# Network International

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/network-international
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [Network International — official](https://www.network.ae/)

## Overview

**Network International** is **MENA + Africa's leading payment-processor + acquirer**, headquartered in Dubai <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [United Arab Emirates report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AE)</sup>. **Established 1994** as **Emirates Bank subsidiary**.

**2024-2025 corporate transformation**:
- **September 2024 — Brookfield Asset Management acquires Network International for £2.76 billion (~$3.5 billion)** — taken private after London Stock Exchange delisting <sup>[3][3]</sup>.
- **2025 — Network International + Magnati merger** <sup>[4][4]</sup>: Network International LLC formed, controlled by **Brookfield-led consortium with FAB**. Combined entity = **MENA + Africa's largest payment-processing fintech**.

**Post-merger combined-entity metrics** <sup>[4][4]</sup>:
- **Combined Total Payment Volume (TPV)**: **$400+ billion**
- **Financial institutions served**: 250+
- **Merchants**: 240,000+
- **Cardholders**: 20+ million
- **Markets**: 50+

## History

**1994 — Network International founded** as Emirates Bank subsidiary <sup>[1][1]</sup>.

**2010 — Abraaj Capital + General Atlantic acquired Network International** for $544M.

**April 2019 — LSE IPO at £2.2B valuation**.

**June 2023 — Brookfield Business Partners £2.2B offer for Network International** <sup>[5][5]</sup>.

**September 2024 — Brookfield Asset Management completes acquisition for £2.76B (~$3.5B)** <sup>[3][3]</sup>: Network International delisted from London Stock Exchange.

**2025 — Network International + Magnati merger** <sup>[4][4]</sup>: Network International LLC formed under Brookfield-led consortium with FAB; $400B+ combined TPV.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity (post-2025)**: **Network International LLC** — Brookfield-led consortium with **First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)** as significant minority partner.

**Major investor**: **Brookfield Asset Management** (lead Sep 2024 £2.76B acquisition).

**Strategic partner**: **First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)** (40% Magnati stake holder pre-merger; significant post-merger participant).

**Regulator**: **CBUAE (Central Bank of UAE)** + per-country across 50+ markets.

## Technical integration

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Channels** | API + merchant POS + online checkout |
| **Identifiers** | Card |
| **Customer type** | B2B (financial institutions + merchants) — NOT consumer wallet |
| **Coverage** | UAE + MENA + Africa (50+ markets) |
| **Combined entity scale** | 250+ FIs + 240K+ merchants + 20M+ cardholders + $400B+ combined TPV |
| **Heritage countries**: UAE + JO + EG + SA + BH + OM + QA + KE + NG + GH + TZ + ZA + many more |
| **License** | CBUAE + per-country acquirer + issuer + processor |

## Users & growth

**Post-2025 merger baseline** <sup>[4][4]</sup>:
- **Combined TPV**: $400+ billion
- **Financial institutions served**: 250+
- **Merchants**: 240,000+
- **Cardholders**: 20+ million
- **Markets**: 50+
- **2024 Brookfield acquisition**: £2.76B (~$3.5B)
- **September 2024 LSE delisting**

## Use cases

MENA + Africa enterprise payment-processing for 250+ FIs + 240K+ merchants + 20M+ cardholders; merchant acquiring (online + POS + e-commerce); card issuing processing; cross-border payments; B2B financial-institution rail services across 50+ markets.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: **Network International LLC** (Brookfield-led consortium post-2025; FAB significant minority).

**Major shareholder**: **Brookfield Asset Management** (lead Sep 2024 £2.76B acquisition).

**Strategic partner**: **First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)** (Magnati 40% holder pre-merger).

**Major MENA + Africa payment-processor competitors**:
- **[Geidea](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/geidea)** (SA #1 payment-acceptance; 75% SA market share)
- **[PayTabs](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/paytabs)** (SA payment-orchestration AI-powered platform)
- **[Interswitch (Verve)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/interswitch)** (Africa-anchored; 7-country Verve; 100M+ cards)
- **[Cellulant (Tingg)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/cellulant)** (35 African countries; Tingg platform)
- **[Flutterwave](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/flutterwave)** (34 African countries; Polygon stablecoin)
- **[Fawry](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/fawry)** (Egypt's #1 payment platform)

