PayLater and LuLu Partner to Redefine Fintech in Qatar

Doha, Qatar - LuLu Alternative Investments (LuLu AI), the fintech investment arm of LuLu Financial Holdings, announced a strategic minority investment in PayLater Qatar, one of the nation’s first licensed providers of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and embedded finance solutions.

About PayLater Qatar

PayLater Qatar became the first company in the country to receive a BNPL licence from the Qatar Central Bank on March 30, 2025, positioning it as the sole authorised provider of interest-free instalment services in Qatar . The Shariah-compliant platform integrates with both point-of-sale and e-commerce systems and is fully connected to Qatar’s Credit Bureau. Since its launch, it has registered more than 100,000 users and signed up over 150 merchants across 200 branches nationwide .

LuLu AI’s Vision and Background

Founded under the umbrella of LuLu Financial Holdings, LuLu AI targets early- and growth-stage ventures that address challenges in financial access, liquidity, compliance, and customer experience. With a focus on AI, blockchain, real-time payments, embedded finance, and open banking, LuLu AI aims to build a global network of synergistic financial service providers that emphasise inclusion, sustainability, and innovation.

Strategic Significance for Qatar’s Fintech Sector

This marks LuLu AI’s first direct investment in Qatar’s financial ecosystem and reflects its broader strategy to develop a connected network of next-generation financial service providers across emerging markets. The capital infusion is expected to accelerate PayLater’s roadmap—expanding merchant tools, enhancing personalisation, and delivering real-time insights—while maintaining its ethical, Shariah-compliant foundation .

Regulatory and Market Context

In October 2023, the Qatar Central Bank issued comprehensive licensing and regulatory requirements for BNPL providers, which took effect on August 6, 2023 . By late March 2025, QCB had approved 13 companies under its fintech licensing framework, with PayLater standing out as the first BNPL licensee .

Future Outlook

Backed by LuLu AI’s regional expertise and capital, PayLater plans to deepen its domestic market penetration and explore expansion into neighbouring GCC markets. The partnership underscores Qatar’s ambition to solidify its status as a regional fintech hub by delivering responsible, accessible, and technology-driven financial solutions.