Payment Orchestration in MENA: A 2026 Complete Guide

Last updated: 02.12.25

Table of Contents

1. What is Payment Orchestration?

2. Why MENA Markets Need Orchestration Now

3. Intelligent Payment Routing

4. 3D Secure (3DS) in MENA

5. Fraud Orchestration

6. Open Banking & A2A

7. Tokenization & Network Tokens

8. BIN & Cost-Based Routing

9. How to Choose a Payment Orchestration Platform

10. FAQs

Payment orchestration is the layer between your checkout and multiple payment service providers (PSPs). It enables you to route transactions intelligently, reduce costs, increase approval rates, and expand into new markets without rewriting code.

For MENA merchants, orchestration is critical because you need local PSPs (such as Tap, APS, and Telr) alongside global players (Stripe and Checkout.com), as well as address region-specific challenges, including 3DS2 complexity, BIN-based routing, and fraud patterns unique to GCC markets.

💡Key takeaway: The right orchestration platform unlocks freedom from PSP lock-in, lets you optimize payment costs without dev dependency, and accelerates expansion into KSA, UAE, Egypt, and beyond.

1: What is Payment Orchestration?

Definition

Payment orchestration is a unified layer that connects your business to multiple payment service providers (PSPs), fraud tools, and payment methods through a single API integration. Instead of integrating each PSP separately, you integrate once with the orchestration platform and manage, monitor and report on all your payment infrastructure from one place.

Key Capabilities

• Multi-PSP management: Route transactions across Stripe, Checkout.com, Tap Payments, APS, Telr, and use alternative payment methods like BNPL, Digital Wallets and more to suit your customers preferences and increase acceptance rates.

• Intelligent routing: Send transactions to the best PSP based on cost, approval rates, geography, or payment method

• Unified tokenization: Store payment credentials once, use across any PSP and retrieve for recurring payments.

• Fraud orchestration: Integrate fraud tools (For example, SEON, GPayments) without custom dev work

• Failover & redundancy: Automatically retry failed transactions with backup PSPs

Why It Matters

Without orchestration, every new PSP integration requires 4–12 weeks of engineering time. Every routing rule change requires a code deployment. Every market expansion means rebuilding checkout logic.

With orchestration: You simply configure, not code. You test routing strategies in real-time. You launch new markets in days, not months.

💡 Key Takeaway: Orchestration separates payment logic from your core product, giving you the freedom to optimize without engineering bottlenecks and expansion delays.

2: Why MENA Markets Need Orchestration Now

The MENA Payments Challenge

Challenge	Impact on merchants
Fragmented PSP landscape	No single PSP covers all MENA markets well. You need Tap for KSA, APS for UAE, and different providers for Egypt.
High 3DS2 decline rates	MENA banks enforce strict 3DS rules. Up to 15–20% of transactions fail at authentication.
Local payment method complexity	You need KNET (Kuwait), Mada (KSA), Meeza (Egypt), plus BNPL like Tabby, Tamara, and emerging open banking (Aani, Altareq).
Currency and cross-border fees	Processing SAR in KSA vs. AED in UAE vs. EGP in Egypt requires localized acquiring to avoid 2–3% FX markup.
Fraud patterns unique to region	Fragmented PSP landscape

Why Orchestration Solves This

Instead of:

• Integrating 5 different PSPs with 5 different APIs

• Managing routing logic in your codebase

• Manually switching PSPs when one goes down

• Rebuilding tokenization for each new provider

  
  

You do this:

• Integrate once with an orchestration platform

• Configure routing rules via dashboard (no code)

• Auto-failover to backup PSPs

• Use unified tokens across all providers

  
  

Real-World Trigger: Market Expansion

When a UAE-based eCommerce company expands into KSA:

• Without orchestration: 8–12 weeks to integrate PSPs, rebuild checkout for Mada, and handle SAR settlement

  
  

• With orchestration: 2–5 days to activate Tap connector, configure Mada routing, go live.

  
  

💡 Key Takeaway: MENA's payment complexity makes orchestration a necessity, not a nice-to-have. The freedom to expand without engineering delays is what separates fast movers from everyone else.

