In this episode of The Issuer Academy podcast, host Merusha Naidu is joined by Birce Arslan, the VP of Fintech and Business Development for EEMEA at Mastercard, and Jeff Parker, CEO of Paymentology. Together, they explore Saudi Arabia’s emerging fintech ecosystem, the key factors driving its explosive growth, and how Vision 2030 is creating unprecedented opportunities for payment solutions.

What You’ll Learn:

How Saudi Arabia's regulatory framework creates a structured environment for fintech innovation
Why building long-term partnerships and stakeholder relationships is crucial for success in the Saudi market
The critical role of MADA in shaping fintech strategy and product development
How to leverage dual-badge card capabilities to serve both domestic and international payment needs
Why on-soil infrastructure and data residency requirements are reshaping technology deployment strategies
How Vision 2030's clear objectives are accelerating digital payment adoption

Birce Arslan is the VP of Fintech and Business Development for EEMEA at Mastercard, specializing in fintech partnerships and digital payment innovation. With vast experience in payment infrastructure and emerging markets, she leads Mastercard's engagement with fintech partners across the region, particularly focusing on the Saudi Arabian market transformation. Birce provides valuable insights on Mastercard's role in enabling fintech growth through initiatives, like Start Path, MPGS, and strategic partnerships that bridge traditional and innovative payment solutions.

Jeff Parker is the CEO of Paymentology, a global payments technology provider operating in 65 countries. His expertise lies in developing configurable payment solutions and fostering strategic partnerships across the fintech ecosystem. Under his leadership, Paymentology has become a key enabler of digital transformation in the payments industry, particularly in emerging markets like Saudi Arabia.

Episode Resources:

Birce Arslan on LinkedIn
Jeff Parker on LinkedIn
Mastercard Website
Merusha Naidu on LinkedIn
Paymentology Website

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, and don’t forget to rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify - we appreciate all feedback from our listeners!