Global B2B payments platform Verto has officially launched operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a move that is expected to significantly ease cross-border trade for Kenyan and African businesses operating within the Gulf region.
The company, which processes over $25 billion annually for major clients including Unilever and Maersk, specializes in high-value, time-sensitive transactions across emerging markets. Its UAE expansion marks a major milestone in connecting Africa’s fast-growing trade ecosystems to one of the world’s most influential commercial hubs.
“The UAE is a pivotal hub for global commerce, and businesses here demand solutions as dynamic as their operations,” said Helen Ghebreluul, Verto’s UAE Country Manager. “Our platform is built to handle the complexity of cross-border payments in emerging markets like Africa. We’re not just a service provider — we’re a partner ensuring payments move as fast and reliably as business itself.”
Strengthening the Africa–Gulf Trade Corridor
Trade between Africa and the UAE has been on a steady rise, with Kenya among the key markets exporting tea, coffee, and flowers while importing fuel, machinery, and electronics. However, slow settlements, opaque fees, and currency volatility have long constrained this trade corridor.
Verto’s entry into Dubai directly targets these challenges, offering businesses a transparent, efficient, and cost-effective platform to move funds between the two regions.
For Kenyan importers, exporters, and multinationals, the platform’s combination of instant settlements, FX management tools, and real-time tracking promises to cut operational friction and improve liquidity.
“From Nairobi’s Industrial Area to Mombasa Port, Kenyan businesses trading with the Gulf need fast, predictable cash flow,” said Ola Oyetayo, CEO and Co-founder of Verto. “Our mission is to empower these businesses to control their payments with confidence, mitigating FX risks and ensuring supply chains remain uninterrupted.”
Key Features for Kenyan and African Businesses
Verto’s digital infrastructure is designed to simplify complex international transactions while providing financial control and visibility. Among its top features are:
- Fast Settlement: Enables instant or near-instant payments, reducing waiting times from days to hours.
- FX Risk Management: Offers competitive and transparent foreign exchange (FX) rates, allowing users to lock in favorable rates and automate conversions using its Auto Exchange feature.
- Multi-Currency Wallets: Businesses can hold funds in multiple currencies to better manage regional operations.
- Transparency and Traceability: Full end-to-end visibility for every transaction, eliminating hidden fees and reconciliation delays.
Oyetayo emphasized that Verto’s mission is to “combine global reach with local strength,” bridging the gap between Africa’s financial systems and the Gulf’s advanced financial networks.
Regulated and Positioned for Growth
Verto’s new office is located at the Emirates Financial Tower in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The company is licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to provide money services and financial advisory, ensuring compliance with one of the region’s most trusted regulatory regimes.
The UAE hub will serve as a strategic anchor for businesses engaging in intra-Gulf and Africa trade, with Verto’s team expected to grow rapidly as it expands its enterprise and SME client base.
Verto is a leading B2B payments company that enables businesses to move money seamlessly across borders — faster, smarter, and more affordably than traditional banks. The platform specializes in high-value trade transactions, offering tailored payment, FX, and treasury solutions for companies operating in Africa, the Middle East, and other emerging markets.
With a vision to power the next generation of global trade infrastructure, Verto continues to position itself as a trusted payments partner for businesses navigating cross-border commerce.
