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09 Sep 2026
PayTabs Amazon Payment Services

This $100M Deal Just Created the Biggest Payments Firm in the Middle East

Categories Business

The PayTabs Amazon Payment Services deal, announced this week, will see the Saudi-founded fintech acquire Amazon’s payments business across the Middle East and North Africa in a transaction valued at more than $100 million. The combined company is projected to process over SAR150 billion annually once the deal closes, making it the largest payments infrastructure provider in the region.

What the PayTabs Amazon Payment Services deal includes

Amazon Payment Services, formerly known as PayFort, operates across nine MENA markets and serves more than 3,500 businesses. It supports major global card networks alongside regional payment methods including Mada, Knet and Meeza, according to Fintech Global. Both companies say continuity of service will be a priority during the integration.

PayTabs Amazon Payment Services
This $100M Deal Just Created the Biggest Payments Firm in th

Neither company has disclosed the exact purchase price beyond the more-than-$100-million figure both confirmed. Both boards approved the transaction, though neither side has announced a specific closing date yet.

Why PayTabs wanted this acquisition

This is not PayTabs’ first move to consolidate payments infrastructure in the region. The company purchased the UAE contactless payments firm TAPn’GO in April 2026, and acquired the Turkish social-commerce platform Paymes back in 2022. The Amazon Payment Services deal extends that pattern into a much larger acquisition, according to Payment Expert.

Scale matters in payments infrastructure because processing volume drives negotiating leverage with card networks and banks. Absorbing Amazon’s MENA payments arm gives PayTabs both a larger merchant base and deeper integration with regional payment rails in a single move.

What it means for merchants using either platform

Businesses currently using Amazon Payment Services should expect a transition period as accounts, integrations and support move under PayTabs. Both companies say continuity is a priority, though they have not yet published the practical details of migration.

For merchants weighing payment providers in the region, the deal reduces the number of large independent players, concentrating more processing volume under fewer companies. That trend mirrors consolidation seen in payments markets elsewhere over the past several years.

What the deal still needs to close

Regulatory approvals across the nine markets Amazon Payment Services operates in will likely determine the actual closing timeline. Payments licensing in the Gulf region typically requires central bank sign-off. That process can extend well beyond the announcement-to-close window seen in less regulated sectors.

Watch for formal integration announcements from PayTabs in the coming months. Regulatory filings in individual MENA markets would also help confirm a firm closing date.

Neither company has said whether branding will change once the transition completes, or whether Amazon Payment Services will be folded fully into the PayTabs name. Merchants will likely get more clarity on that question once regulators sign off in the largest markets involved.

How the region’s fintech map is shifting

The MENA payments sector has consolidated rapidly over the past two years. Large regional players have absorbed smaller processors as banks push for fewer, deeper technology partnerships. PayTabs’ latest move fits that pattern, but at a scale larger than its previous acquisitions.

Saudi Arabia’s push toward a cashless economy under its national development plans has fueled much of this activity. Government-backed initiatives have encouraged digital payment adoption across retail, government services and e-commerce. PayTabs, founded in Saudi Arabia, sits close to that policy push.

Amazon’s decision to exit direct ownership of its MENA payments arm also fits a broader pattern. Large global platforms have increasingly preferred to license or outsource regional payment rails rather than operate them directly, especially in markets with complex local licensing regimes.

For competitors, the deal raises the bar. A combined PayTabs-Amazon Payment Services entity processing more than SAR150 billion annually gives it negotiating leverage smaller rivals cannot easily match. Some analysts expect further consolidation among mid-sized regional processors within the next year.

Central banks across the Gulf have generally supported consolidation that strengthens payment security and reliability, provided it does not concentrate too much market share in a single provider. Regulators will likely scrutinize that balance closely as the deal moves toward formal approval.

Frequently asked questions about the PayTabs deal

How much is the PayTabs Amazon Payment Services deal worth?
The deal is valued at more than $100 million, though neither company has publicly disclosed the exact purchase price.

Which markets does Amazon Payment Services operate in?
It operates across nine MENA markets, serving more than 3,500 businesses with support for global card networks and regional payment methods.

Has PayTabs made similar acquisitions before?
Yes. PayTabs acquired UAE contactless payments firm TAPn’GO in April 2026 and Turkish platform Paymes in 2022.

Will merchants using Amazon Payment Services be affected?
Accounts and integrations are expected to transition to PayTabs over time, with both companies stating continuity of service is a priority.

