Fintech Gate: UAE Ranks 1st in Middle East, 31st Globally in Thunes Cross-Border Payments Interoperability Index 2026
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has secured the top position in the Middle East and ranked 31st globally in the 2026 Thunes Cross-Border Payments Interoperability Index. Covering 50 nations, the index evaluates market capabilities in facilitating efficient, seamless digital payments and international financial remittances.
The UAE registered an overall score of 5.4 points, outperforming all regional countries included in the index, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait—a milestone reflecting the strength of its economic and digital infrastructure. According to the report, the index was developed to measure the "digital mobility gap," mapping the divide between countries participating effortlessly in the global digital economy and those facing legacy barriers in international payment rails. The classification relies on five pillars: economic health, digital infrastructure, financial inclusion, cross-border payments connectivity, and market dynamics alongside regulatory progress.
The findings show that the UAE excelled in the "Economic Health" metric, scoring its highest rating of 6.8 points. This framework evaluates the macroeconomic environment, quality of life, trade openness, and the volume of active business enterprises, cementing the UAE’s standing as a premier regional commercial hub.
In terms of "Digital Infrastructure Access," the UAE scored 5.3 points, tracking smartphone and internet penetration, digital wallet adoption, and retail digital transaction volumes. Furthermore, the country marked 5.2 points in "Financial Inclusion," which assesses bank account ownership, access to banking services, instant payment system availability, and financial equity across demographics.
Regarding "Cross-Border Payment Barriers," the UAE hit 5.3 points, a metric evaluating transaction speed, cost efficiency, and the ease of processing global retail and corporate fund transfers. Meanwhile, the nation scored 5.5 points in "Market Dynamics," measuring governmental and regulatory progress in advancing open banking, fintech frameworks, digital assets, and cryptocurrency regulations.
The report concluded that the Middle East enjoys high digital connectivity and smartphone penetration, providing a robust foundation for the growth of modern remittances. This digital landscape empowers leading countries, spearheaded by the UAE, to fully capitalize on the global shift toward cross-border financial services. Globally, Denmark led the index, followed by Singapore in second place, Norway in third, Spain in fourth, and the Netherlands in fifth.