Google Enables NFC Google Pay in Saudi Arabia and Partners with Sea on AI Tools
Google and Mastercard have launched Google Pay support for Mastercard cardholders in Saudi Arabia, enabling NFC-based contactless payments to bolster Vision 2030’s digital transformation. Separately, Google and Sea Ltd. signed a strategic partnership to develop AI shopping agents on Shopee and AI-driven productivity solutions for Garena’s game development.
1. Google Pay Launch in Saudi Arabia
Google and Mastercard have expanded Google Pay support for Mastercard cardholders across Saudi Arabia, allowing in-store and online NFC-based contactless payments. The rollout aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of digital transformation, leveraging tokenisation for secure transactions and aiming to encourage a shift towards a cashless economy.
2. Google and Sea Ltd. Strategic AI Partnership
Google and Sea Ltd. signed a strategic partnership to explore agentic AI shopping prototypes on Shopee, which holds a 52% market share in Southeast Asia. The alliance also targets AI-driven productivity tools for Garena’s game development, reflecting broader efforts to monetize AI capabilities beyond query-based tasks.