PhotonPay Secure DFSA Licence, Expands In UAE Fintech Market

Mohammed Fathy

Last updated 10-02-2026

3 min

PhotonPay secured a DFSA Category 3D licence, its first regulatory approval in the UAE.

The move signals a “compliance‑first” push across the wider MEASA region.

Approval enables local payment rails, UAE‑aligned onboarding, and faster settlement options.

Leadership calls the UAE a fast‑growing payments hub and a “pivotal step” for global scale.

The licence strengthens PhotonPay’s footing in a strategically important financial centre.

PhotonPay has taken a meaningful step into the UAE market after securing a Category 3D licence from the Dubai Financial Services Authority, marking its first regulatory approval in the country. For a payments company eyeing serious global scale, this is a big deal and not just regulatory box‑ticking. It signals a deeper push across the wider MEASA region and underlines a compliance‑first approach that many fintechs talk about, but fewer actually execute on.

The UAE, after all, is no ordinary market. It sits at the crossroads of global trade, and anyone who’s spent time around founders in Dubai’s fintech scene will tell you how central regulation is to winning trust here. I remember chatting with a startup team at a past Dubai Fintech Summit who said getting licensed wasn’t glamorous, but it was spot on for long‑term survival. PhotonPay seems to have taken that same, methodical road, building relationships with local institutions and partners before going live.

Lewison Chen, founder and chief executive of PhotonPay, described the UAE as one of the fastest‑growing payment hubs globally, calling the licence a pivotal step towards scaling comprehensive global coverage. According to Chen, the approval also reflects the company’s commitment to operating within strict compliance frameworks, with the goal of helping businesses move money across borders with more confidence and control.

That said, licences only matter if they translate into better products on the ground. From what has been outlined, the DFSA approval allows PhotonPay to offer corporate and professional clients access to local payment rails, UAE‑aligned onboarding, and local payout and settlement options. Aamir, chairman of PhotonPay Dubai, framed it as a practical move, saying the licence helps turn expansion plans into action, especially for companies running complex cross‑border operations.

From an Arageek lens, this kind of news always hits close to home. Many MENA startups we speak to struggle when payments get complicated; it can be a bit of a faff, to be honest. I reckon more licensed players with strong compliance muscle is good for the ecosystem, even if I’m not a fan of how slow some regulatory processes can be… well, that’s the trade‑off.

PhotonPay says its wider infrastructure is built around AI‑driven risk management, security and anti‑money laundering standards, which should strengthen its regional execution as it supports companies expanding across the Middle East. With 11 offices worldwide already in place, the firm appears keen to back global ambition with local presence.

Whether this licence becomes a real growth engine in the UAE is something only time will tell. Still, getting DFSA approval is no small feat, and it definately puts PhotonPay on a more solid footing in one of the world’s most strategically important financial hubs.

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