Areeba
Areeba is a Lebanon-headquartered, M1 Group-owned payment infrastructure provider delivering card issuing, acquiring, and Card-as-a-Service solutions to banks, fintechs, governments, and enterprises across six MENA countries via its proprietary Verto platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersBeirut, Lebanon
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Areeba does
Areeba (legal entity: areeba SAL) is a regional payment infrastructure provider founded in 2017 and headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of M1 Group, a diversified investment conglomerate. The company delivers end-to-end card issuing and merchant acquiring services to banks, fintechs, governments, and enterprises across six MENA markets — Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE — through locally incorporated subsidiaries and a direct enterprise sales motion.
At the core of its offering is Verto, a proprietary cloud-native payment platform built on a microservice architecture with open APIs. Verto comprises four modules: Verto Issuing (card management), Verto Switch (payment switching), Verto Acquiring (omnichannel acceptance), and Verto Financial Module (settlement and reconciliation). Around this core, Areeba packages Issuing Processing Services, Card-as-a-Service (CaaS) with BIN sponsorship under Visa and Mastercard, Digital Solutions (digital KYC/KYB, HCE mobile payments, biometric cards, 3D Secure), Acceptance Solutions (POS, Soft POS, QR, Pay-by-Link), ATM driving and management, and Value-Added Services (instant card issuance, loyalty, analytics, contact center).
Areeba monetizes through a mix of recurring subscription fees (issuing processing, CaaS, value-added services), transaction-based acquiring fees, and enterprise professional services. Pricing is quote-based with annual billing, targeting enterprise and institutional buyers. The company holds PCI DSS certification (since 2018), Central Bank of Lebanon financial-institution listing, and dual Visa and Mastercard scheme certifications, providing regulated scheme-compliant processing capabilities that anchor its distribution partnerships with banks (Sahara Bank, Commercial Bank International, Zand Bank), fintechs (Hubpay), and government entities (Lebanese Ministry of Finance).
Areeba firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Areeba
- Legal name
- areeba SAL
- Website
- https://areeba.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Areeba is a Lebanon-headquartered, M1 Group-owned payment infrastructure provider delivering card issuing, acquiring, and Card-as-a-Service solutions to banks, fintechs, governments, and enterprises across six MENA countries via its proprietary Verto platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Areeba industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Payment Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Card Issuing Platforms (Issuer Processing) (FSAGABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Embedded Card Issuing & Card-as-a-Service (FSAGALAC), Card Issuing & Program Management Platforms (BPAMAFAH)
Keywords
Where Areeba is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beirut
- HQ country
- Lebanon
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices6 records
Markets served
Areeba business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Issuing Processing Services: Third party processing services, outsourcing services, and BIN sponsorship for banks and issuers. Covers card management, authorization, clearing, settlement, scheme compliance, risk management, and card operations.
- Acquiring Services: Payment acceptance services for merchant portfolios including POS installation, transaction authorization, clearing and settlement, merchant claims, risk management, and compliance.
- Card-as-a-Service (CaaS): Game-changing solution enabling businesses to issue cards under global networks like Mastercard and Visa through BIN sponsorship. Businesses integrate via flexible APIs for customer onboarding, risk control, account management, and transaction processing.
- Value Added Services: Branch instant issuing, smart/metal card personalization, biometric cards, loyalty programs, 24/7 contact center, analytics and reporting, and consultancy services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Enterprise/B2B pricing for banks, fintechs, and governments |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Areeba product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Areeba provides end-to-end payment infrastructure services across the MENA region, including card issuing, merchant acquiring, payment switching, and settlement, delivered through its proprietary Verto cloud-native platform. It offers Card-as-a-Service (CaaS) enabling fintechs, banks, and governments to launch card programs with BIN sponsorship and open APIs. Services span debit, credit, prepaid, corporate, and Islamic card products, alongside digital onboarding, biometric cards, Soft POS, ATM management, and value-added services.