3: Intelligent Payment Routing

What is Payment Routing?

Payment routing is the logic that determines which PSP processes each transaction. Instead of sending all payments to one provider, you route based on:

• Geography: KSA transactions → Tap, UAE → APS, Egypt → local acquirer

• Cost: BIN-based routing to the lowest MDR (see Section 8)

• Approval rates: Send Mada cards to Tap (best Mada approval rates), Visa/Mastercard to Checkout.com

• Payment method: BNPL (Tabby) → direct integration, cards → PSP with best approval rate

• Failover: If primary PSP declines, retry with secondary PSP

  
  

Why Routing Matters in MENA

Example: A Saudi customer tries to pay with Mada.

• Bad setup: Transaction routed to Stripe → Mada not supported → transaction fails

• Good setup: Transaction auto-routed to Tap Payments → Mada processed locally → approval rate 8–12% higher

  
  

Common Routing Strategies

Strategy	Use Case	Example
Geography-based	Route by customer location	KSA → Tap, UAE → APS
Cost optimization	Route to lowest MDR PSP	Domestic Saudi cards → local acquirer (1.5% vs. 2.8% international)
Approval rate optimization	Route to PSP with highest success rate for card type	Mada → Tap, international cards → Checkout.com
Failover routing	Retry declined transactions with backup PSP	Primary: Checkout.com, Fallback: Stripe
Load balancing	Distribute volume across PSPs to avoid rate limits	Split 70/30 between two PSPs

No-Code Routing

The difference between legacy orchestration and modern platforms:

• Legacy: Routing rules require dev tickets, code deployments, and weeks to change

• Modern: Visual rule builder, test routing strategies in sandbox, deploy instantly

  
  

💡 Key Takeaway: Intelligent routing can lift approval rates by 5–12% and cut payment processing costs by 15–30%. The freedom to test and optimise routing without engineering dependency is what makes orchestration valuable.

→ Learn more: Deep Dive into Payment Routing Strategies 

4: 3D Secure (3DS) in MENA

What is 3DS and Why MENA is Different

3D Secure (3DS) is the authentication layer that prompts cardholders to verify their identity (usually via SMS OTP or banking app). In MENA:

• 3DS is mandatory for most card transactions (especially in KSA, UAE)

• 3DS2 adoption is uneven: Some banks support 3DS2 (frictionless flow), others still use 3DS1 (always prompts OTP)

• Decline rates are high: 10–20% of transactions fail at 3DS authentication due to OTP delivery issues, user abandonment, or bank errors

The 3DS Challenge in MENA

Issue	Impact
OTP delivery failures	Telcos in Egypt, KSA sometimes delay or drop SMS OTPs → customer can't complete payment
Bank downtime	Issuing banks in MENA have higher downtime rates during peak hours (weekends, Ramadan)
3DS version fragmentation	Some MENA banks support 3DS2 (frictionless), others force 3DS1 (always friction)
Soft declines treated as hard declines	PSPs don't always retry 3DS failures with alternative authentication methods

How Orchestration Helps

1. Smart 3DS routing: Route transactions likely to fail 3DS to PSPs with better authentication success rates

2. 3DS exemption handling: Apply PSD2-style exemptions where possible (low-value transactions, merchant-initiated)

3. Fallback strategies: If 3DS fails with one PSP, retry with another that has different bank relationships

Best Practices for MENA 3DS

1. Use 3DS2 wherever possible: Frictionless authentication improves approval rates by 8–15%

2. Optimize challenge flow: Reduce steps between checkout and 3DS prompt

3. Monitor by issuer: Track which banks have highest 3DS failure rates, adjust routing accordingly

4. Retry logic: Automatically retry 3DS soft declines before showing failure to customer

💡 Key Takeaway: 3DS is the biggest approval rate killer in MENA. Orchestration gives you the freedom to route around issuer weaknesses and optimize authentication without changing your checkout code.

