Alipay+ is set to launch in Saudi Arabia, following an agreement between the Saudi Central Bank (Sama) and Ant International, the Singapore-headquartered digital payments and fintech giant behind the platform.
Expected to roll out in 2026, the payment platform will open the borders for local merchants, letting them accept cross-border QR payments via Alipay+’s international wallet partners and integrate tightly with the Kingdom’s mada national payment infrastructure.
The move supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to accelerate digital transformation, boost tourism and increase the adoption of non-cash transactions to 70 percent by the end of the decade.
Operated by Ant International, Alipay+ is a cross-border digital payment platform that links more than 1.7 billion user accounts from 36 partner e-wallets to over 100 million merchants in 70 markets worldwide.
Initially developed to connect Asian travelers to merchants abroad, it has broadened its reach in recent years to enable seamless payments in countries across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
In 2025 alone, Alipay+ has expanded to new regions including Kazakhstan and enhanced offerings across Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea. Its integrations allow travellers and local users to access payments, discounts and digital marketing offers in their destination countries, driving both retail and travel-sector innovation.
The digital payment platform is already embedded with national payment schemes in markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Cambodia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, and has recently enabled new collaborations for travel and mobility payments across Southeast Asia.
“Tourism is a powerful force for economic growth and cultural connectivity. Through joint innovations across public and private sectors, we can unlock more opportunities and help local businesses and communities flourish, while creating a more seamless experience for global consumers,” said Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International.
Entelechy Asia 