PayPal plans to invest $100 million in startups across the Middle East and Africa

PayPal has today announced plans to invest $100 million across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). This is part of the fintech giant’s bid to turbocharge innovation, support local entrepreneurs, and broaden access to the digital economy in one of the world’s fastest-growing commerce regions.

The multi-year commitment will be deployed through several channels: minority investments, acquisitions, its venture arm (PayPal Ventures), investment in people, and enhancements in technology. 

The aim is to help local businesses scale, unlock new opportunities for innovators, and bring more consumers and communities into digital commerce.

Commenting on the investment, Alex Chriss, PayPal’s President and CEO, emphasised, “The Middle East and Africa are home to some of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving businesses in the world.” 

“By dedicating a $100 million investment to this region over the coming years, we’re investing in the technologies, partnerships, and solutions that will help entrepreneurs scale faster, expand their reach beyond borders, and unlock new opportunities for growth in the digital economy,” he added.

This follows PayPal officially opening its first regional hub in Dubai, located in Dubai Internet City earlier in the year. The hub is intended to serve as a gateway for its expanded operations across MEA, empowering both large enterprises and small merchants with tools for cross-border sales, better payment infrastructure, and stronger security.

The company already counts several regional fintechs among its portfolio through its ventures arm. 

Startups such as Tabby (a buy-now-pay-later platform), Paymob (an Egyptian payments processor), and Stitch (a South African payments infrastructure provider) are some of its portfolio startups. These existing investments helped lay the groundwork for the new commitment.

Otto Williams, Senior Vice President and Regional Head for MEA, stressed that the investment underscores PayPal’s dedication to strengthening the link between local businesses and the global marketplace. 

“This commitment underscores our dedication to expanding PayPal’s presence in the Middle East and Africa, and our focus is to build stronger connections between local businesses and the global marketplace. We’re focused on expanding our footprint in the region and ensuring millions of consumers and businesses can access more of the digital services they need to thrive.”

What PayPal’s commitment means for businesses and consumers across MEA

The $100 million commitment is not just headline-grabbing. It has several practical implications for local economies, small businesses, and consumers across MEA.

First, funding via PayPal Ventures and minority stakes/acquisitions means PayPal will likely bolster promising fintech startups and payment service providers. More investment in technology and infrastructure could reduce friction in cross-border payments, improve reliability, and improve security.

The commitment also includes hiring more people and expanding PayPal’s regional footprint, which implies on-the-ground investment in operations, customer support, regulation, product localisation, and possibly in regulatory and compliance staffing.

For consumers, especially in underserved areas, the plan could increase access to digital payment services, reduce costs or delays in money movement, and bring more products and services into reach via e-commerce. Communities with limited traditional banking infrastructure stand to benefit especially.

Notably, MEA markets are growing rapidly in digital payments and e-commerce. Regulatory modernisation in countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and others is helping create more favourable environments for digital commerce expansion. 

The growing consumer base and rising smartphone penetration mean there is room for large-scale gains.

This investment positions PayPal as a long-term player in MEA’s digital ecosystem. It is not simply an operational expansion but a signal of intent toward shaping the future of commerce in the region. With its Dubai hub already operational and existing startup investments in hand, PayPal appears ready to accelerate and deepen its roots in MEA.