5: Fraud Orchestration

Why Fraud is Different in MENA

MENA markets face unique fraud patterns:

• Card testing attacks: Fraudsters test stolen cards on MENA merchants (perceived as softer targets)

• BIN attacks: Specific card BINs from certain banks are targeted for fraud

• Chargeback fraud: "Friendly fraud" rates are higher in some GCC markets due to loose chargeback policies

• Cross-border fraud: International cards used in MENA often flagged incorrectly, causing false positives

  
  

What is Fraud Orchestration?

Instead of one fraud tool making all decisions, fraud orchestration lets you:

• Layer multiple fraud signals: Combine SEON device fingerprinting + GPayments velocity checks + PSP fraud scoring

• Route based on risk: High-risk transactions → 3DS authentication, low-risk → frictionless

• Customize rules by market: Apply stricter fraud checks for Egypt (higher fraud rates) vs. UAE

• Reduce false positives: Use orchestration to override PSP declines that are clearly legitimate

  
  

Common Fraud Rules in MENA

Rule	Purpose	Example
Velocity checks	Block multiple transactions from same card/device in short time	Max 3 attempts per card per hour
BIN filtering	Block or flag high-risk BINs	Prepaid cards from certain issuers
Geolocation mismatch	Flag when billing address doesn't match device IP	UAE billing, Egypt IP → flag
Device fingerprinting	Detect card testing bots	SEON fingerprint detects emulator/VPN
Whitelist trusted customers	Skip fraud checks for repeat customers with good history	Subscription customers with 6+ months tenure

No-Code Fraud Management

Without orchestration: Every fraud rule change requires:

1. Engineering ticket

2. Code deployment

3. Testing across all PSPs

4. Monitoring for unintended declines

With orchestration:

1. Update fraud rules in dashboard

2. Test in sandbox

3. Deploy instantly

4. Monitor in real-time fraud dashboard

   
   

💡 Key Takeaway: Fraud orchestration gives you the freedom to adapt your fraud strategy by market, test new rules without dev work, and reduce false positives that hurt approval rates.

6: Open Banking & Account-to-Account Payments in MENA

What is Open Banking?

Open banking lets customers pay directly from their bank account instead of using a card. The bank verifies identity and authorizes payment in real-time through secure APIs.

Benefits:

• Lower cost: No card scheme fees (Visa/Mastercard), typically 0.5–1% vs. 2–3% for cards

• Higher approval rates: No 3DS friction, no card declines

• Instant settlement: Funds move directly from customer to merchant account in under 10 seconds

Why Open Banking Integration is Complex in MENA

MENA's payment landscape is uniquely fragmented:

• Different frameworks per country: SAMA (Saudi), AlTareq (UAE), FAWRAN (Qatar), WAMD (Kuwait)

• Bank-specific APIs: Even within SAMA/AlTareq, each bank has unique implementation variations

• Multiple authentication flows: SCA requirements differ by market and payment method

• No standardized fallback: If A2A fails, you lose the transaction without built-in card fallback

• Rapid regulatory changes: SAMA updated PIS (Sept 2024), AlTareq launched (Q2 2025) - constant maintenance burden

What is Payment Orchestration for Open Banking?

Instead of building separate integrations for each system, orchestration lets you combine:

• Single API integration: Connect once, access SAMA, AlTareq, Sarie, Aani, and 50+ payment methods

• Smart routing: Automatically route to the lowest-cost method (A2A when available, card as fallback)

• Automatic fallback: If the customer doesn't complete AlTareq authentication, seamlessly offer card payment

• Unified reporting: Track Sarie, Aani, card, and wallet payments in one dashboard

• Zero maintenance: Apaya handles API updates, new payment methods, regulatory changes

Common Open Banking Routing Rules in MENA

Rule	Purpose	Example
Transaction value routing	Route high-value orders to A2A to avoid card limits	Orders >$5,000 → Sarie/Aani (limit $13,600), not card
Cost optimization	Route to cheapest method that customer supports	Small orders → Aani (0.5%) vs. card (2.5%) = 2% savings
Geographic routing	Show market-appropriate payment methods	UAE customer → AlTareq + Aani; Saudi → SAMA + Sarie
Customer preference	Route to method with highest approval rate per bank	Bank A: 95% on AlTareq → route there; Bank B: 88% on AlTareq → route to card
Success rate optimization	Remember what each customer prefers	Repeat customer who always uses Aani → show Aani first
Time-based routing	Account for settlement times	Need instant settlement → A2A; T+2 okay → route to cheaper option