When will the deal officially close?
Neither company has announced a specific closing date publicly. Regulatory approval across multiple MENA markets will likely determine the final timeline.

For more on major technology and payments consolidation this year, see our coverage of the Nvidia-Hugging Face acquisition and Palo Alto Networks’ acquisition spree.

Sources

09 Sep 2026
Trump Xi Washington summit

Trump Will Host Xi in Washington This Month. Here’s What’s on the Table

Categories Business, World

The Trump Xi Washington summit is scheduled for September 24, 2026, when President Trump will host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House. The meeting aims to extend the trade truce the two sides reached in October 2025, which halted a rapid escalation in tariffs between the world’s two largest economies.

Why the Trump Xi Washington summit matters

A previous summit in May 2026, held in Beijing, ended amicably and is widely seen as the template for this month’s meeting. Trade officials on both sides have signaled they expect a similar outcome this time, extending the truce rather than renegotiating it from scratch, according to reporting tracked by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Trump Xi Washington summit
Trump Will Host Xi in Washington This Month. Here's What's o

Markets have generally read the upcoming meeting as reducing near-term tariff risk. A truce extension would avoid a return to the sharp escalation both economies experienced in 2025. Investors in export-heavy sectors are watching the date closely. So are shipping and logistics firms exposed to trans-Pacific trade volumes.

The chip access question shadowing the summit

One issue expected to come up is whether Washington will keep allowing data centers in Southeast Asia to give Chinese AI firms cloud-based access to computing power built on Nvidia’s most advanced chips. That arrangement, sometimes called the cloud loophole, lets a Chinese firm barred from buying restricted chips directly instead rent computing time from an overseas data center running on them.

The U.S. Commerce Department is drafting a rule to close the loophole by targeting data centers in Thailand and Singapore specifically, according to Asia Times. Whether that rule advances before or after the summit could shape how the meeting’s tone plays out.

What each side wants from the meeting

Washington’s stated priority is preserving the truce while pressing for stronger enforcement against the chip-access workaround. Beijing has consistently pushed back against tightening export controls, arguing the restrictions unfairly target Chinese technology development.

Both governments have incentives to avoid a public breakdown. A return to rapid tariff escalation would raise costs across supply chains that both countries depend on, from consumer electronics to agricultural exports.

Ahead of the Washington summit

Expect pre-summit statements from both governments in the two weeks leading up to September 24. Possible market moves tied to leaked details of the agenda are likely too. Trade officials from both delegations are expected to hold preparatory talks before the leaders meet directly.

If the meeting proceeds as the May 2026 Beijing summit did, expect a joint statement extending the truce with limited new commitments. A comprehensive new trade agreement remains unlikely at this stage.

Diplomatic staff on both sides have described the preparatory mood as businesslike rather than tense. That tone, if it holds, would mark a contrast with earlier points in the broader U.S.-China trade relationship over the past several years.

What business groups are watching

Trade associations on both sides of the Pacific have quietly lobbied for a truce extension. Manufacturers that depend on Chinese components want tariff certainty heading into next year’s planning cycles. Agricultural exporters in the U.S. want continued access to Chinese buyers who resumed purchases after the 2025 truce.

Semiconductor firms sit in a more complicated position. Nvidia and its peers benefit from stable trade relations generally, yet also face pressure from Washington to support tighter export enforcement. That tension is likely to shape how forcefully U.S. negotiators push the chip-access issue at the summit itself.

Currency markets offer another signal worth watching. The yuan has traded in a relatively narrow band since the October 2025 truce took hold. A summit that clearly extends the truce would likely reinforce that stability. A breakdown, by contrast, could reintroduce volatility investors had mostly priced out.

Analysts covering both economies caution against expecting sweeping new commitments. Truce extensions in trade diplomacy tend to preserve the status quo rather than resolve underlying disputes. The chip-access question, in particular, may simply be deferred to working-level talks after the leaders meet.

Questions readers are asking about the summit

When is the Trump Xi Washington summit?
The meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2026, at the White House in Washington, D.C.

What is the summit expected to accomplish?
Officials on both sides expect it to extend the trade truce reached in October 2025, similar to the outcome of the May 2026 Beijing summit.

Will the chip export loophole be discussed?
It is expected to come up, specifically whether Chinese firms can keep accessing Nvidia-powered computing through data centers in Southeast Asia.

Has a summit between the two leaders happened before this year?
Yes. Trump and Xi met in Beijing in May 2026, and that meeting is seen as a model for how this one may unfold.

