Network International announces the acquisition of RAKBANK’s merchant acquiring business

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28/11/2025
The deal between the UAE&rsquo;s leading merchant acquirer and a leading SME bank, is set to manage over $8 billion in payments volume and serve a diverse base of over 80,000 clients.
UAE, November 28, 2025: <a href="https://www.network.global/">Network International</a> (Network), a leading fintech company across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), has reached an agreement to acquire RAKBANK&rsquo;s merchant acquiring business in the UAE.
The acquisition brings RAKBANK&rsquo;s entire merchant acquiring portfolio of 5,000 merchants into Network&rsquo;s ecosystem, further strengthening its position in the region&rsquo;s rapidly growing payments and fintech industry. The transaction is expected to close in early 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
As part of the transaction, Network will provide its state-of-the-art payment solutions to serve RAKBANK&rsquo;s diverse customer base including more than 80,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large corporates. Network will also offer innovative value-added services to RAKBANK customers, reinforcing the commitment to empower the SME ecosystem and support the UAE&rsquo;s Digital Economy Strategy. The acquisition also enables Network to serve the growing merchant demand for digital commerce solutions in Ras Al Khaimah, a growing Emirate poised for significant economic development.
Murat Cagri Suzer, GCEO, Network International: &ldquo;Serving businesses in more than 50 countries enables us to continually strengthen our platform and bring world-class solutions to the UAE. With this partnership, we look forward to bringing the best payments technology and data capabilities to RAKBANK&rsquo;s customers and supporting their growth story. We also see significant upside in Ras Al Khaimah, where economic diversification and pro-business reforms are creating strong momentum, and we aim to be a long-term partner in its development and a catalyst for innovation across the wider UAE and MEA region.&rdquo;
Raheel Ahmed, GCEO, RAKBANK: RAKBANK has built a strong and trusted merchant acquiring business over the past six years across the UAE, supported by deep client relationships and a commitment to delivering an awesome customer experience. Our decision to partner with Network International is driven by one clear purpose: to ensure our customers receive best-in-class technology and service. By combining RAKBANK&rsquo;s relationship strength with the scale and specialist capabilities of a market leader, we can offer merchants more advanced, reliable, and future-ready payment solutions. This partnership reinforces our ambition to create banking that is digital with a human touch and to continue supporting businesses across the country with the high standards they expect from RAKBANK.&rdquo;
Network will integrate RAKBANK&rsquo;s acquiring customers onto its platform through a phased approach. The migration is expected to be seamless with completion anticipated within 6-8 months ensuring business continuity and a smooth transition for all merchants.