Imagine relatives in the Middle East sending money directly to your WeChat Pay wallet with just a few taps on Botim. This scenario is no longer futuristic — it's the new reality created through a strategic partnership between Tencent and Botim, the Middle East's dominant messaging platform.
Strategic Alliance Builds Cross-Border Payment Bridge
Tencent Financial Technology has joined forces with UAE-based Botim to streamline remittances from the Middle East to China. Under this agreement, users can initiate transfers through Botim while recipients receive funds via WeChat's familiar interface, with real-time tracking capabilities. Recipients gain flexibility to store money in their WeChat wallet or link directly to bank cards for seamless spending.
The integration leverages Botim's messaging capabilities — users can instantly notify recipients about transfers, eliminating cumbersome communication steps and enabling real-time financial connections between families.
"By facilitating seamless financial interactions across continents, we're pioneering a new era of cross-platform transactions," said Abdallah Abu Sheikh, Co-founder of Astra Tech and CEO of Botim. "This collaboration further solidifies the UAE's position as a global technology and financial hub."
Botim: The Middle East's Super App
Often called the "WeChat of the Middle East," Botim dominates as the UAE's most popular messaging platform while aggressively expanding into financial services. In May 2020, the app launched mobile payment features through partnerships with PayBy, Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay International.
Astra Tech's January acquisition of Botim brought access to its massive user base — 90 million registered accounts and 25 million monthly active users — creating a strong foundation for financial service expansion. The August acquisition of PayBy, combined with central bank approval for comprehensive financial services, positions Botim to evolve into a true all-in-one lifestyle platform.
Tencent's Global Payment Network Expansion
"Partnering with Botim marks another significant milestone in our global remittance strategy," stated Chen Qiru, Vice President of Tencent Financial Technology, underscoring the company's international payment ambitions.
Tencent has been actively growing its cross-border payment capabilities. During November's Singapore FinTech Festival 2023, Tencent and Visa announced a collaboration enabling WeChat users to receive international remittances directly in their e-wallets. Given China's status as a top global remittance destination, this integration significantly expands Visa Direct's reach to over one billion WeChat users.
Enhancing Payment Ecosystems
Beyond remittances, Tencent continues improving payment experiences for international visitors in China through partnerships with Visa, Discover, JCB, and Mastercard. The company has progressively opened its merchant network across Chinese cities, supporting diverse payment methods in retail, dining, transportation, and hospitality sectors.
These initiatives demonstrate Tencent's commitment to building an open, collaborative payment ecosystem. Through global partnerships, the company aims to create more convenient, efficient, and secure digital payment networks that bridge financial systems worldwide.