Payoneer Builds Momentum In The Region With An Expanded Growth Focus

The company outlines a stronger regional roadmap with more reliable cross-border solutions

Published: Thu 11 Dec 2025, 10:00 AM

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• Sana Eqbal | Partner Content

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Cross-border business has become a defining feature of the Middle East's entrepreneurial landscape. But even as merchants and service providers scale internationally, the financial systems they rely on have not always kept pace. Payoneer is stepping into this space with a stronger regional push, aiming to simplify how SMEs receive payments, manage global operations and access international talent under one streamlined platform.

Payoneer's expanded focus on the region aims to reduce these barriers. The company provides SMEs with a single platform for receiving international payments, making cross-border transfers and accessing local-currency payouts in key markets. For smaller firms, this removes the complexity of managing multiple banking relationships or navigating lengthy international approvals.

The company emphasises that its platform is built to do more than move money, serving as a tool that helps entrepreneurs unlock and pursue greater opportunities.

One of Payoneer's biggest advantages for SMEs is how quickly they can begin operating internationally. Businesses can open accounts, link to global marketplaces and start receiving funds without lengthy onboarding processes. This helps firms that depend on daily cashflow work with more predictability.

The company is also supporting SMEs beyond payments. Through its Workforce Management solution, Payoneer enables businesses to hire employees or contractors in more than 160 countries. This gives Middle East companies access to global talent without the cost or complexity of establishing foreign entities.

The company observes that SMEs now expect far more from their financial partners, especially as international growth has become the default path for many businesses. Firms increasingly look for tools that allow them to operate globally without the complexity of managing multiple disconnected systems.

Financial systems across the Middle East vary widely, and Payoneer's approach in the region reflects that. The company adapts onboarding flows, payout methods and compliance requirements so the experience feels aligned with local expectations rather than a generic global template.

The company highlights that SMEs value both global access and local relevance, and that effective solutions must deliver scale without losing connection to individual markets.

This combination of global capability and regional sensitivity is particularly relevant in the region, where businesses expect international platforms to understand the regulatory environment and to work smoothly with local institutions.

The company points out that maintaining local relevance is essential, as businesses are far more likely to adopt a platform and scale effectively when the experience aligns with how their market operates.

As digital commerce accelerates, Payoneer is increasingly using artificial intelligence to streamline processes that traditionally slow SMEs down. AI tools support document verification, enhance risk monitoring and improve customer support by reducing bottlenecks and unnecessary steps.

The company emphasises that its use of AI is intended to enhance support rather than replace human interaction. SMEs still rely on personalised assistance, and AI is deployed to make that support faster and more efficient.

Trust is central to cross-border transactions, and Payoneer's regulatory framework is one of its strongest differentiators. Its compliance systems cover more than 190 countries and territories, ensuring consistent oversight regardless of where a business operates. In a market like the Middle East, where due diligence is taken seriously, this foundation provides SMEs with a level of assurance that would be difficult to replicate alone.

Adapting to new payment behaviours

Payment habits across the region are evolving quickly. Digital wallets, QR payments and blockchain-enabled transfers are gaining momentum, and Payoneer is adjusting its roadmap accordingly. The company is already collaborating with Citi on on-chain money-movement capabilities and plans to introduce stablecoin wallet functionality in 2026. These developments aim to give SMEs access to emerging financial tools without requiring technical expertise.

Despite progress in digital trade, many SMEs still struggle with the same core issues: uncertain settlement timelines, high conversion fees and fragmented banking relationships. Payoneer aims to simplify this landscape through multi-currency accounts, local receiving options in major markets and direct integrations with global marketplaces. The result is a more predictable and structured approach to handling international payments. The company reinforces that SMEs should be able to pursue international growth without facing unnecessary operational complexity, and its strategy is built around removing that barrier.

Payoneer expects significant changes in how SMEs manage global operations over the next decade. Embedded finance, automation in compliance and stronger cross-border infrastructure will play a major role in how businesses scale internationally. These developments will help make global transactions feel more like domestic ones in terms of speed and transparency.

The company highlights that strong financial infrastructure is essential for global competitiveness, and its focus is on enabling that for SMEs.

As the region expands its role as a global trading and digital commerce hub, Payoneer's regional strategy reflects both the rising maturity of local SMEs and the growing demand for financial platforms that support international growth with reliability and speed.

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