Ant International Obtains Licences to Expand Its UAE Payment Services

Ant International has obtained two licenses from the Central Bank of the UAE following preliminary approval in August 2025. The Category II Retail Payment Services license allows Antom to provide merchant acquiring services, while the Stored Value Facilities license enables WorldFirst to offer cross-border financial services.

The Alipay+ platform continues to operate through partnerships with local banks independently of the new licenses.