**Regulator**: **CBUAE + per-country (50+ markets)**.

## Fun facts

- **1994 founding as Emirates Bank subsidiary** — MENA's longest-vintage payment processor.
- **September 2024 Brookfield £2.76B (~$3.5B) acquisition** + LSE delisting (taken private).
- **2025 Network International + Magnati merger** = MENA + Africa's largest fintech ($400B+ combined TPV).
- **250+ FIs + 240K+ merchants + 20M+ cardholders + 50+ markets** (post-merger).
- **FAB significant minority partner** in combined entity.
- **30-year MENA + Africa payment-processing heritage**.

## Comparison

| Feature | Network International | [Magnati](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/magnati) (now merged entity sister) | [Interswitch (Verve)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/interswitch) (African 7-country Verve rival) | [Fawry](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/fawry) (Egypt's #1 analogous) | [Cellulant (Tingg)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/cellulant) (35-African Tingg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **Network International LLC (Brookfield-led consortium with FAB; post-2025 merger with Magnati)** | Magnati (FAB carve-out + Brookfield 60% Feb 2022; now merged with Network) | Interswitch Group (Mitchell Elegbe; Helios + Visa $200M) | Fawry | Cellulant Corporation |
| Type | **MENA + Africa enterprise payment-processor + acquirer + issuer** | UAE payment processor (now merged sister to Network) | African payment processor + Verve domestic card scheme | Egypt's #1 payment platform | Pan-African payment platform / Tingg super-app |
| Country | UAE HQ + MENA + 50+ markets | UAE | NG + 6 African (GH + KE + CI + UG + TZ + ZM) | Egypt | 35+ African countries |
| Scale | **$400B+ combined TPV + 250+ FIs + 240K+ merchants + 20M+ cardholders + 50+ markets (post-Magnati merger)** | Pre-merger $1.15B valuation Feb 2022 | Verve 100M+ cards (Dec 2025); 40M+ contactless | Egypt-anchored multi-million tx | 4.5M+ daily tx + 200+ payment methods |
| Distinctive | **MENA's longest-vintage processor (1994); Brookfield Sep 2024 £2.76B private; 2025 Magnati merger** | FAB-heritage; Brookfield 60% 2022; now merged into Network | Africa's 2nd fintech unicorn; pan-African card scheme | Egyptian super-app + e-commerce | Single API to 35-country African payments |

## Status

**Active, MENA + Africa's largest payment-processor (post-Sep 2024 Brookfield acquisition + 2025 Magnati merger)** <sup>[3][3], [4][4]</sup>:
- **Network International LLC** (Brookfield-led consortium with FAB) since 1994.
- **Sep 2024 Brookfield £2.76B (~$3.5B) acquisition + LSE delisting**.
- **2025 Network International + Magnati merger**: $400B+ combined TPV + 250+ FIs + 240K+ merchants + 20M+ cardholders + 50+ markets.
- **CBUAE + per-country (50+ markets) regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.network.ae/en "Network International — official"
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_International "Network International — Wikipedia"
[3]: https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2023/06/09/brookfield-business-partners-to-acquire-uaes-network-international-for-276bn/ "Brookfield acquires Network International £2.76B — The National"
[4]: https://gulfnews.com/technology/fin-tech/dubais-network-international-abu-dhabis-magnati-get-key-nod-to-merge-form-payment-processing-giant-1.500193829 "Network + Magnati merger 2025 — Gulf News"
[5]: https://www.agbi.com/articles/canadas-brookfield-2-76bn-uae-digital-payment-provider-network/ "Canada's Brookfield £2.76B offer — AGBI"
[ae-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AE

- [1] [Network International — official][1]
- [2] [Network International — Wikipedia][2]
- [3] [Brookfield acquires Network International — The National][3]
- [4] [Network + Magnati merger 2025 — Gulf News][4]
- [5] [Canada's Brookfield £2.76B offer — AGBI][5]
- <sup>[United Arab Emirates report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AE)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/AE-uae.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [network-international.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/network-international). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.