FinTech LIVE Dubai Q&A with Tausif Ahmed, Worldpay
FinTech LIVE Dubai returns in just one month.
Held virtually, the event is a must-attend for fintech pioneers, financial innovators and global industry leaders. It will showcase emerging trends and groundbreaking developments in financial technology.
Those who attend the event will have the opportunity to take part in dynamic keynote presentations, engaging panel discussions and exclusive fintech showcases. Main themes across the day will include digital banking, blockchain technology, AI-driven financial solutions and cybersecurity in fintech.
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Tausif Ahmed, Country Leader for Middle East and Africa at Worldpay
Tausif Ahmed is the Country Leader for Middle East and Africa at Worldpay. In his role, Tausif is responsible for leading Worldpay in the MEA region, working with some of the largest and best-known brands, as well as global merchants, to expand into the UAE to process payments.
Tausif joined Worldpay in 2021. He has deep knowledge of the global payments landscape and over 35 years of commercial experience within the finance and payments industry.
Before Worldpay, Tausif has held senior roles at Fiserv, Logica and ACI Limited.
He is the Board member of Worldpay UAE, and holds a Bachelor's in Computer Information Science from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University of South Wales.
What inspired you to get involved in the event?
The payments technology landscape in the Middle East is at a pivotal moment in its growth journey. At a time when global adoption of digital payment methods is accelerating at pace, there is renewed focus on the role of payments and on the opportunity for both merchants and consumers.
The event will bring together a host of C-suite, VP and Director-level executives from across MEA in the fintech, banking and insurance sectors, as well as showcase the latest trends, cutting-edge technologies and regulatory developments shaping the future of finance in the region.
As the payments industry has reached a critical juncture, collaboration and knowledge-sharing are crucial.
Provide an overview of what your keynote will focus on.
I will present regional data insights from Worldpay’s 2025 Global Payments Report (GPR) in a 20-minute keynote presentation at the event.
Worldpay is a global industry leader in payments technology and solutions, and the GPR provides a deep dive into the evolving payments landscape across 40 countries. Over the past 10 years, it has become an authoritative source on payments innovation.
Globally, the way consumers pay is more diverse than ever. Digital payment methods, such as digital wallets, account-to-account, buy now pay later and cryptocurrencies are stealing the crown from traditional cash and cards.
As a result, both payment providers and retailers need to continually adapt and offer a wide range of payment options. The way consumers pay is more diverse than ever.
The Middle East and Africa (MEA) is no exception to this trend, as digital payments have redrawn the foundations of MEA’s once cash-dominated payments landscape.
In 2014, MEA had already made significant progress in e-commerce digital payments, accounting for 29% of the 2014 e-commerce transaction value.
By 2024, however, digital payments (49%) nearly achieved parity with cash and cards (51%). Cash use was slashed from 82% of POS value to 28% over this period.
What do you hope to achieve through the event?
With over 35 years of commercial experience within the finance and payments industry, I have seen first-hand how innovation has transformed the payments journey for merchants and consumers alike.
The event provides a forum to network with executives from large-scale and fast-growing organisations across the MEA region, and understand where they feel the greatest opportunities and challenges lie.
What emerging trends do you believe will shape the future of fintech over the next decade?
The global shift towards digital payment methods shows no sign of slowing. It is hard to deny the ease of use and convenience digital wallets provide, whether shopping in-store or online.
While digital wallet technology has already reached a certain level of maturity, we expect payment providers to continue the relentless innovation to improve their offering, drive adoption and boost security.
It is, however, important to note that in the UAE specifically, consumers have a deep connection to traditional payment methods, with credit cards the leading payment method across all channels with 34% of e-com and 35% of POS transaction value in 2024.
However, in MEA as a whole, we forecast that digital payments will represent the majority, 65%, of e-commerce transaction value by 2030.
In an era of payments defined by consumer choice, merchants must continually evolve their offerings to cultivate customer loyalty and avoid basket abandonment.
Alongside digital wallets, the rise of account-to-account (A2A) payments looks set to reshape the future of fintech, as real-time payments infrastructure and open banking technology continue to mature globally.
More long-term, we may see the rollout of the Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which could have significant implications on the financial and payment ecosystems.
At the same time, AI offers significant opportunities for payment providers to enhance fraud prevention, authorisation rates, smart routing, risk management and onboarding processes for merchants.
Networking opportunities
Beyond insights and trends, FinTech LIVE Dubai is an excellent platform for networking opportunities with industry experts and peers via the Brella platform.
Whether you attend one of our events in person or virtually, Brella helps you stay up-to-date with the event agenda and network seamlessly with participants.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this fintech event. Get your FREE virtual ticket now and take your financial technology to the next level.
Essential diary dates for 2025
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- FinTech LIVE Dubai | 6 May
- FinTech LIVE New York | 17 June
- FinTech LIVE London | 7-8 October
- The Global FinTech Awards | 7 October
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