# Lebanon — payment codes and schemes

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/LB
> extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

## Summary

- **E-wallets** legalized January 2020 (BDL Circular 539)
- **Areeba QR** at 14,000+ POS terminals (50%+ market)
- **OMT Pay** QR payments with loyalty points
- **$3,000 wallet limit** (Circular 667, April 2023)
- **Economic crisis** driving digital wallet adoption

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Banque du Liban (BDL)
- **Website:** https://www.bdl.gov.lb/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, e-wallet licensing

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | Bank Audi | Commercial | Audi Mobile |
| 2 | BLOM Bank | Commercial | BLOM App |
| 3 | Byblos Bank | Commercial | Byblos Mobile |
| 4 | Fransabank | Commercial | Fransa App |
| 5 | Bank of Beirut | Commercial | BOB Mobile |

### Market Structure
- **Areeba:** 14,000+ POS terminals (50%+ market)
- **OMT:** Licensed e-wallet operator
- **Economic crisis:** Bank trust issues
- **Remittances:** $6.5 billion (2023)

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| BDL-RTGS | BDL | Settlement | Active |
| Areeba QR | Areeba | Merchant QR | Active |
| OMT Pay | OMT | E-wallet QR | Active |
| Suyool | Suyool | E-wallet | Active |

### E-wallet Landscape
- **5+ major e-wallets**
- OMT licensed by BDL
- Interpay licensed
- Zaky, WeePay, Whish wallets

### Areeba POS Network
- **14,000+ terminals**
- **50%+ market share**
- QR code infrastructure
- Multi-wallet acceptance

---

## QR code standards

### Areeba QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Operator** | Areeba |
| **Terminals** | 14,000+ |
| **Market Share** | 50%+ |
| **Wallets** | Zaky, WeePay, Whish |

### Areeba QR Features
- Printed on POS receipts
- No separate device needed
- No merchant sign-up fee
- Any business size adoption

### Supported E-wallets
- Zaky
- WeePay
- Whish
- More via areeba infrastructure

### OMT Pay QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Operator** | OMT |
| **Type** | E-wallet QR |
| **Features** | Loyalty points |
| **License** | BDL regulated |

### OMT Pay Features
- Scan QR code at stores
- No additional fees
- Earn loyalty points
- Points redeemable for cash

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| OMT Pay | OMT | Yes | Payments, loyalty |
| Suyool | Suyool | Yes | Transfers, cards |
| Zaky | Zaky | Yes | Wallet |
| WeePay | WeePay | Yes | Wallet |
| Whish | Whish | Yes | Wallet |

### OMT Pay
- Store QR payments
- Money transfers
- Bill payments
- Loyalty rewards

### Suyool (November 2024)
- TerraPay partnership
- Local QR merchant payments
- International remittances
- Platinum Debit Card

### E-wallet Services
- P2P transfers
- Airtime top-ups
- QR merchant payments
- Bill payments (utilities)

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Areeba QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/LB/areeba-qr) | Merchant QR | POS | 14K+ POS | [`areeba-qr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/areeba-qr) |
| [OMT Pay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/LB/omt-pay) | E-wallet | Proprietary | Active | [`omt-pay`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/omt-pay) |
| [BDL Circular](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/LB/bdl-circular) | Regulation | Legal | Licensed | — |

## Sources

- [LinkedIn - Digital Wallets Lebanon](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/digital-wallets-lebanon-aj-hanna)
- [BDL - National Payment System](https://www.bdl.gov.lb/lebanonnationalpaymentsystem.php)
- [OMT - OMT Pay](https://www.omt.com.lb/en/omt-pay)
- [OMT - QR Payment News](https://www.omt.com.lb/en/news/pay-with-qr-on-omt-pay-app-and-turn-your-points-into-cash)
- [IBS Intelligence - Areeba QR](https://ibsintelligence.com/ibsi-news/areeba-introduces-qr-code-payments-in-lebanon/)
- [PRNewswire - TerraPay Suyool](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/terrapay-and-suyool-join-forces-to-enable-instant-and-secure-money-transfers-to-anyone-in-lebanon-302296381.html)
- [Google Play - OMT Pay](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tedmob.omt&hl=en)
- [BDL - Payment System Overview](https://www.bdl.gov.lb/paymentsystemoverview.php)
- [Areeba - QR Rollout](https://www.areeba.com/english/news/areeba-rolls-out-qr-code-payments-in-lebanon)
- [L'Orient Today - Digital Wallets](https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1339336/digital-wallets-a-new-way-to-bypass-banks-in-lebanon.html)

## Full country report

[LB-lebanon.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/LB)