PayLater, Qatar’s first Shari’a-compliant BNPL provider, partners with LuLu AI in a strategic investment to boost ethical fintech innovation. The collaboration supports PayLater’s rapid growth, user base expansion, and commitment to flexible, inclusive financial solutions, reinforcing Qatar’s role as a regional fintech hub.
In a bold move signaling the rapid evolution of Qatar’s fintech sector, PayLater, the nation’s first licensed Shari’a-compliant Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) provider, has announced a strategic investment partnership with LuLu Alternative Investments (LuLu AI) — the fintech investment arm of LuLu Financial Holdings.
This partnership is a major milestone not only for PayLater but also for Qatar’s growing ambitions to become a regional fintech powerhouse. The collaboration will empower PayLater to continue building its ethical, user-focused, and innovation-led platform, which has already shown remarkable traction in a short span of time.
Launched less than a year ago, PayLater has achieved the following:
- Over 100,000 registered users
- Partnerships with more than 150 merchants across 200 locations
- Seamless integration across POS and e-commerce systems
- Full connectivity with Qatar’s Credit Bureau
Its value proposition lies in interest-free installment payments while remaining fully Shari’a-compliant — a rare combination that has helped the startup rapidly gain popularity among both consumers and merchants.
According to Mohammed Al-Delaimi, Co-Founder and CEO of PayLater, the partnership with LuLu AI is more than just an investment:
It’s a shared belief in the future of responsible, flexible finance in Qatar. LuLu brings regional scale and experience, and together we’re committed to building solutions that empower both consumers and merchants while reinforcing Qatar’s position as a fintech hub in the region.”
For LuLu Financial Holdings, this marks their first direct fintech investment in Qatar. Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director of LuLu Financial Holdings, added:
Through LuLu AI, we are building more than a portfolio — we are shaping a future where financial services are intelligent, inclusive, and deeply human-centric.”
Key Goals of the Partnership:
- Expand PayLater’s core features and merchant tools
- Enhance personalization and real-time financial insights
- Drive wider adoption of ethical, digital-first financial products
- Strengthen PayLater’s Shari’a-compliant BNPL infrastructure
This investment signals a strong vote of confidence in Qatar’s digital economy and highlights how homegrown startups like PayLater are positioning themselves at the forefront of fintech innovation in the GCC.
As regional demand for ethical, tech-enabled finance grows, the PayLater–LuLu AI partnership could serve as a blueprint for how visionary startups and institutional investors can shape the next generation of financial services.
