#Egypt #Cairo #UnionPay #Paymob

Expansion of Digital Payments in Egypt

In a landmark development for digital payments in Egypt, UnionPay International (UPI) has announced an extensive expansion of its digital services in collaboration with Paymob, the leading financial services provider in the MENA region. This strategic partnership, operational since July 2026, has successfully enabled over 160,000 Point of Sale (POS) terminals throughout Egypt to accept UnionPay cards, significantly enhancing the payment landscape for local businesses and international customers alike.

The agreement is a direct outcome of a strategic cooperation pact signed in September 2025, and highlights the seamless execution capabilities of both companies. Impressively, the transition from agreement signing to active market implementation took only eight months. Both the Central Bank of Egypt and the People's Bank of China witnessed the signing of this pivotal agreement, emphasizing its importance within a broader geopolitical and economic context.

With the leadership of Endeavor Entrepreneurs such as Islam Shawky, Alain El Hajj, and Mostafa Menessy, Paymob has swiftly activated the acceptance of UnionPay cards, bridging a vital connection for millions of international cardholders with local Egyptian merchants. This expansion marks a critical step towards facilitating cross-border payments, global trade opportunities, and boosting Egypt's rapidly growing digital economy.

As Egypt positions itself as a leading destination for tourism and business in the region, this new acceptance framework provides local merchants with the ability to effortlessly capture payments from international customers across key sectors—ranging from luxury hospitality to fine dining and beyond. By allowing for frictionless payments, businesses can easily integrate digital transactions, facilitating a smoother experience for tourists and enhancing overall customer satisfaction.

Beyond simple financial inclusion, this initiative empowers Egyptian vendors by granting them access to significant international purchasing power. Previously reliant on cash transactions, local businesses can now increase their sales potential by offering a preferred and trusted payment method to visitors, thus boosting their average transaction values and accelerating the pace of service delivery.

This upgrade also allows Egyptian enterprises situated across the country's vibrant tourism hotspots, coastal resorts, and bustling urban centers, to present a familiar payment experience to international travelers, further enhancing customer loyalty and unlocking new sales opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Mr. Feng Chen, General Manager of UnionPay International, commented, "Egypt stands at the forefront of global tourism and cross-border trade, attracting millions of affluent visitors each year. By expanding UnionPay card acceptance across Paymob’s extensive merchant network, we are smoothing the payment experience for global travelers and equipping local businesses with the tools necessary to harness international spending power effectively."

The rollout aligns strategically with the Central Bank of Egypt's vision to modernize the financial infrastructure and promote a cash-lite economy, raising the standards of electronic payment security and convenience across the nation.

As international tourist numbers and cross-border trade continue to rise sharply, both Paymob and UnionPay are committed to expanding local acceptance capabilities, ensuring that Egyptian businesses remain competitive and well-positioned to convert the influx of global visitors into tangible economic success.