PayPal commits $100 million to support startups and digital commerce growth across the Middle East and Africa.
The move follows the launch of PayPal’s first regional hub in Dubai earlier this year.
Investment will be deployed through minority stakes, acquisitions, and PayPal Ventures, building on existing backing of Tabby, Paymob, and Stitch.
PayPal is doubling down on emerging markets. The US payments giant revealed plans to invest $100 million across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), a multi-year commitment aimed at fueling innovation, scaling startups, and expanding access to digital financial services in one of the world’s fastest-growing commerce regions.
Speaking from Dubai, Alex Chriss, President and CEO of PayPal, highlighted why the company is making such a bold move:
“The Middle East and Africa are home to some of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving businesses in the world. By dedicating a $100 million investment to this region over the coming years, we are 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.”
The investment follows the launch of PayPal’s first regional hub in Dubai earlier this year. The hub was designed to give businesses ranging from large enterprises to small merchants access to seamless payment solutions, global commerce infrastructure and enhanced security.
PayPal says it will deploy the $100 million through a mix of minority investments, acquisitions and tech rollouts. Its venture arm, PayPal Ventures, has already backed several high-profile startups in the region, including:
Tabby – a UAE-based buy-now-pay-later platform.
Paymob – an Egyptian payments processor serving merchants across MENA.
Stitch – a South African fintech providing payment infrastructure.
For PayPal, the new move is about long-term presence in a market ripe for growth. Otto Williams, Senior Vice President and Regional Head for PayPal Middle East and Africa, emphasized this commitment:
“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. 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.”
With operations in about 200 markets globally, PayPal is betting big on MEA as a future engine of growth. By combining financial support with infrastructure and expertise, the company is aiming to accelerate the region’s digital economy and empower startups to scale faster.
Read the full press release here.
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