Why are cross-border payments in the GCC still complex, and how is Visa simplifying them for the future?

In a region like the GCC, where billions flow across borders annually for personal and business reasons, outdated infrastructure, regulatory hurdles, and inconsistent user experiences have long made remittances frustratingly complex. Salima Gutieva, Visa’s VP and Country Manager for UAE, explains that Visa is tackling this through innovations like Visa Direct and Visa+, enabling fast, transparent transfers to over 11 billion global endpoints—including cards, bank accounts, and wallets. With features like alias-based transfers (e.g., using a phone number instead of an account number), and near real-time capabilities across 190+ countries, Visa is reshaping expectations. As UAE consumers increasingly demand digital-first, seamless payment experiences, Salima notes that smarter, user-controlled remittance solutions are becoming the norm. What do you think—should sending money across borders be as easy as sending a text? Let us know your views!

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