The Times of India · 22 Sep, 17:38 · Business briefing

PhonePe gets preliminary UAE nod for payment licences

PhonePe, the prominent Indian digital payments platform, has secured preliminary approval from UAE regulators for essential payment licences.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

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PhonePe, the prominent Indian digital payments platform, has secured preliminary approval from UAE regulators for essential payment licences. This regulatory milestone signals the company’s strategic intent to expand its operational footprint into the United Arab Emirates market. The development highlights the growing cross-border ambitions of Indian fintech firms and the UAE’s continued openness to foreign financial technology investments. For industry observers, this represents a significant step towards PhonePe establishing a formal commercial presence in the region, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape for digital wallet providers and payment gateways within the Middle East.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

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This expansion creates immediate demand for professionals skilled in cross-border regulatory compliance and international financial law. You should focus on understanding Middle Eastern financial regulations and anti-money laundering frameworks. Roles in risk management and strategic market entry will gain prominence. If you work in fintech or payments, now is the time to upskill in global compliance standards. Consider specialising in regulatory affairs or international business development. Engage with networks focused on GCC market expansion. Demonstrating knowledge of both Indian and UAE financial systems will make you indispensable. Smart professionals will proactively learn about regional payment infrastructure nuances. This move also signals broader opportunities in fintech leadership and project management for international rollouts. Position yourself as a bridge between these two dynamic markets.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, Compliance And Governance, Risk Management Strategies and AI in Banking — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
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