ME embracing digital payments

The Middle East’s travel, tourism and hospitality industries are rapidly embracing digital payments, aligning with the region’s vision for a tech-driven economy.

Jaal Shah, Group Managing Director, Travel Designer Group
The Middle Eastern travel sector is witnessing rapid adoption of digital payments, driven by fintech innovation, BNPL (buy now, pay later) solutions, and mobile wallets. Travel agents are increasingly embracing secure, real-time payment platforms to enhance efficiency and customer experience. Travel agents are progressing toward digital payments, but traditional credit models still play a role.

Jyoti Panchmatia, General Manager – Gulf Region Travco LLC
In the Middle East, there is a noticeable shift towards mobile payments and contactless transactions. Digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay are gaining traction, while local systems, such as Tabby, Tamara in UAE and some other Gulf regions are also on the rise. There is a clear movement toward cashless payments, especially in tourism and hospitality sectors.

Armin Moradi, CEO & Co-Founder, Qashio
The Middle East’s B2B travel sector is shifting from traditional payments to virtual corporate cards, driven by the need for greater efficiency and financial control. Growing demand for seamless integration and rebate incentives is accelerating the transition. Digital payment adoption among travel agents is growing fast. Agents are already leveraging card payments. The bottleneck is created when suppliers don’t accept digital payments.

Sushant Pliankar, Leisure/ Mice Manager, Uranus Travel and Tourism
Current trends highlight a transformative shift towards a cashless economy in the Middle East, driven by technological innovation, government support, and changing consumer preferences. While travel agents in the Middle East are making significant progress in adopting digital payments, they are not yet fully ‘there’. The travel industry is in a transitional phase.

Mouna Ouni, Director – Sales and Marketing, Swissotel Al Murooj
AI will enhance the guest experiences with chatbots for instant support, smart room controls, facial recognition check-in, personalised recommendations, and predictive maintenance—boosting satisfaction, and loyalty in travel and hospitality. Some hotels, use AI-powered facial recognition for seamless check-in, reducing wait times and improving convenience. AI reviews guest feedback and enhance service quality.

Ayman Al Qudwa, General Manager, Falcon Travel
In Qatar and the Middle East region, digital payment trends in Travel and Tourism include seamless mobile payments, contactless transactions, and integrated booking platforms. Fintech solutions like e-wallets and blockchain are enhancing security, convenience, and personalised experiences for travellers and businesses alike. Agents in Qatar and ME are moving toward digital payments.

Dinkar Dasaur, General Manager – UAE, Satguru
Digital payments in the Middle East are booming, with contactless transactions, mobile wallets, and BNPL gaining traction. Travellers expect seamless, cashless experiences, pushing agents to adopt secure, instant payment solutions for bookings and services. Travel agents have come a long way in digital payments, but full adoption of digital payment is still a work in progress. Many people are embracing online transactions.

Ahmed Ibrahim, Director – Sales and Marketing, The Tower Plaza Hotel
In the Middle Eastern travel sector, key digital payment trends include the rise of mobile and contactless payments, the adoption of local payment methods, increasing use of BNPL options, enhanced security through biometrics, and blockchain integration for cross-border transactions. Travel agents in the Middle East are progressing steadily with digital payments, but there’s still work to be done.

Aga Khatib , General Manager, PanWorld Travel
In the Middle East, digital payments are growing quickly, with mobile wallets and contactless payments. Governments are pushing for innovation, and local companies are focusing on making payments safer and easier to use worldwide. Travel agents are getting on board with digital payments too, but they are not fully there yet. There is still a gap when it comes to integrating mobile wallets and handling payments across borders.

Ipshita Sharma, Travel Tailor, SCN Travel & More
I see digital payments evolving fast—contactless, mobile wallets, and BNPL are everywhere. But for us, bank transfers remain the norm, with credit card and global fees adding costs. As the region goes cashless, I hope for easier, cost-effective options. Unfortunately, we don’t seem to be there yet. Travel agents still depend on bank transfers. We would like the options of tabby made easier, but they all come at a cost. I personally think we need about 4 to 5 years more to catch up.

Prem Sagar, Group General Manager, Al Rais Travel and Shipping
The Middle East is rapidly adopting digital payments, driven by fintech growth, mobile wallets, open banking, and government initiatives. Contactless payments, BNPL, and blockchain-based transactions are gaining traction, transforming consumer and business payment behaviours. While progress is evident, many travel agents still rely on traditional payment methods. Larger agencies integrating digital solutions.

Tamer Nassar, Regional Director – Middle East & Turkey, Protect Group
The region is seeing rapid adoption of alternative payment methods like BNPL and digital wallets, driven by mobile-first consumers and evolving regulatory frameworks. More payment providers are looking beyond transactions—seeking ways to add value, drive engagement, and unlock new revenue streams. Many agents are transitioning, but fragmentation, legacy systems, and costs create roadblocks. Payment providers have a key role in bridging this gap by offering solutions.

Salim Sikander, CFO, Desert Adventures
Digital payments in the Middle East region are growing rapidly, driven by contactless payments, e-wallets and virtual cards. This trend is supported by tech-savvy consumers, growing fintech adoption and AML regulation to discourage cashless economies. Travel agents are progressing but not fully there yet. Legacy systems, credit dependencies, and market variations slow complete digital transformation.

Ayşe Yaşar, Vice President – Sales, Prime Travel, Bedsopia
The Middle East region is embracing seamless digital payments with rising adoption of mobile wallets, real-time transactions, and blockchain based security. B2B travel payments are evolving with flexible options like virtual cards and BNPL, ensuring smoother transactions for travel agents and suppliers. Travel agents in ME region are transitioning to digital payments, with increasing adoption of virtual cards and e-wallets. However, reliance on traditional methods persists.