Mastercard aligns with Qlub to revolutionize digital payments within the GCC's hospitality industry.

Mastercard, the global payments giant, has announced a strategic collaboration with Qlub, a fintech innovator in the hospitality sector. This partnership aims to reshape the payments experience in the hospitality sector across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

Qlub, headquartered in Dubai and founded in 2021, serves over 3 million users and operates in 10 countries. The company recently closed a $30 million funding round, which was co-led by Shorooq and Cherry Ventures. Major backers in this round included e&, Mubadala Investments, and Legend Capital.

As part of the agreement, Mastercard will process Qlub's card-not-present transactions through Mastercard Gateway in markets such as the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Mastercard will also make a minority investment in Qlub.

Gina Petersen-Skyrme, Senior Vice President and Country Manager, UAE and Oman, Mastercard, stated that the collaboration will deliver simpler, faster, and more secure payment experiences for restaurants and consumers alike. The partnership leverages Qlub's QR-based payment technology and Mastercard's global payments infrastructure.

Qlub offers QR code-based table payments across more than 3,000 restaurants. The collaboration aims to advance digital and contactless payments across the GCC. Furthermore, the funding round aims to take Qlub's smart dining experience global.

With a team of nearly 300 employees, Qlub has been a part of Start Path, Mastercard's startup engagement program, since 2023. The ongoing relationship underscores Mastercard's commitment to scaling digital commerce in high-growth industries.

While the search results do not provide information about the main investors or participants in the funding round that led to the global spread of the intelligent dining experience, it is clear that this collaboration marks a significant step forward in the digital transformation of the hospitality sector in the GCC.

Mastercard aligns with Qlub to revolutionize digital payments within the GCC's hospitality industry.