barq Partners With Alipay+ on Cross-Border Payments for 12 Million Saudi Users

barq is a Saudi fintech company serving about 12 million users, while Alipay+ is Ant International's cross-border payment platform. The partnership will connect the Saudi digital wallet to an overseas merchant acceptance network, aligning with the country's efforts to promote digital finance and reduce reliance on cash.

barq most recently announced the adoption of Alipay+ cross-border QR-code payments. Its 12 million users in Saudi Arabia will be able to scan and pay at Alipay+-enabled merchants worldwide without separately obtaining a local payment method. The companies did not disclose a formal launch date, transaction fees, or the number of countries and merchants covered in the initial rollout.