ABU DHABI, UAE: Global financial technology platform Adyen has obtained a Retail Payment Services Category II license from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), the company announced. The regulatory approval marks a major operational shift for Adyen in the region, granting the platform full control over local payment settlements and removing dependencies on third-party financial intermediaries.
By taking direct control of its local value chain, Adyen can now offer merchants a more streamlined, secure, and locally aligned payment infrastructure. The license provides the firm with independent oversight across compliance and processing frameworks, significantly reducing third-party risk for enterprises operating within the United Arab Emirates.
Adyen has maintained an active footprint in the UAE since 2020, anchoring the payment backbones for prominent regional brands such as Careem, Noon, Ziina, Ellington Properties, and the Gargash Group. The direct settlement capabilities will streamline day-to-day transaction processing for these enterprise clients while allowing Adyen to introduce localized fraud prevention tools and alternative payment methods.
Beyond immediate operational upgrades, the regulatory framework lays the groundwork for advanced technological deployments, including unified commerce features and agentic AI tools tailored for the Middle Eastern digital economy.
“Technology alone isn’t enough to serve large enterprises and platforms; it requires a solid, owned foundation that removes middlemen and protects customers from third-party risk,” said Mariëtte Swart, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at Adyen. “Securing our license in the UAE is a continuation of this commitment… laying the groundwork for future advancements in financial technology.”
The announcement comes as the UAE accelerates its regulatory push to migrate digital commerce toward domestically supervised infrastructure. By shifting away from traditional cross-border and intermediary arrangements, the central bank’s licensing framework aims to enhance financial stability and domestic oversight.
“The UAE is a dynamic market for digital commerce; this license marks a major step forward in our growth journey,” said Daumantas Grigaravicius, Head of Middle East at Adyen. “We can now offer even greater control, reliability, and innovation through our local operations, while maintaining the same single platform approach.”