Product overview
Areeba is a regional payment infrastructure provider operating a platform-plus-modules architecture across the MENA region. The core Verto Platform provides cloud-native card management, switching, acquiring, and settlement via microservices and open APIs. The product portfolio spans two main pillars: Making Payments (Issuing) covering card issuance processing, digital solutions, and value-added services; and Accepting Payments (Acquiring) covering merchant services, acceptance solutions, and ATM management. The Card-as-a-Service (CaaS) offering enables businesses to launch card programs via API integration with access to Visa and Mastercard networks. Regional presence includes Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Qatar, and UAE.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Verto: Cloud-native payment platform with microservice architecture and open APIs, comprising Verto Issuing (card management), Verto Switch (payment switching), Verto Acquiring (omnichannel acceptance), and Verto Financial Module (settlement and reconciliation).
Products and services
- Verto Platform Cloud-native payment platform with API and microservices design providing card management, switching, acquiring, and financial settlement capabilities. Supports multiple countries, currencies, and payment schemes and enables banks to onboard and create products quickly.
- Card-as-a-Service (CaaS) A service enabling businesses, fintechs, and startups to issue customized cards without managing payment infrastructure. Provides API integration, BIN sponsorship, regulatory compliance, and access to Mastercard and Visa networks.
- Issuing Processing Services End-to-end issuer processing services covering third-party processing, outsourcing services, sponsoring bank arrangements, and BIN sponsorship. Includes card management, authorization, clearing, settlement, scheme compliance, risk management, and card operations.
- Cards Issuing Solutions Flexible card management system supporting debit, charge, credit, prepaid, installment, Islamic, co-branded, and corporate cards on a single integrated platform with multi-currency, multi-country, and multi-institution capabilities.
- Digital Solutions End-to-end digital payment experience solution for banks and fintechs, including Digital KYC/KYB onboarding, instant card issuing, card controls, e-pin, mobile payments via NFC and QR code, and 3D Secure authentication for fraud protection.
- Value Added Services (Issuing) Additional issuer services including branch instant issuing, smart card and metal card personalization, biometric cards, risk and fraud management, loyalty programs, 24/7 contact center, analytics and reporting, and consultancy services.
- Acquiring Services Payment acceptance services for merchants' portfolios helping banks grow and protect their acquiring business. Includes POS installation, authorization, transaction processing, clearing and settlement, merchant claims handling, risk management, and chargeback handling.
- Acceptance Solutions Comprehensive acceptance offerings including in-store POS payments, online and in-app payments, Soft POS for NFC smartphone payments, self-service kiosk payments, QR code payments, and Pay By Link for secure payment links.
- Acceptance Value Added Services Additional merchant services including Dynamic Currency Conversion, Electronic Cash Register POS integration, mobile top-ups and bill payments, online store builder, analytics and reporting, and 24/7 merchant hotline support.
- ATM Driving & Management Scalable ATM switching and connectivity services including ATM access setup, standard services such as fast cash, withdrawal, balance inquiry, and PIN change, additional services such as check deposit and account transfer, plus ATM monitoring and claim handling.
Quantifiable outcome
- Built and launched Zaky digital wallet through 5-day rapid prototyping sprint with Mastercard Digital Labs
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Areeba
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Areeba technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature6 records
Areeba partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MastercardcorePartnered with Mastercard's Digital Labs team to develop Zaky digital wallet enabling money transfers, bill payments, and QR code merchant payments for consumers in Lebanon. Collaboration involved 5-day rapid prototyping sprint producing high-fidelity prototype, pitch presentation, and product video for market launch.
- Lebanese Ministry of FinancecoreCooperation agreement enabling citizens and businesses to settle government-related payments using banking credit cards through POS devices at Treasury Directorate's cashiers across public departments. Supports the Ministry's plan to reduce reliance on cash and modernize public payment services in Lebanon.
- Zand BankcoreCollaboration with Zand Bank (AI-powered bank licensed by Central Bank of UAE) to support fintechs in launching innovative card programs through Card-as-a-Service (CaaS) model.
- HubpaycoreSelected by Hubpay, UAE's leading fintech platform, as partner for issuing processing services.
- Commercial Bank InternationalcorePartnership to enhance fintech payment solutions in the UAE, providing acquiring services and payment infrastructure support.
