PayPal Establishes Initial Headquarters in Dubai for Middle East and Africa Region
PayPal Expands Presence in Middle East and Africa with New Dubai Hub
PayPal, a leading global digital payments company, has announced the opening of its first regional headquarters in Dubai, serving 80 countries across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The announcement was made by Suzan Kereere, President of Global Markets at PayPal, during the Dubai AI Festival 2025.
The new Dubai hub, located in Dubai Internet City, is a significant step in PayPal's commitment to enhancing digital commerce in the region. The hub will offer advanced security and international payment networks, enabling broader access to the global economy for businesses, both large and small.
The strategic move reflects PayPal's focus on innovation, particularly in the realm of AI-driven tools and agentic commerce. The company is investing in technologies to support smart wallet functionalities, such as smart recommendation systems and behavioral analytics, aiming to improve user experience and drive engagement.
PayPal is also capitalizing on the growing trend of agentic commerce, where AI-powered agents autonomously manage transactions and payments on behalf of users. The company projects that agentic commerce could account for 30% or more of global commerce, and it is investing in technologies to ensure PayPal is a key player in this space.
In addition to AI-driven tools, PayPal is integrating cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum into its payment options, along with blockchain-based loyalty programs and NFT merchandise. Plans are underway to make PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin available on the Stellar network, pending regulatory approval, which will facilitate fast, low-cost cross-border payments and expand access to financial services in the region.
Otto Williams, PayPal's SVP and General Manager for the region, emphasized strategic collaborations with banks, fintechs, telecoms, and commerce players as crucial to the success of the new hub. The Dubai hub is a part of a wave of recent PayPal deals in the region, signaling a strong commitment to the MEA market.
The new hub is expected to play a critical role in accelerating digital inclusion and economic growth across the Middle East and Africa. PayPal is building the next generation of shopping experiences as AI reshapes how we shop and pay, and the Dubai hub is a key component of this vision.
The Dubai hub, a significant step in PayPal's commitment to enhancing digital commerce, will focus on innovation, particularly in AI-driven tools and agentic commerce. PayPal is exploring the use of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, along with blockchain-based loyalty programs and NFT merchandise, as part of its strategy in the region. In collaboration with banks, fintechs, telecoms, and commerce players, the hub aims to accelerate digital inclusion and economic growth across the Middle East and Africa.