Integration: Without vs. With Orchestration

Without orchestration: Every new market/method requires:

1. 6-12 months development per integration (SAMA, AlTareq, Sarie, Aani = 2-4 years total)

2. Separate engineering resources for each PSP

3. Manual fallback logic - if A2A fails, customer restarts checkout (12-18% abandonment)

4. Fragmented reporting across 5+ dashboards

5. Ongoing maintenance as APIs update (SAMA PIS updated Sept 2024, AlTareq launched Q2 2025).

With orchestration (Apaya):

1. 4-6 weeks to go live with SAMA + AlTareq + Sarie + Aani + cards

2. Single API integration - Apaya handles all PSP connections

3. Automatic fallback - customer never sees failure, seamlessly switches to card (captures 12-18% more transactions)

4. Unified dashboard - all payment methods, real-time analytics

5. Zero maintenance - Apaya updates integrations automatically when frameworks change.

Real Cost Impact for eCommerce Merchants

$1M monthly GMV merchant processing 50% through cards, 50% through A2A:

Scenario	Monthly Processing Cost	Annual Savings
Cards only (2.5% average)	$25,000	-
50% A2A via orchestration (A2A 0.7%, cards 2.5%)	$16,000	$108,000
70% A2A via smart routing (optimized)	$13,500	$138,000

Plus development cost savings:

• Direct integration: $150K-$300K dev cost, 12-18 months

• Orchestration: $10K-$30K integration cost, 4-6 weeks

  
  

💡 Key Takeaway: Open banking infrastructure is live in Saudi Arabia and UAE right now. But technical fragmentation prevents most merchants from capturing this opportunity. The cost savings can be optimal and more companies will be leaning towards this payment method in 2026.

→ Read the complete guide: Open Banking & Payment Orchestration in MENA

7: Tokenization & Network Tokens

What is Tokenization?

Tokenization replaces sensitive card data (PAN) with a unique token. Benefits:

• Security: Tokens are useless if stolen (can't be used outside your system)

• PCI compliance: You never store raw card numbers, reducing PCI scope

• Reusability: Store token once, use for recurring billing or one-click checkout

  
  

The Tokenization Problem Without Orchestration

If you integrate 5 PSPs:

• You have 5 different tokenization systems

• A token from Stripe can't be used with Checkout.com

• If you switch PSPs, you lose all stored payment methods → customers must re-enter cards

  
  

This is PSP lock-in.

Unified Tokenization (Orchestration Solution)

With orchestration:

• You tokenize once at the orchestration layer

• The platform stores the card and maps it to tokens at each PSP

• You can route a tokenized payment to any PSP without customer re-entering card details

• If you switch PSPs, no customer impact

  
  

Network Tokens: The Next Evolution

Network tokens are tokens issued by card networks (Visa, Mastercard) instead of PSPs. Benefits:

• Higher approval rates: 2–5% lift because issuers trust network tokens more

• Lower fraud: Network tokens are cryptographically linked to the device/merchant

• Automatic updates: If customer's card expires, network token auto-updates (no failed subscription payments)

  
  

Why Network Tokens Matter in MENA

• Subscription businesses: Reduces involuntary churn from expired cards

• Tokenized BNPL: Tabby, Tamara can use network tokens for installment payments

• Cross-border commerce: Network tokens reduce false declines on international cards used in MENA

  
  

How to Implement Network Tokens

Approach	Pros	Cons
Direct integration with Visa/Mastercard	Full control	Requires 6–12 months dev work, complex certification
PSP-provided network tokens	Faster, PSP handles complexity	Locked to that PSP's network token implementation
Orchestration-layer network tokens	PSP-agnostic, unified token across all providers	Requires orchestration platform with network token support

💡 Key Takeaway: Unified tokenization and network tokens give you the freedom to switch PSPs, optimize routing, and improve approval rates without losing customer payment methods.

