Lianlian DigiTech Advances Middle East Strategy to Offer Regulated Payment Services from DIFC

Lianlian DigiTech Co., Ltd. (“Lianlian”), a leading AI-driven digital payment service provider, today announced that it has obtained a payment services licence from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent regulator of financial services conducted in or from DIFC. Operating from Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), the milestone marks an advancement in Lianlian’s global compliance footprint and the transition of its Middle East strategy from market entry to licensed regional headquarters.

With a presence in DIFC’s globally recognised financial ecosystem, Lianlian further strengthens its operational infrastructure in the Middle East and enhances its cross-border payment and settlement capabilities. Working closely with local banking partners, Lianlian will deliver more localised and efficient payment solutions, enabling seamless fund flows within the region and across international markets. Through continued optimisation of its transaction and settlement framework, Lianlian seeks to enhance the efficiency, stability, and reliability of cross-border financial connectivity, to support businesses expanding into and out of the Middle East.

“The Middle East serves as a critical trade and financial gateway connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa. Securing a DFSA licence represents a key step in advancing Lianlian’s global localisation strategy,” said Emily Zhou, General Manager, UAE, at Lianlian. “Going forward, we will continue to deepen collaboration with local financial institutions and ecosystem partners to build a more resilient regional payment network and further enhance our ability to serve global cross-border payment needs.”

Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer at DIFC Authority, said: “We are pleased to welcome Lianlian to grow their presence in the region and connect across global markets. Lianlian’s expertise in managing cross‑border transactions will support businesses that rely on efficient and compliant settlement infrastructure. The addition further strengthens DIFC's position as the region's leading platform for Chinese firms, and underscores our standing as a top 5 global FinTech hub in the GFCI rankings.”

Lianlian’s recent announcement that it is moving towards becoming an AI native global financial infrastructure model aligns closely with DIFC’s ambition to be the world’s first AI-native financial centre.

Lianlian has established a global regulatory network comprising 68 payment licences and related qualifications across key markets, and operates a payment network spanning more than 100 countries and regions. Operating from DIFC expands Lianlian’s regulated footprint and supports its cross-border payment operations across the Middle East and other international markets, reinforcing its ability to connect China, the Middle East, and global markets through compliant payment infrastructure.