- Sahara BankcorePartnership to support Sahara Bank's debit and prepaid card program, providing issuing processing services and card management capabilities.
- VisacoreAreeba Payment Infrastructure Switch awarded Visa certification, enabling Visa transaction processing capabilities.
- MastercardcoreMastercard certification solidifying leadership in MENA payment infrastructure.
- Codebase TechnologiesminorStrategic partnership to address rising demand for Banking-as-a-Service across the Middle East.
- FoominorStrategic partnership to deliver scalable Card-as-a-Service solution with built-in digital capabilities.
- Mawarid FinTech & Innovation SummitminorParticipation in 3rd edition of Mawarid FinTech & Innovation Summit at Grand Hyatt Dubai. CEO Maher Mikati joined panel on 'The Future of Payments: Instant, Invisible and Embedded'.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Areeba competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
Direct peers
- Network International (NPG): Largest MENA-focused payment processor offering card issuing, acquiring, and processing services to banks and merchants across the region. Most directly comparable competitor given overlapping geographies, customer base, and product scope.
- Magnati: UAE-headquartered payment processor providing acquiring, issuing, and merchant services across the Gulf. Comparable in product mix and customer segment, particularly for the UAE franchise.
- Tap Payments: MENA-focused payment gateway and processing platform serving merchants and fintechs across Gulf and broader MENA. Comparable as a regional payment infrastructure competitor targeting fintech and enterprise clients.
- HyperPay: MENA payment service provider offering acquiring, processing, and digital payment solutions to banks, merchants, and fintechs. Overlaps with Areeba across issuing/acquiring in Gulf and Levant markets.
- PayTabs: MENA-origin payment solutions provider offering acquiring, gateways, and merchant services across the region. Comparable regional scope and bank/fintech customer base.
Emerging players
- YAP: Digital banking and payments platform operating in MENA, focused on issuer processing and embedded finance for fintechs. Comparable in CaaS and fintech enablement, though earlier stage.
Broad incumbents
- BPC: Global payment platform vendor serving banks and processors across MENA with switching, issuing, and acquiring technology. Competes indirectly via bank-side platform sales and adjacent payment infrastructure.
- Visa: Global card scheme and increasingly a direct processor/sponsor in MENA. Areeba is both a partner (certified switch) and a potential bypass risk as Visa expands direct processing and BaaS offerings.
- Stripe: Global payments infrastructure provider expanding into MENA with acquiring and embedded finance capabilities. A relevant competitor for fintech and enterprise payment processing deals in the region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Areeba social profiles
Digital presenceAreeba compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Areeba financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Areeba leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Areeba subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Areeba funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Areeba M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Areeba
What does Areeba do?
Areeba provides end-to-end payment infrastructure services across the MENA region, including card issuing, merchant acquiring, payment switching, and settlement, delivered through its proprietary Verto cloud-native platform. It offers Card-as-a-Service (CaaS) enabling fintechs, banks, and governments to launch card programs with BIN sponsorship and open APIs. Services span debit, credit, prepaid, corporate, and Islamic card products, alongside digital onboarding, biometric cards, Soft POS, ATM management, and value-added services.
Is Areeba a public or private company?
Areeba is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Areeba founded?
Areeba was founded in 2017. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Areeba based?
Areeba is headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon, in the Middle East region.
How does Areeba make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Issuing Processing Services are the primary driver. The others are acquiring Services, card-as-a-Service (CaaS) and value Added Services.
Who are Areeba's main competitors?
Mastercard is listed as an others. Direct peers are Network International (NPG), Magnati, Tap Payments, HyperPay and PayTabs. YAP is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are BPC, Visa and Stripe.
Does Areeba have an API?
Yes. Areeba's platform features open APIs with microservice architecture. The Card-as-a-Service (CaaS) solution provides flexible APIs for customer onboarding, risk control, account management, and transaction processing. The platform supports integration through flexible APIs enabling businesses to plug into the card issuance service.
What industry is Areeba in?
Areeba's product category is Payment Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGABAD, Card Issuing Platforms (Issuer Processing), with a secondary code of FSAGALAC, Embedded Card Issuing & Card-as-a-Service. Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6199.