Saudi Arabia embraces digital payments with Google and Ant

Group 1 - The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has partnered with Google Pay and Ant International to enhance the digital payment infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, aligning with Vision 2030 objectives [1][2] - The integration of Google Pay with the mada national payment system allows users to manage their mada and digital credit cards through Google Wallet, promoting FinTech usage on smart devices [2][3] - SAMA and Ant International plan to launch cross-border QR code payment capabilities between mada and Alipay+ by 2026, enabling local merchants to accept payments from Alipay+'s international partners [2][3] Group 2 - The initiative is part of the Financial Sector Development Program under Saudi Vision 2030, aiming for 70% non-cash transactions by 2030 and attracting 150 million visitors to stimulate economic growth [3] - Thunes has initiated real-time cross-border payments into Saudi Arabia, allowing instant transfers to Saudi bank accounts and wallets in SAR, enhancing transaction efficiency for individuals and entities [4]