Adyen Secures UAE Payment License to Strengthen Local Settlement Operations
Adyen has received a Retail Payment Services Category II license from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), giving the global payments company greater control over its local settlement infrastructure in the country. The approval enables Adyen to manage settlements directly in the UAE, reducing its reliance on third-party providers.
The license marks a notable step for the payments firm as it expands its operational capabilities in one of the Middle East’s most active fintech markets. With the new authorization, Adyen will have more oversight of compliance and settlement processes for merchants operating in the UAE.
According to the company, the development also supports continued investment in areas including fraud prevention, emerging payment methods, and unified commerce. These capabilities are increasingly important for enterprises that require integrated payment systems across channels and markets.
Adyen’s Presence in the UAE
Adyen has been active in the UAE since 2020 and currently supports payments for several well-known brands, including Careem, Noon, and Ziina. The company’s local presence has allowed it to serve businesses in the region while building out its broader payments offering.
With the new license, Adyen said it can provide greater control, reliability, and innovation through its local operations while maintaining its single-platform model. The company highlighted that this structure is designed to give businesses a consistent payments experience across markets.
Mariëtte Swart, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at Adyen, said technology alone is not enough to support large enterprises and platforms. She noted that a strong owned foundation is needed to remove intermediaries and reduce third-party risk for customers.
Daumantas Grigaravicius, Head of Middle East at Adyen, also said the company will now be able to offer even greater control and reliability through its local operations while preserving the same single-platform approach.
Regulatory Context in the UAE
The licensing approval comes as the UAE continues to advance its digital economy and financial technology ecosystem. Regulatory support for payment infrastructure and digital financial services has become a key part of the country’s broader push to attract innovation and strengthen its position as a regional fintech hub.
By allowing Adyen to settle locally, the CBUAE license may help the company improve efficiency for merchants operating in the market. Local settlement capabilities can be especially relevant for international payments firms serving enterprise clients that require more direct operational control.
Industry Analysis
Adyen’s license approval underscores the growing importance of regulatory alignment and local infrastructure in the payments sector. For global payment providers, direct settlement capabilities can improve operational resilience, streamline compliance, and reduce dependencies that may add cost or complexity.
The move also reflects the UAE’s continued appeal as a market for advanced payment technology and cross-border commerce. As enterprise merchants demand faster, more reliable payment processing, firms that can combine local regulatory approval with integrated technology platforms are likely to strengthen their competitive position.
For Adyen, the license provides a stronger base to deepen relationships with merchants in the UAE while supporting future product development in fraud protection, payment innovation, and omnichannel commerce.
