Zwipe is a Fintech that has pioneered the development of biometric payment cards and delivered many successful pilots globally.

Gulf Printing Products Manufacturers’ Factory (GEPCOM), founded in 1989, was the first to bring plastic card manufacturing technology to the Arab world. This announcement demonstrates that they are continuing the path of innovation today. Leveraging their investment in the latest manufacturing equipment, and with full VISA and Mastercard certification, they are able to create a range of high-quality products to serve the financial services industry.

GEPCOM engaged with Zwipe earlier in 2021 and, after extensive evaluation of available alternatives, selected Zwipe Pay One as the preferred biometric card platform for its next generation payment cards. They were especially interested in Zwipe’s end to end products and services including Zwipe’s range of enrolment options providing GEPCOM with an opportunity to create even further value for their clients.

According to Abdullah Ahmed Abed, Deputy General Manager & Regional Director, GEPCOM, “GEPCOM has been manufacturing card products for all sectors in the Middle-East and is recognised in the market for its unmatched service, transparency and quality. With the impact of the pandemic still being felt across Saudi and the world, consumers’ focus on safety and hygiene has increased significantly.”

As part of this agreement, Zwipe will provide biometric technology and technical services to enable GEPCOM to manufacture Zwipe Pay One test cards from Q1 2022. The partners are already jointly engaging with issuers in Saudi with the aim of launching pilots from Q2 2022 to be followed by full commercial roll outs.

“In collaboration with Zwipe, we will deliver payment cards that will enable payments to be completely touch-less through a PIN-free checkout experience for consumers with much higher security. Our assessment shows that Zwipe Pay One represents the most advanced and high-performing solution and will be the first mass-market viable platform”, said Yousef Ahmed Abed, General Manager, GEPCOM.

Commenting on this partnership, Ramzi Saboury, General Manager MENA region at Zwipe, said: “We are very pleased to announce our partnership with GEPCOM in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one of the most important markets in the MENA region. We are seeing a strong appetite globally as well as in the Middle East for this new technology from issuers, processors and cardholders. I am confident that this partnership will accelerate deployment of biometric cards in Saudi. Zwipe will be supporting GEPCOM’s clients during their launch processes to ensure the best customer experience and successful commercialisation”.