides in its expansion into the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) for two key payment licenses: Stored Value Facilities (SVF) and the Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes (RPSCS). These developments underscore Ant International's commitment to supporting the UAE's digital transformation agenda and contributing to the country's fintech ecosystem.

The MoU with ADIO solidifies Ant International's commitment to the UAE, leveraging its technological expertise to support the growth of Abu Dhabi's financial technology sector. The partnership aims to empower local businesses with advanced digital tools and promote financial inclusion and connectivity between the UAE and the rest of the world. H.E. Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO, highlighted the strategic importance of the agreement, stating, "This agreement reflects a broader inflection point in digital finance, where scale is no longer just about reach, but about resilience, trust, and regulatory clarity."

Peng Yang, CEO of Ant International, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, "The support from ADIO has been instrumental in helping us 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."

The IPA from CBUAE for the SVF and RPSCS licenses is a critical step for Ant International to launch its local operations in the UAE. Once the final licenses are granted, Ant International will be positioned to offer a comprehensive suite of payment and related solutions, including merchant acquiring, payment aggregation, e-wallet issuance, and domestic and cross-border fund transfers. These solutions will help bolster the country's digital ecosystem in line with the nation's 'We the UAE 2031' digitalisation and fintech strategy.

Ant International's ACH segment has been a cornerstone of its strategic turnaround, demonstrating robust performance and margin expansion. Despite a revised 2025 revenue guidance of 5–12% growth, the ACH segment's 19% year-over-year dollar volume growth and 185-basis-point margin expansion highlight its core strength. The company's focus on technological innovation, including wearables, biometric payment systems, and AI-driven fraud detection, aligns with industry trends toward frictionless and secure transactions.

For investors, this represents an opportunity to capitalize on a FinTech firm poised to outperform in a rapidly evolving payments landscape. Ant International's strategic partnership with ADIO and the IPA from CBUAE position the company as a key player in the UAE's fintech ecosystem, with significant growth potential in the $300 billion ACH market.

References:
[1] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250811794890/en/Ant-International-Partners-with-Abu-Dhabi-Investment-Office-and-Receives-IPA-from-Central-Bank-of-the-UAE-to-Support-Local-Digitalisation-and-Fintech-Strategy
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/usio-strategic-turnaround-ach-driven-margin-expansion-catalyst-undervalued-fintech-investment-2508/