Leading international online payments company Checkout.com has announced it will bring Apple Pay to its customers in the UAE.

Already offered in Europe for Checkout.com customers, Apple Pay is now available in the UAE, the first country in the Middle East to accept Apple Pay.

With the desire for frictionless payments a priority in the region, Checkout.com is pleased to deliver its customers Apple Pay, a solution that effortlessly meets their growing mobile-first needs.

This news follows Checkout.com's recent expansion into the US market and signals another significant milestone for the company in its continuing global expansion. Apple Pay will go live in the UAE with 10+ leading Checkout.com customers by the end of October, including popular global loyalty and rewards service, the Entertainer. Headquartered in Dubai, the Entertainer app offers deals on experiences to customers in 20 destinations across 15 countries.

"With the launch of Apple Pay in the UAE, we're continuing to deliver on our promise to provide our customers with the best payments methods available in the market," said Guillaume Pousaz, CEO and founder of Checkout.com. "A thriving mobile-first economy like the UAE needs to have the best technology to meet the demands of shoppers. The ease-of-integration, fluidity and maximum security features Apple Pay brings place it at the heart of global innovation. We always listen to the needs of our customers and deliver when it matters -  Apple Pay is proof of this."

Built on proprietary technology, Checkout.com connects merchants seamlessly with Apple Pay, providing end-users with the most optimized spending experience available in the world.

"Checkout.com is by far the best payment provider we've ever worked with. After switching from a previous provider, we saw a 16 percent boost in our online revenue," said David Ashford, CIO at the Entertainer. "Checkout.com is a true partner in every sense of the word, helping us strike the balance between customer experience, security, risk, performance, innovation, product development and everything in between, and we're thrilled they are now helping us bring Apple Pay to our customers. I've always recommended Checkout.com to industry peers and will continue to do so."

Security and privacy is at the core of Apple Pay. When you use a credit or debit card with Apple Pay, the actual card numbers are not stored on the device, nor on Apple servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in the Secure Element on your device. Each transaction is authorised with a one-time unique dynamic security code.

Designed to be effortless, Apple Pay is easy to set up and gives customers a simple and secure way to pay with the devices they use every day. Online shopping in apps and on websites accepting Apple Pay is as simple as the touch of a finger with Touch ID, so there's no need to manually fill out lengthy account forms or repeatedly type in shipping and billing information. When paying for goods and services on the go in apps or Safari, Apple Pay works with iPhone 6 and later, iPhone SE, iPad Pro, iPad (5th Generation), iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 3 and later. You can also use Apple Pay in Safari on any Mac introduced in or after 2012 running macOS Sierra and confirm the payment with iPhone 6 or later or Apple Watch, or with Touch ID on the new MacBook Pro. - TradeArabia News Service