Payments & Fintech Advisory — Doha · London · Istanbul
Shaping the
Future of Payments
Independent advisory for financial institutions, acquirers, issuers, fintechs and governments shaping the next generation of payments across GCC, MENA and Europe.
Services
Four pillars of advisory excellence
Comprehensive advisory across the full payments and fintech lifecycle — from investment assessment to operational transformation.
Technical & Regulatory Assessment
Due Diligence
Independent evaluation of payments and fintech businesses for investors, acquirers and strategic partners.
Explore →Market Entry & Growth Strategy
Strategic Planning
Market entry analysis, product-market fit, competitive positioning and go-to-market strategy for payment businesses.
Explore →Payments Modernisation
Digital Transformation
Platform selection, integration management, ISO 20022 migration and operational change management.
Explore →Full Payment Method Coverage
Electronic Payments
Cards, digital wallets, instant payments, A2A transfers and contactless solutions across GCC, MENA and Europe.
Explore →Solutions
Specialist advisory for next-generation payments
From AI-driven commerce to tokenised assets, expert guidance on the technologies reshaping the payments industry.
Insights
Thinking at the edge of fintech
Agentic Commerce
What payment processors need to know in 2026
Visa Trusted, Mastercard Agent Pay and Stripe’s Machine Payments Protocol are the first moves in a fundamental restructuring of how authorisation works.
Regulation · Europe
PSD3 and the PSR: what changes and what stays the same
Political agreement reached in late 2025. National transposition is now underway, with full application expected mid-to-late 2027.
AI & Regulation
EU AI Act: compliance obligations for payments firms
High-risk AI system requirements apply from August 2026. Conformity assessment obligations are more demanding than most compliance teams have planned for.
About
Independent advisory at the heart of payments
MENA Advisory was founded in Doha in January 2020. Within weeks, a global pandemic closed borders and disrupted the model that GCC payments businesses had relied on — bringing in senior expertise from Dubai, London, New York and Singapore on demand.
We are an independent international advisory practice working exclusively in payments and fintech. Operating from Doha, London and Istanbul, we advise financial institutions, major retailers, travel management companies, acquirers, fintechs and government entities across the GCC, MENA and Europe.
Our independence is deliberate. We have no vendor or technology partner relationships that would compromise the objectivity of our advice. Every recommendation is built on what is right for the client’s business model, regulatory environment and commercial objectives.
Work with us →Contact
What can we help you Achieve?
Whether you are evaluating a fintech investment, addressing a digital transformation, or looking to optimise your payment infrastructure, our team is ready to engage.