In a landmark move for the UAE’s financial sector, Wio Bank PJSC, the region’s first digital-first platform bank, has announced a strategic partnership with global fintech leader Pine Labs. The collaboration is set to redefine the merchant experience by enhancing multi channel payment processing capabilities, ensuring that businesses can navigate the transition to a cashless economy with unprecedented speed and efficiency.
The Mechanics of Multi Channel Payment Processing
Multi channel payment processing refers to the ability of a business to accept and manage payments across various touchpoints, online, in-store, mobile apps, and even social media, through a single, unified system.
Instead of managing separate vendors for a website checkout and a physical card machine, this system centralizes all transaction data. When a customer pays via a digital wallet on their phone or a credit card at a counter, the ‘Credit+’ platform ensures the transaction is routed, verified, and settled through a high-speed cloud infrastructure. This reduces technical friction and provides a holistic view of a merchant’s sales performance in real-time.
About the Partnership: What’s the Deal?
The core of this deal involves Wio Bank deploying Credit+, Pine Labs’ modular, API-first acquiring platform. By moving away from rigid legacy systems, Wio Bank is building a ‘greenfield’ acquiring infrastructure. This cloud-native, microservices-based architecture allows the bank to scale transaction volumes rapidly while maintaining the highest levels of security and regulatory compliance.
What it Means for the Users
For the thousands of SMEs and entrepreneurs using Wio Bank, the impact is immediate:
Faster Onboarding
Merchants can go live in a fraction of the time previously required.
Real-Time Settlements
Improved cash flow management with funds appearing in accounts almost instantly.
Enhanced Reliability
Optimized payment acceptance rates mean fewer failed transactions at the point of sale.
Rapid Innovation
The API-driven nature of the platform allows Wio to roll out new features, like loyalty programs or specialized credit options, without downtime.
About Wio Bank
Launched in 2022 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Wio Bank PJSC is owned by ADQ, Alpha Dhabi Holding, e&, and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB). It is a trailblazer in platform banking, integrating digital applications with embedded finance to serve the retail, SME, and corporate markets across the Middle East.
It also recently partnered with NEO PAY to launch a PoS Lending Solution, providing UAE SMEs with instant access to growth capital. This revenue-based financing model uses real-time sales data from NEO PAY terminals to offer collateral-free loans. Repayments are automated as a percentage of daily transactions, offering financial flexibility during slower periods. By integrating lending into the payment ecosystem, this collaboration removes friction for small businesses, accelerating the UAE’s transition toward a future-ready, digitally-driven economy.
About Pine Labs
Pine Labs is a global fintech powerhouse that simplifies commerce for millions of merchants across Asia and the Middle East. Known for its robust cloud-native platforms, the company specializes in digital payments, issuing solutions, and “affordability” tools like EMIs. Having recently successfully completed its IPO in late 2025, Pine Labs continues to lead the way in modernizing global financial infrastructure.
Final Thoughts
As the UAE continues its journey toward a world-class digital economy, the integration of multi channel payment processing is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. By combining Wio’s local digital expertise with Pine Labs’ global technology stack, this partnership ensures that UAE merchants are equipped with the most resilient and scalable tools to grow in an increasingly connected world.