How DP World and PayPal Modernise Global Trade Payments

DP World enters into an agreement with PayPal to establish a more efficient and transparent solution for cross-border payments, aiming to modernise how transactions are settled in global trade.

This collaboration intends to shorten the time it takes for merchants, exporters and importers to receive payments from several days to a matter of minutes.

The initiative is a component of DP World’s broader Digital Payments strategy, which supports international trade by providing faster and more economical methods for transferring money across borders.

In 2024, global cross-border spending was valued at US$194.6tn and is projected to increase to US$320tn by 2032.

Despite the adoption of real-time payment systems in over 70 countries, many trade corridors continue to experience high fees and prolonged settlement periods. This partnership between DP World and PayPal seeks to address these specific inefficiencies.

Streamlining cross-border payments

The current procedure for international payments can take up to a week to finalise, with costs and delays often attributed to legacy banking systems.

DP World and PayPal aim to replace this with a solution offering same-day settlement, reduced fees and clear visibility for all parties involved.

This directly impacts procurement and supply chain operations by improving liquidity and cost management.

DP World Group Chairman and Chief Executive, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, says the initiative is rooted in DP World’s ambition to make logistics smarter.

He explains: "In logistics, speed and transparency mean everything and payments linked to logistics are no different, which is why we have undertaken our Digital Payments initiative. Our collaboration with PayPal is part of this initiative, which aims to provide our customers with reliable options for cross-border payments that are faster and more transparent than traditional systems without compromising security."

Sultan Ahmed adds that by simplifying these transactions, the partnership enables businesses of all sizes to operate more efficiently: "This solution marks another important step in DP World’s journey to transform the supply chain and make trade flow more efficiently.

"These partnerships allow us to bring trusted digital-first solutions to global commerce, helping businesses and individuals trade more efficiently."

Enhancing supply chain efficiency

Payment delays can create major challenges, particularly for small to mid-sized businesses that depend on consistent and timely access to capital.

For procurement leaders, this translates to supplier instability and potential disruptions.

The new platform targets these issues by offering seamless settlement, which could lead to more predictable cash flow, lower operational costs and the ability for suppliers to scale across markets without being hindered by traditional banking delays.

This collaboration combines PayPal’s established role in global commerce with DP World’s expertise in logistics and supply chains.

Alex Chriss, President and Chief Executive of PayPal, highlights that global trade "works best when payments are fast transparent and secure".

He continues: "That is exactly what this partnership with DP World is delivering. For too long, global businesses have been underserved by traditional cross-border payment systems."

Alex suggests a new benchmark is being set through this collaboration.

"Today, we are setting a new standard. I am proud to mark this milestone in a region that is becoming a global hub for digital innovation as we continue building more connected and inclusive financial services for businesses worldwide,” he explains.

The future of trade finance technology

Together, DP World and PayPal plan to integrate their respective infrastructures.

This involves combining DP World’s trade logistics platforms with PayPal’s secure payment systems.

The integration may also incorporate future-facing technologies such as distributed ledgers and stablecoins, which are types of blockchain-based digital currencies tied to real-world assets to reduce price volatility.

The use of these technologies offers the potential to improve transaction speed and traceability, providing greater assurance for goods in transit.

The partnership also reflects wider fintech trends in 2025. As financial services increasingly adopt cloud-based and digital-first models, collaborations between logistics companies and fintech firms are becoming more common to remove bottlenecks from the trade process.

By focusing on reducing friction, cutting costs and improving transparency, DP World and PayPal are positioning their joint solution as a potential new model for global payments infrastructure within the supply chain.