Why the UAE is G+D’s Fastest-Growing Hub for Mobile Security and Payments

In this interview, Gabriel von Mitschke-Collande, the Group Chief Digital Officer (CDO), at Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) speaks about what’s driving the Gulf’s digital-first future

How has G+D’s UAE office evolved over the past 25 years, and what advantages does the Dubai Silicon Oasis location provide?
Over the past 25 years, G+D’s presence in Dubai has grown from a regional outpost into a fully integrated hub supporting strategic initiatives across the Middle East and Africa. Particularly, in the UAE, a region with strong economic growth, young and tech-oriented population, and increasing demand for secure, efficient infrastructure have driven momentum across all G+D business units.

In Mobile Security, G+D works with leading UAE telecom operators to expand digital SIM, SIM OTA, and full-stack IoT solutions. Veridos contributes to the UAE’s leadership in secure border-control technologies. G+D has also entered the local card market, supported by strong digital capabilities and rising demand for innovative payment solutions. Located in Dubai Silicon Oasis, the office benefits from a technology-focused ecosystem, strong connectivity, and access to diverse talent. Together, these factors position the UAE as a highly strategic base for G+D’s long-term growth in the region.

Which of your four business sectors is growing fastest in the UAE/GCC right now, and what are the key drivers?
Mobile Security is currently G+D’s fastest-growing business sector in the UAE and the wider GCC. Since 2018, G+D has supported du and Virgin Mobile UAE with eSIM technology, enabling secure digital onboarding and connectivity for hundreds of thousands of users each year. du’s introduction of the free tourist SIM at Dubai International Airport further accelerated adoption by providing instant mobile access to visitors. G+D continues to work with major regional operators to expand SIM, eSIM, and SIM-management services as the Gulf drives forward its digital-first agenda.

Financial Platforms is also experiencing strong growth, supported by Dubai’s position as a regional PayTech hub. G+D’s eCommerce security solutions are certified for the UAE and used by leading payment providers, while G+D is also supplying millions of payment cards to the region – having a real impact on the payment landscape of the country. Together, these trends highlight the region’s rapid shift toward secure, seamless digital connectivity and payments.

How difficult was it to win the 2024 multi-year EMV card contract with a leading UAE bank, and what does this deal mean for your payment ambitions here?
The UAE card market is mature, fast-growing, and shaped by both strong local players and leading international providers. Being part of this payment landscape with a significant footprint is a major achievement for G+D, demonstrating our ability to meet the market’s stringent requirements for localization, quality, and innovation. This underscores our commitment to long-term growth in the region. At the same time, local collaborations provide a solid foundation for expanding our broader digital payment and security solutions across the Gulf.

How is G+D aligning its eSIM, CBDC-ready, and e-commerce security solutions with the UAE’s digital-transformation and cashless-society goals?
The key to our success in transforming G+D into a global security-tech player has been finding the right digital answer for our traditional analogue business models – a journey we call our “digital twin” success story. Today, we are proud to offer both analogue and digital solutions to our clients, meeting diverse needs that vary by context and use case. We embrace this flexibility, recognizing the value of providing options.

The UAE in detail is clearly a country with advanced digital ambitions – therefore, G+D’s aim is to directly support its push toward a future-oriented digital economy. Our eSIM and SIM-management platforms enable instant, secure digital onboarding for telecom users, while in e-commerce, our certified security solutions protect online payments and authentication, aligning with the UAE’s digital government and FinTech strategies.

In the wider MEA region, our CBDC systems help central banks worldwide issue and manage digital currencies securely. By combining global technology leadership with a local innovation hub in Dubai, we provide scalable, fully localized solutions that accelerate the country’s digital transformation and support its long-term sustainability and cashless-society objectives.

What near- or medium-term opportunities do you see for Veridos in UAE border-control and digital-identity projects?
Veridos sees several near- and medium-term opportunities in the UAE’s border-control and digital-identity sector. We are exploring potential partnerships and initiatives that could support the development of next-generation identity document solutions. These efforts align with the UAE’s broader focus on innovation, security, and digital transformation, both domestically and in collaboration with regional partners.

How is G+D embedding sustainability (eco-friendly cards, digital processes, energy-efficient cash centers) into its UAE offerings to support Net Zero 2050?
G+D drives sustainability and digital transformation as twin engines for the future—a mindset that aligns perfectly with Dubai and the wider region. As a company, we have pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 and are steadily increasing our reliance on renewable energy. Concrete measures include making all payment cards free of virgin plastic by 2030 and offering eco-friendly SIM and eSIM solutions made from recycled materials to reduce plastic use and transport emissions.

Therefore, in the UAE, we embed sustainability across both physical and digital solutions: from eco-friendly card materials to digital payment and verification processes. By reducing paper use, cutting energy consumption, and promoting digital workflows across banking, telecom, and government operations, we help organizations operate more sustainably. These initiatives directly support the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 targets and broader Green Economy vision, demonstrating how environmental responsibility and innovation can go hand in hand.