Could the summit fail to extend the truce?
It is possible, though both governments have strong incentives to avoid renewed tariff escalation, making an extension the more likely outcome.

For related coverage, see our reporting on the Anthropic-Nvidia compute deal and Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Egypt.

Sources

09 Sep 2026
Israeli settlement goods ban

UK, France and Canada Just Banned These Goods. Israel Is Furious

Categories World

The Israeli settlement goods ban announced this week blocks imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Britain, France and Canada unveiled the coordinated measure on September 8 and 9, 2026, citing concern over actions they say threaten the prospect of a two-state solution. A wider group of 12 countries has signaled it may follow with similar restrictions.

What the Israeli settlement goods ban covers

The three countries will block imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to reporting from UPI. The UK went further, formally declaring Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories unlawful. London also announced sanctions on five settlers accused of carrying out or supporting violence against Palestinians, along with sanctions on companies tied to settlement expansion.

Israeli settlement goods ban
UK, France and Canada Just Banned These Goods. Israel Is Fur

A broader coalition of 12 countries said they intend to act too. That group includes Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Some will introduce national restrictions. Others will support European-level measures or simply consider trade steps targeting settlements, according to ABC News Australia.

Why these governments moved now

The announcement came amid mounting international anger at the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over settlement policy. Officials in London, Paris and Ottawa framed the measures as a direct response to actions they say undermine any future Palestinian state. The step marks one of the most coordinated Western trade actions against settlement goods to date.

Trade volumes tied to settlement production are relatively small in the context of overall Israeli exports, so the economic effect is likely to be limited. The diplomatic signal is the larger part of the story: three major Western economies acting in concert, with a further nine considering similar steps.

Israel’s retaliation

Israel condemned the measures and announced retaliatory steps of its own, including the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Britain of interfering in Israel’s internal affairs. Israeli officials have not indicated any change to settlement policy in response to the announcement.

The reaction adds another point of friction between Israel and several of its traditional Western allies. It comes at a moment when the broader Middle East already faces significant strain from other ongoing conflicts.

What comes next for the settlement ban

Implementation details, including which specific goods and producers fall under the restrictions, are expected to be published by each government separately in the coming weeks. Whether the remaining nine countries in the 12-country coalition follow through with binding national measures, rather than statements of intent, will determine how far the policy actually extends.

Watch for a possible European Union-level discussion, since several EU member states are among the 12 countries named. A coordinated EU measure would carry more economic weight than individual national bans.

How trade experts read the move

Trade analysts describe the ban as more symbolic than economically painful for Israel in the short term. Settlement goods make up a small fraction of the country’s total exports. The bigger question, analysts say, is whether the coalition of 12 countries turns statements of intent into binding law.

Some economists point to a slow-burn effect instead. If the European Union eventually adopts a bloc-wide restriction, the impact would grow considerably. Several of the 12 countries named this week are EU members, which gives that scenario real weight.

Israeli exporters affected by the ban have not issued a unified public response yet. Trade groups in the settlements themselves have called the move discriminatory and warned of job losses among workers, some of whom are Palestinian, employed in settlement-based industries.

Diplomats in the region also note a secondary effect. The measure gives European governments a concrete policy tool short of full sanctions, which some had been calling for amid the wider Middle East conflict. It sits in a middle ground between statements of concern and harder economic penalties.

Common questions about the settlement goods ban

Which countries have banned imports from Israeli settlements?
Britain, France and Canada announced the ban this week. A wider group of 12 countries, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, has signaled it may introduce similar measures.

Does the Israeli settlement goods ban apply to all Israeli exports?
No. It applies specifically to goods produced within Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, not to Israel’s exports generally.

How has Israel responded?
Israel condemned the measures and closed the British consulate in East Jerusalem. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Britain of interfering in Israel’s affairs.

Did the UK take any additional steps beyond the import ban?
Yes. The UK formally declared the occupation unlawful and imposed sanctions on five settlers and several companies tied to settlement expansion.

Is this expected to significantly affect Israel’s economy?
Trade tied directly to settlement production is a small share of Israel’s overall exports, so the immediate economic impact is likely limited compared with the diplomatic signal it sends.

For more on the region’s escalating tensions, see our coverage of Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon and the EU’s extended Russia sanctions.

Sources

09 Sep 2026
Kenya foreign trader crackdown

Kenya Just Told Foreign Traders to Stop Hawking. Here’s Who’s Affected

Categories World

The Kenya foreign trader crackdown began enforcement on September 7, 2026, after President William Ruto directed authorities to shut down small businesses run by foreign nationals. Ruto announced the policy five days earlier while addressing micro, small and medium-sized enterprise traders at State House in Nairobi. Hawking and small-scale retail, he said, should be reserved for Kenyan citizens.

