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Ziina, the UAE’s leading homegrown payments platform, and Virtuzone, a premier corporate services provider, have announced a transformative partnership. This collaboration is designed to provide a comprehensive UAE payment solution that is embedded directly into the company formation process.
By bridging the gap between obtaining a trade license and accepting the first customer payment, the two entities ensure that founders are ‘open for business’ from day one, rather than waiting weeks for traditional banking hurdles to clear.
Integrating the UAE Payment Solution with Company Formation
For most entrepreneurs, the journey from registration to revenue is often stalled by the complexities of merchant account setup. This partnership changes that dynamic by making a UAE payment solution a standard part of the Virtuzone ecosystem.
Key Highlights of the Partnership
- Unified Access: Virtuzone clients can now instantly deploy Ziina’s payment gateway, allowing them to accept payments online and in person through a single, regulated interface.
- Instant Settlement: Unlike traditional systems that hold funds for several days, Ziina offers instant settlement. This gives merchants immediate access to their capital, which they can spend directly within the app via the Ziina Card.
- Multi-Channel Acceptance: The infrastructure supports a wide variety of modern methods, including payment links, QR codes, Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android, and traditional card acceptance.
- Operational Readiness: By integrating these services, founders no longer need to navigate multiple third-party providers to begin their commercial activities.
What it Means for the SMEs
The primary advantage of this integration is the radical improvement in liquidity management. For a small business, cash flow is the most critical indicator of survival.
With this new UAE payment solution, SMEs benefit from:
Immediate Reinvestment
Accessing funds instantly means a business can pay suppliers, cover marketing costs, or handle payroll without waiting for bank processing cycles.
Reduced Transaction Friction
According to Visa research, over 70% of UAE merchants reported increased revenue after adopting digital payments. By offering multiple ways to pay, SMEs significantly reduce the likelihood of lost sales at the point of purchase.
Simplified Compliance
As Virtuzone handles the tax and compliance framework, and Ziina provides the regulated financial rails, business owners can focus on growth rather than administrative paperwork.
How are UAE SMEs Fueling the Country’s Economy?
The timing of this partnership is pivotal. By the end of 2025, the number of registered companies in the UAE exceeded 1.4 million, reflecting a massive 119% growth since 2021. SMEs are the undeniable backbone of this expansion, accounting for more than 94% of all registered companies and employing approximately 86% of the private sector workforce.
As the UAE targets a goal of 2 million companies within the next decade, the success of the non-oil economy, which now contributes over 77% of the GDP, relies on the agility of these small players. Digital-first initiatives and integrated fintech solutions are what allow these 1.4 million businesses to compete on a global scale, driving innovation and providing a robust foundation for the country’s ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision.
About Ziina
Ziina is the UAE’s homegrown financial powerhouse, licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE. Originally launched as a peer-to-peer payment app, it has evolved into a comprehensive business hub serving over 260,000 users. Ziina is known for its award-winning design and its ability to simplify complex financial tasks, from account-to-account transfers to the first-ever live Open Finance payment experience in the Emirates.
About Virtuzone
Since its founding in 2009, Virtuzone has been the go-to partner for over 80,000 entrepreneurs looking to establish a presence in the UAE. As part of the Ascentium group, Virtuzone provides end-to-end services including company formation, visa processing, tax advisory, and VAT compliance. Their mission is to remove the barriers to entry for international and local investors, making the UAE the world’s most accessible business hub.
Final Words
The collaboration between Ziina and Virtuzone represents the future of the ‘startup-as-a-service’ model. By providing an integrated UAE payment solution at the point of inception, they are not just helping people start companies; they are helping them build sustainable, cash-flow-positive businesses. As the Emirates continues its journey toward a cashless society, such partnerships will be the engine that keeps the SME sector thriving.
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