Mastercard and Jordan's Tamatem sign MENA gaming partnership
Mastercard and Jordan-founded games company Tamatem have partnered to expand payment options for players and game publishers across the Middle East and Africa.
Under the agreement, Mastercard Gateway will become the payment gateway behind Tamatem Plus, the company’s digital commerce and payments platform, across more than 13 markets.
The rollout will begin in Saudi Arabia and the UAE before expanding across the wider region.
Tamatem Plus provides gaming and digital content companies with localised storefronts and payment infrastructure designed for MENA markets. The platform currently powers more than 30 localised storefronts and provides access to over 50 local payment methods through a single integration.
Through the Mastercard partnership, players will be able to make purchases through localised web stores and in-game checkout experiences using cards, alternative local payment methods and telecom wallet balances.
The integration will also include authentication and fraud protection, while Tamatem Plus will gain access to Mastercard’s local and international acquiring connections, technical support and training.
For game publishers, the companies say the partnership is intended to simplify a payments landscape that can vary significantly between individual markets while providing a direct-to-consumer route to players.
Faisal Al Bitar, Managing Director of Tamatem Plus, said differing payment preferences and infrastructure requirements remain a challenge for gaming companies looking to expand across MENA.
“Gaming companies entering MENA face a highly fragmented payments landscape, with different consumer preferences, payment methods and infrastructure requirements across every market,” Al Bitar said.
He added that combining Tamatem’s regional infrastructure with Mastercard’s payment capabilities would provide gaming companies with a simpler way to expand across the region.
Tamatem founder and CEO Hussam Hammo said improving payments was a natural extension of the company’s focus on serving players across MENA.
“When we started Tamatem in 2013, our belief was simple: MENA deserves world-class gaming built for our language and our culture,” Hammo said.
Mastercard Executive Vice President for Market Development in EEMEA Mete Güney said the partnership would combine the payments company’s technology and network with Tamatem’s regional gaming business.
The partnership comes as Tamatem expands beyond its traditional role as a mobile games publisher into gaming commerce and payments infrastructure.
Tamatem Plus is designed to help international and regional gaming companies monetise directly across MENA while accommodating the payment methods and purchasing preferences of individual markets.
The company is backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and supported by Abu Dhabi Gaming.
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