barq, billed as the fastest-growing financial app in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), has officially launched global cross-border QR payments. The new functionality is powered by a strategic partnership with Alipay+, the unified wallet gateway operated by Ant International.
The service is set to launch progressively for barq users starting in May 2026. Notably, the rollout establishes barq as the very first Alipay+ payment partner in the Middle East to enable outbound cross-border QR payments, allowing the app to expand beyond local transactions and facilitate global payment experiences.
Expanding the global payment ecosystem
The partnership directly connects over 12 million barq users to a massive international merchant network. Currently, Alipay+ connects more than two billion user accounts across 50 international payment partners to over 150 million merchants globally.
Through this integration, barq users traveling abroad will benefit from the following features:
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Users can scan-and-pay using their mobile devices at any Alipay+ enabled merchant outside of the KSA.
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The payment service is accepted in more than 220 markets worldwide.
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The network connects users to a global ecosystem that includes dining, retail, transportation, and healthcare services.
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The functionality covers popular travel destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the United Kingdom.
Aligning with Vision 2030
The cooperation between the two firms is heavily geared toward supporting the continued development of digital payments in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative. By implementing a modern digital payment infrastructure, the partnership actively supports the Kingdom’s goal of transitioning into a cashless society.
Ahmed Alenazi, CEO and Founder of barq, highlighted the strategic ambition behind the integration.
“Being the first in the Middle East to partner with Alipay+ for payments reflects our ambition to lead from the front,” Alenazi stated. “This collaboration enables our customers to pay globally with the same simplicity they experience locally, setting a new benchmark for Saudi fintech and accelerating our vision of connecting users to the global economy.”
Pietro Candela, general manager of EMEA for Alipay+, emphasized Ant International’s commitment to the region’s digital growth.
“Alipay+ is delighted to partner with barq to promote QR payments from the Kingdom, directly supporting its Vision 2030 goals for innovation,” Candela commented. “At Ant International, we remain committed to driving cross-border flows, SME digital inclusion, and co-innovation with local partners to accelerate the Kingdom’s digital transformation.”
