As the world accelerates toward a digital-first future, the Middle East is not just keeping pace — it’s setting the standard. Once known for being heavily reliant on cash, the region has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade, fueled by tech adoption, digital-first government strategies, and a population eager to embrace change.
With Seamless Dubai fast approaching, it’s clear that the ME is emerging as one of the world’s most dynamic digital payments ecosystems.
With booming mobile usage, a massive youth demographic, and ambitious public-private sector collaborations, digital payments and POS infrastructure are reshaping the region’s commerce — from retail and hospitality to healthcare and transport.
According to recent data real-time payments in the region is expected to rise from $675 million in 2022 to $2.6 billion in 2027. In the meantime, the MENA mobile payments market is expected to grow a staggering 30.1% CAGR from 2022 to 2027.
This momentum is largely driven by young, tech-savvy populations. Over 50% of the Middle East’s residents are under 25, and many have grown up using digital tools and mobile devices as their primary mode of communication and commerce. In countries like Bahrain, mobile penetration has reached 137%, while internet penetration is among the highest in the world.
How ME consumers pay is changing
Contactless payments are rapidly becoming the norm and payment apps such as BenefitPay, STCPay, and Careem Pay are now essential parts of daily life, offering services that go far beyond basic transactions.
Payments that use fingerprint and facial recognition are also becoming more common place as biometric payments become a popular option for merchants offering high-value goods and for government service points.
With ME consumers eager to budget better, buy now pay later (BNPL) is becoming a cornerstone of digital commerce, integrated into super apps and e-commerce platforms. Regional leaders like Tabby are transforming how people shop, giving customers flexible payment options at checkout — both in-store and online.
From terminals to integrated experiences
As digital payments surge, Point-of-Sale (POS) systems are evolving rapidly to meet rising expectations for speed, flexibility and simplicity. Castles Technology is leading the way with our third-generation super flexible Android POS, low investment, high performance softPOS and easy to integrate unattended solutions.
We are seeing a surge in demand form every sector. From small businesses to major retail chains, more and more ME companies are adopting smart POS systems and services that offer speed, flexibility, and digital tools.
In fact across the Midde East and Africa the POS market is on track to be worth $81.15 billion by 2030. Governments are playing a crucial role in this transformation. For instance programmes like Saudi Arabia’s Mada and Kuwait’s KNET are expanding the acceptance of digital payments.
At the same time, cloud-based POS platforms are helping the region’s merchants become more efficient and cost effective. Platforms like our CasHub terminal management solutions are bringing ME merchants new benefits like:
- real-time sales and inventory data
- integration with digital wallets and loyalty programs
- secure, flexible payment processing
- enhanced customer experiences through omnichannel support
- remote estate management and services
The rise of self-service, kiosks and automation
It’s not just retail checkouts that are reaping the rewards. In ME we’ve seen a dramatic rise in demand for self-service kiosks. From retail and hospitality to healthcare and government services self-service is doing more than just offering a quicker way to pay; they’re transforming how businesses engage with their customers.
In 2024, the self-service kiosk market in the Middle East and Africa was valued at $2.26 billion, with a projected CAGR of 9.2% through to 2030.
The gradual shift to sustainable energy is also intersecting with the payments space, particularly through the growth of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. In the UAE, over 350 public EV charging stations are already operational, with targets to hit 1,000 by 2025. Meanwhile Saudi Arabia plans to establish 5,000 charging points by 2030, with support from initiatives like Electromin and EVIQ.
Each charging station becomes another touchpoint where smart, secure digital payments are essential. Across the world, Castle Technology is working on integrating POS and kiosk technologies into public networks to enable frictionless payments for EV drivers — whether they’re charging at a mall, gas station, or on the go.
See how Castles Technology is powering ME checkouts at Seamless Dubai 2025
Castles Technology is proud to be part of this exciting regional payments evolution. As a leader in POS, kiosk, and digital payment solutions, we empower local and international businesses to:
- deliver faster, safer, and smarter customer experiences
- simplify operations with cloud-based tools
- tap into mobile-first and biometric payment trends
- grow in sync with the Middle East’s digital future
Discover the best in ME POS innovation. Join our regional team at Seamless Dubai, 20–22 May 2025, Hall H6 Stand F24.
