UK-based issuer and acquirer processor Tribe Payments opened a new office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), marking its first physical base in the Middle East. The move is part of the company’s ongoing strategic expansion, following the launch of its APAC headquarters in Singapore last year.
To lead the new office, Tribe appointed Aurangzaib Khan as general manager for the Middle East & Africa. Khan brings two decades of payments industry experience to the role, with previous positions at Amazon Payments Services, Mastercard, and Visa. He also led the launch of Beyon Money, the Middle East’s first open banking super-app, in Bahrain.
A strategic hub for regional growth
The Dubai office is positioned to support banks, fintechs, and acquirers locally, while also strengthening Tribe’s global reach.
“Having lived and worked in the UAE for many years prior to joining Tribe Payments, the country is the clear beating heart of the Middle Eastern fintech scene,” said Andrew Hocking, chief executive officer of Tribe Payments. “I also know firsthand the importance of being on-site; this shows a real sense of commitment from Tribe to the region.”
Hocking also commented on the new appointment: “It’s great to have Aurangzaib on board at Tribe. His leadership and payments knowledge – both at a regional and global level – will be invaluable to Tribe as we embark on our next strategic expansion. We’ve learned a lot from our first 12 months in Singapore, and we’re excited to spread our wings to a new region.”
Aurangzaib Khan added: “I’m eager to embark on this opportunity to drive innovation in the payments industry. It’s hugely exciting to be entrusted to lead Tribe’s operations in Dubai and the Middle East. The region aspires to be at the forefront of banking and payments technology, and Tribe’s unique proposition means we are well positioned to enable banks to achieve their goals.”
Global connectivity through a single integration
Founded in London in 2018, Tribe Payments now has over 200 employees across its European hubs in London and Kaunas, Lithuania, as well as its APAC base in Singapore. The company provides a modular, cloud-based platform for issuer and acquirer processing and is a European processor that works with Mastercard, Visa, American Express, UnionPay International, Discover, and JCB through a single integration.
