Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: Saudi digital payments company barq made a strong showing at the second edition of Money20/20 Middle East, signing a series of agreements with local and global partners and raising a $329.5 million Series A funding round at a $1.85 billion valuation.
Barq signed a partnership agreement with geidea to drive the Saudi fintech sector. The partnership combines barq’s digital capabilities with geidea’s market reach to enhance merchant acceptance and transform daily payments across the Kingdom.
The fintech company also announced its collaboration with Masdr, the Riyadh-based structured digital services provider, to empower businesses through data and fintech. This collaboration paves the way for smarter operations and higher efficiency, combining barq’s payment services with Masdr’s data capabilities.
Additionally, barq signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Zid to fuel e-commerce growth with merchant-first financial tools. The MoU aims to simplify store management, payments, and shipping logistics by bringing barq’s corporate financial solutions into Zid’s e-commerce ecosystem.
In the dining and restaurants sector, barq partnered with The Chefz to bring its corporate solutions to fast-growing operations, making employee allowances, corporate dining, and event management totally seamless.
To expand its global footprint, the digital payment provider partnered with Optty, the world's first single true API to over 135 payment partners, to integrate its corporate financial services into Optty’s global infrastructure. This integration will offer businesses versatile checkout options and better operational efficiency.
Barq also forged a partnership with UnionPay International, a wholly owned subsidiary of China UnionPay, to enter into global payment infrastructure, bringing seamless card acceptance and cross-border solutions to merchants and users.
Money20/20 Middle East 2026 takes place in the Saudi capital from 14 to 16 September, connecting global financial leaders with the companies, institutions, and policymakers shaping the next phase of financial services in Saudi Arabia and across the region.
It brings together over 600 investors, more than 350 brands, over 350 speakers, and more than 150 startups, reinforcing Riyadh’s growing role as a meeting point for the global and regional financial ecosystem.