The Future of Payments Is Invisible: Checkout.com on AI, Trust, and KSA’s Digital Revolution at Money20/20

As Saudi Arabia accelerates its digital transformation, the way consumers shop and pay is undergoing a fundamental shift. From seamless digital transactions to AI-powered shopping experiences, the Kingdom is emerging as a key market for the next generation of financial technology.

At Money20/20 Middle East, Entrepreneur Middle East spoke with Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager, MENA at Checkout.com, about the evolution of Saudi Arabia’s digital payments landscape, the growing importance of trust in digital commerce, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping the relationship between businesses and consumers.

For Abbondandolo, the future of payments is increasingly invisible. As consumers become accustomed to faster and more intuitive digital experiences, the payment process itself is expected to become a seamless part of the shopping journey rather than a separate step.

However, convenience alone is not enough. As digital commerce expands, businesses must balance frictionless transactions with security and consumer trust. Delivering a smooth checkout experience while protecting sensitive financial information remains an essential part of building confidence in the digital economy.

Localisation is another important factor shaping the Kingdom’s payments ecosystem. Abbondandolo highlighted the role of local payment methods such as Mada, which enable businesses to cater to the preferences of Saudi consumers while improving the accessibility and efficiency of digital transactions.

Artificial intelligence is also becoming an increasingly important tool for merchants seeking to optimise payment performance. Through solutions such as Checkout.com’s Intelligent Acceptance, businesses can use AI-powered technology to improve transaction processing, recover payments that might otherwise fail, and reduce unnecessary friction during checkout.

Beyond improving existing payment systems, AI is opening the door to an entirely new shopping experience.

According to Checkout.com’s research, 57% of Saudi consumers are already interacting with agentic commerce when shopping online, highlighting growing consumer exposure to AI-powered shopping technologies.

Agentic commerce introduces the possibility of AI-powered assistants taking a more active role in the purchasing journey, from discovering products and comparing options to facilitating transactions on behalf of consumers.

However, bringing these experiences fully into the mainstream will require more than technological innovation. Businesses must establish reliable systems that give consumers confidence in how AI makes decisions, handles personal information, and manages financial transactions.

As Saudi Arabia continues to develop its digital economy, the next phase of payments innovation will be defined not only by speed and convenience, but also by the ability to combine intelligent technology with security, localisation, and consumer trust.

For Checkout.com, the opportunity lies in making payments increasingly effortless while ensuring that the technology behind every transaction remains reliable, secure, and responsive to the evolving expectations of consumers.