Visa Launches New Regional Hub for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman

Visa,  a global leader in digital payments, has announced the creation of a new regional hub encompassing Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman as part of its strategic growth plans within the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) region. The initiative reflects Visa’s focus on supporting national digital transformation priorities and expanding collaboration with financial institutions, fintechs, and merchants across these markets.

The new organization builds on Visa’s 40-year regional presence and is designed to bring the company closer to clients and stakeholders. This structure enables businesses, governments, and partners to innovate and grow at scale, while delivering tailored solutions that advance cashless payments and foster economic development in these dynamic markets.

Ali Bailoun has been appointed as Group Country Manager to lead the new region from Riyadh, overseeing Visa’s operations across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman. In the past year, Visa unveiled a state-of-the-art office in Riyadh, including an Innovation Center for co-creating next-generation payment solutions. The company also launched the Visa Acceptance Platform on local cloud infrastructure in Saudi Arabia to support eCommerce growth.

Ali Bailoun brings more than 20 years of experience in payments, banking, and management. Since joining Visa in 2012, he has led initiatives that accelerated digital transformation, drove economic growth, and supported partners in advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The new regional hub is part of Visa’s broader strategy in CEMEA to enhance agility and client proximity, positioning the company to accelerate digital transformation and deliver greater value to clients, consumers, and economies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman. The initiative supports national agendas for innovation and economic growth while facilitating secure, seamless, and cashless payment experiences across the region.