His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance, met today with Alex Chriss, President and CEO of PayPal, at the Ruler’s Office in Nad Al Sheba.
Dubai's Sheikh Maktoum Meets PayPal CEO to Deepen Financial Sector Collaboration
The meeting addressed expanding cooperation between the UAE and PayPal, with a focus on advancing digital payment systems, supporting small and medium enterprises, and reinforcing cross-border financial infrastructure. Discussions also touched on ways to accelerate e-commerce development in alignment with the UAE’s economic strategy.
Sheikh Maktoum underlined the UAE’s commitment to positioning itself as a global financial hub, citing innovation, competitiveness, and resilience as key priorities. He noted that partnerships with leading fintech companies are central to achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the emirate’s GDP and place Dubai among the world’s top four financial centers by 2033.
The continued growth of PayPal’s presence in Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum said, reflects the emirate’s appeal as a launchpad for global financial firms. The company’s regional headquarters, opened in April 2025 in Dubai Internet City, serves 80 countries across the Middle East and Africa.
Founded in 1998, PayPal reported 434 million active accounts across more than 200 markets by the end of 2024. Last year, the company processed $1.68 trillion in transactions and earned $31.8 billion in revenue.
Senior UAE officials also attended the meeting, including Helal Saeed Almarri, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Malek Al Malek, and Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah.
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.
Alexander Agafiev Macambira