8: BIN & Cost-Based Routing

What is BIN-Based Routing?

Every payment card has a Bank Identification Number (BIN) — the first 6–8 digits that identify the issuing bank and card type. BIN-based routing sends transactions to different PSPs based on card BIN.

Why BIN Routing Matters

BIN Attribute	Routing Decision
Card type	Mada cards → Tap Payments (best Mada support), Visa/Mastercard → Checkout.com
Issuing bank	Al Rajhi Bank cards → PSP with best Al Rajhi approval rates
Card level	Platinum/Signature cards → PSP with best high-value approval rates
Domestic vs. international	Saudi-issued cards → local acquirer (lower MDR), international → global PSP

Cost-Based Routing (Interchange Optimization)

Different PSPs charge different Merchant Discount Rates (MDRs) depending on:

• Card type (debit vs. credit)

• Issuing bank

• Domestic vs. cross-border

• Transaction value

  
  

Example: Saudi merchant selling to Saudi customer

• Domestic debit card (Mada): 1.2% MDR via local acquirer

• Domestic credit card (Visa/Mastercard): 1.8% MDR via local acquirer

• International card: 2.8% MDR via international PSP

  
  

With BIN-based cost routing:

• Mada cards → local acquirer (1.2%)

• Saudi Visa/Mastercard → local acquirer (1.8%)

• International cards → Checkout.com (2.8%)

Savings Impact

If you process $1M/month in KSA:

• Without BIN routing: All cards via Checkout.com at average 2.5% MDR = $25,000/month

• With BIN routing: 60% Mada (1.2%), 30% local cards (1.8%), 10% international (2.8%) = average 1.62% MDR = $16,200/month

• Savings: $8,800/month = $105,600/year

  
  

How Orchestration Enables BIN Routing

Without orchestration:

• You need to build BIN lookup logic in your code

• Maintain BIN database (BINs change frequently as banks issue new cards)

• Route to different PSPs based on BIN match

• Update routing rules every time PSP pricing changes

  
  

With orchestration:

• BIN lookup handled automatically

• Configure routing rules via dashboard: "If BIN = Mada → Tap, if BIN = international → Checkout.com"

• Update rules in seconds, no code deployment

  
  

💡 Key Takeaway: BIN and cost-based routing can cut payment processing costs by 20–40% in MENA. Orchestration gives you the freedom to optimize costs without building complex routing logic.

→ Learn more about BIN Routing in the MENA region

9: How to Choose a Payment Orchestration Platform

Key Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	What to look for	Why It Matters
MENA PSP coverage	Pre-built connectors for global and local payments, such as, Tap, APS, Telr, Checkout.com, Tabby, Areeba, Stripe.	Faster go-live, no custom dev work
No-code routing	Visual rule builder, instant deployment	Non-technical teams can optimize without dev tickets
Unified tokenization	PSP-agnostic tokens, network token support	Avoid PSP lock-in, improve approval rates
3DS optimization	Smart 3DS routing, exemption handling	Critical for MENA approval rates
Fraud orchestration	Multi-tool support (SEON, GPayments), custom rules	Reduce false positives, adapt by market
Failover & redundancy	Automatic retry logic, backup PSP routing	Eliminate single point of failure
Analytics & reporting	Real-time dashboards, approval rate by PSP/BIN/market	Data-driven optimization
Developer experience	Clean API, sandbox environment, Postman collections	Faster integration, easier testing
Compliance & security	PCI DSS Compliant, data residency options for MENA	Meet regulatory requirements
Support & SLAs	24/7 support, dedicated account manager, uptime SLA	Critical for production reliability

Orchestration vs. Building In-House

Factor	Build In-House	Use Orchestration Platform
Time to first PSP	8-12 weeks	1-2 weeks
Time to add 2nd PSP	8-12 weeks	1-3 days
Routing changes	Code deployment, testing, rollback risk	Instant via dashboard
Maintenance	Ongoing dev work for PSP API changes	Platform handles updates
Total cost (Year 1)	$150K-$300K (eng time)	$10K-$50K (platform fees)
Flexibility	Total control, high friction	Fast iteration, basic constraints

When to build in-house: You have 10+ engineers dedicated to payments, highly custom routing needs, processing $100M+/month.

