PayPal and DP World: Faster Cross-Border Trade Payments

PayPal and DP World have signed an agreement to create a faster, more transparent cross-border payments solution designed to streamline how global trade transactions are settled.

The collaboration aims to address the persistent challenges in international payments despite more than 70 countries adopting real-time payment systems.

Projections indicate that global cross-border spending, which stood at US$194.6tn in 2024, will rise to US$320tn by 2032, yet many trade corridors still contend with high fees and extended settlement periods.

The partnership intends to shorten the time it takes for merchants, exporters, importers and marketplaces to receive payments from several days to just minutes.

This move is a core component of DP World’s Digital Payments initiative, which supports international trade by offering quicker and more cost-effective methods for moving money across borders.

By replacing an experience often hampered by outdated banking systems, PayPal and DP World aim to introduce a solution providing same-day settlement, reduced fees and clear visibility for users.

A new standard for cross-border payments

This collaboration combines PayPal’s role as a major player in global commerce with DP World's expertise in logistics and supply chains.

PayPal, which has featured in FinTech Magazine's Top 100 Companies in FinTech, and DP World plan to remove friction from cross-border payments. PayPal achieved third spot on the Top 100 list and is today synonymous with digital transactions, serving millions of users daily. 

Alex Chriss, President and Chief Executive of PayPal, highlights that global trade "works best when payments are fast, transparent and secure.”

"That is exactly what this partnership with DP World is delivering. For too long, global businesses have been underserved by traditional cross-border payment systems. Today, we are setting a new standard. I am proud to mark this milestone in a region that is becoming a global hub for digital innovation as we continue building more connected and inclusive financial services for businesses worldwide.” Chriss explained.

Smarter logistics through digital innovation

The initiative is rooted in DP World’s ambition to make logistics smarter.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman and Chief Executive, says the project stems from this core objective.

"In logistics, speed and transparency mean everything and payments linked to logistics are no different, which is why we have undertaken our Digital Payments initiative,” he explained.

bin Sulayem stated: "Our collaboration with PayPal is part of this initiative, which aims to provide our customers with reliable options for cross-border payments that are faster and more transparent than traditional systems without compromising security. By simplifying global transactions, we are enabling businesses of every size to grow, move faster and operate more efficiently across markets.”

The current process for international payments can take up to a week to finalise, leading to costs and delays.

"This solution marks another important step in DP World’s journey to transform the supply chain and make trade flow more efficiently. These partnerships allow us to bring trusted digital-first solutions to global commerce, helping businesses and individuals trade more efficiently,” bin Sulayem added.

Integrating future-facing technology

Together, PayPal and DP World intend to integrate DP World’s trade logistics with PayPal’s secure payments infrastructure.

This includes the use of future-facing technology such as distributed ledgers and stablecoins, which are types of blockchain-based digital currencies tied to real-world assets to reduce volatility.

Such integrations offer the potential to enhance transaction speed and traceability.

Delays in payments can have far-reaching consequences, particularly for small- to mid-sized businesses that depend on timely access to capital.

The new platform directly targets these issues by offering settlement in minutes. For merchants and marketplaces, this could mean more predictable cash flow, lower operating costs and the ability to scale across markets without being hindered by traditional banking systems.

The partnership also aligns with broader fintech trends in 2025 as financial services and logistics companies increasingly work together to remove bottlenecks from trade.

By reducing friction, cutting costs and improving transparency, DP World and PayPal are positioning their solution as a new benchmark in global payments.