How the Kenya foreign trader crackdown started

Ruto told MSME traders that foreigners should not compete with Kenyans in hawking and small retail. He drew a line between that activity and larger foreign investment, which he said remains welcome when it requires greater capital. Authorities began acting on the directive on September 7, according to reporting from Al Jazeera.

Kenya foreign trader crackdown
Kenya Just Told Foreign Traders to Stop Hawking. Here's Who'

The order does not name a single nationality. It applies broadly to non-citizens operating hawking stalls, kiosks and small shops in markets across the country. Traders who hold larger capital investments, and formal foreign-owned businesses above the small-retail threshold, fall outside its scope.

Who the new rules affect on the ground

Migrant traders, many of whom have run small stalls for years, are the group most exposed. Reporting from NPR on September 8 described fear spreading through migrant communities as enforcement teams began visiting markets. Some traders have already closed stalls voluntarily rather than risk confrontation with local authorities.

Business groups representing Kenyan retailers have broadly welcomed the move. They argue foreign-run hawking has squeezed local traders out of low-capital retail niches for years. Migrant advocacy groups counter that many affected traders have lived and worked in Kenya for decades and have no other livelihood to fall back on.

A regional pattern, not an isolated policy

Kenya’s move follows a broader trend across parts of Africa. Tanzania has already restricted certain business categories to citizens only. South Africa has seen a resurgence of xenophobic violence targeting foreign-owned shops in recent years. Analysts covering the region say Kenya’s directive fits that wider pattern of economic nationalism aimed at informal retail sectors specifically, rather than at foreign capital generally.

The distinction matters for how the policy will be read internationally. Kenya has actively courted large-scale foreign investment in manufacturing, technology and logistics. Officials have been careful to frame the crackdown as protecting citizens in low-capital trade, not as a retreat from foreign investment more broadly.

Where the crackdown goes from here

Enforcement so far has relied on local administration and county officials rather than a single national task force. That makes the pace and intensity of enforcement uneven across regions. Traders in Nairobi’s larger markets report more visible activity than those in smaller towns.

Legal challenges are possible if enforcement sweeps up traders with valid work permits or long-term residency. Kenyan courts have previously intervened in disputes over trading licenses and permit revocations, and migrant rights groups have signaled they are reviewing the directive’s legal basis.

The economic argument on both sides

Supporters of the crackdown make a simple case. Kenyan hawkers, they say, cannot compete with foreign traders who often source goods more cheaply through informal networks. Reserving low-capital retail for citizens, in their view, protects a livelihood many Kenyans depend on directly.

Critics raise a different concern. Many affected traders pay local taxes and rent stalls legally. Some have run the same small business for a decade or more. Shutting them down quickly, critics argue, could push people into deeper poverty rather than solving the underlying competition problem.

Economists studying informal trade in East Africa note a further wrinkle. Small hawking businesses often source stock from Kenyan wholesalers. A sudden closure wave could ripple into that wholesale layer too, even though wholesalers themselves are not the crackdown’s direct target.

Kenya’s government has not published data quantifying how many businesses the directive affects. Independent estimates vary widely, partly because much of the targeted trade operates outside formal registries. That data gap makes it hard to judge the policy’s full economic footprint so far.

Frequently asked questions about Kenya’s trader crackdown

When did the Kenya foreign trader crackdown begin?
Enforcement started on September 7, 2026, five days after President Ruto announced the policy on September 2.

Does the directive apply to all foreign businesses in Kenya?
No. It targets hawking and small-scale retail specifically. Larger foreign investments requiring significant capital remain welcome under Ruto’s stated policy.

Which nationalities are most affected?
Reporting has not identified a single targeted nationality. Migrant traders from several neighboring and regional countries operate the small stalls and kiosks the directive covers.

Is this similar to policies in other African countries?
Yes. Tanzania has restricted some retail categories to citizens, and South Africa has faced repeated unrest targeting foreign-owned shops, part of a wider regional trend.

Can affected traders challenge the crackdown legally?
Traders with valid permits or residency status may have grounds to contest enforcement action in Kenyan courts, though no major legal challenge had been filed as of this writing.

For related coverage on Africa’s shifting political and business climate, see our reporting on Zambia’s opposition crackdown and on US visa services expanding across African hubs.

Sources