When to use orchestration: You want speed, flexibility, and to focus engineering on core product instead of payment plumbing.

💡 Key Takeaway: The right orchestration platform gives you freedom from PSP lock-in, freedom to optimize without dev dependency, and freedom to expand into MENA markets without rebuilding payment infrastructure.

10: FAQs

What is payment orchestration?

Payment orchestration is a unified layer that connects your business to multiple PSPs, fraud tools, and payment methods through a single API, letting you route transactions intelligently and manage all payment infrastructure from one place.

Why do MENA merchants need payment orchestration?

MENA markets require multiple local PSPs (Tap, APS, Telr) alongside global providers (Stripe, Checkout.com), plus region-specific challenges like 3DS complexity, BIN-based routing, and fraud patterns. Orchestration eliminates the need to integrate each PSP separately and gives you control over routing, cost optimization, and market expansion without engineering bottlenecks.

How much does payment orchestration cost?

Pricing varies by platform. Typical models (not specific to our product):

• Setup fee: $0–$5,000

• Monthly platform fee: $500–$5,000 (based on transaction volume)

  
  

How long does it take to integrate?

• First PSP integration: 1–4 weeks (API integration + testing)

• Adding additional PSPs: 1–3 days (just configure connector)

• Routing rule setup: Hours to days (no code required)

  
  

Can I keep my existing PSP integrations?

Yes. Most orchestration platforms support gradual migration:

1. Integrate orchestration layer

2. Route some traffic through orchestration, rest through direct PSP integration

3. Gradually shift more volume to orchestration

4. Eventually retire direct integrations (optional)

   
   

What happens if the orchestration platform goes down?

Tier-1 orchestration platforms have 99.9%+ uptime SLAs and multi-region redundancy. If the platform does go down, you can usually:

• Failover to direct PSP integration (requires advance setup)

• Use backup routing (platform retries with different PSP)

  
  

How does orchestration improve approval rates?

• Smart routing: Send transactions to PSP with best approval rate for that card type/market

• 3DS optimization: Route around issuer weaknesses, use 3DS2 frictionless where possible

• Network tokens: 2–5% approval rate lift

• Retry logic: Automatically retry soft declines with alternative PSP or auth method

Typical impact: 5–12% approval rate improvement.

How does orchestration reduce payment costs?

• BIN-based routing: Route to lowest-cost PSP for each card type (can save 20–40%)

• PSP competition: Negotiate better rates when you're not locked to one provider

• Reduced dev costs: No engineering time needed for new PSP integrations or routing changes

  
  

Do I need developers to manage orchestration?

Initial integration requires dev work (API integration, testing). After go-live:

• No-code platforms: Routing rules, fraud rules, PSP config via dashboard

• Code-required platforms: Every change requires dev ticket

Choose a no-code platform if you want business/ops teams to manage payments without engineering.

What's the difference between payment orchestration and a payment gateway?

• Payment gateway: One PSP, one integration, fixed routing

• Payment orchestration: Multi-PSP, intelligent routing, unified tokenization, no PSP lock-in

Think of orchestration as the layer above payment gateways.

Can orchestration help with PCI compliance?

Yes. Orchestration platforms handle tokenization and card data storage, reducing your PCI scope. You never touch raw card numbers, which simplifies compliance.

How do I get started?

1. Audit current payment stack: Which PSPs, fraud tools, payment methods are you using?

2. Define goals: Reduce costs? Improve approval rates? Expand to new markets?

3. Evaluate platforms: Compare MENA PSP coverage, no-code capabilities, pricing

4. Run pilot: Route 10–20% of traffic through orchestration, measure impact

5. Scale: Gradually shift more volume, add new PSPs, optimize routing

📅 Book a demo: See how Apaya simplifies MENA payments

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