From September 15 to 17, 2025, the Money20/20 Middle East, the premier fintech gathering in the Middle East region, will take place at the RECC Convention Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During this pivotal event, the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) made a significant announcement: Google Pay is poised for a full-scale launch in Saudi Arabia, leveraging the nation's own payment infrastructure, mada. This move promises to offer users a secure and frictionless payment experience, whether they're shopping in physical stores, through mobile apps, or online.

In a parallel development, SAMA also inked a deal with Ant International. The aim is to bring Alipay+ payment services into the Saudi market via the mada national payment system by 2026. This strategic move is expected to further accelerate the evolution of Saudi Arabia's digital payment landscape, ushering in a new era of convenience and connectivity for consumers and businesses alike.