The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to accelerate its transformation toward a cashless and digitally authenticated economy. In this landscape, biometric technology is no longer experimental. It has become foundational infrastructure. A major step forward in this journey has now been achieved through a successful partnership between Gekonova, X-Telcom, and NovaPay, focused on the deployment of one million palm vein payment devices across Saudi Arabia.
This collaboration brings together three complementary strengths. Gekonova contributes system architecture, biometric integration, and large-scale deployment experience. X-Telcom provides certified biometric hardware manufacturing, industrial scalability, and device customization. NovaPay leads local fintech operations, regulatory alignment, and market execution within the Kingdom.
Designing Palm Vein Payment Hardware for National Scale
The partnership began with a clear technical and commercial requirement. NovaPay needed a palm vein payment solution capable of operating reliably across high-volume, real-world payment environments. This included merchant counters, kiosks, enterprise payment points, and future public-sector use cases.
In response, Gekonova and X-Telcom jointly designed and developed the AirOne palm vein payment device. The development process spanned several months and focused on performance consistency, biometric accuracy, system stability, and integration readiness. Particular attention was given to palm vein scanning technology, biometric encryption, device durability, and compatibility with modern fintech platforms.
After rigorous internal testing, the AirOne prototype units were delivered to NovaPay. These prototypes marked a significant milestone, allowing NovaPay to validate palm vein authentication speed, usability, and operational reliability in practical environments.
From Prototype Delivery to Strategic Alignment
Following the delivery of the AirOne prototypes, all three parties engaged in a series of structured meetings and positive technical and commercial discussions. These sessions covered deployment strategy, manufacturing capacity planning, localization, and long-term cooperation models.
Palm vein biometric technology proved to be a strong fit for Saudi Arabia’s digital payment objectives. As the Kingdom advances national digital identity frameworks and cashless payment adoption, palm vein authentication offers a compelling combination of security, hygiene, and user convenience. Unlike traditional authentication methods, palm vein recognition leverages subdermal biometric patterns that are extremely difficult to replicate or misuse.
The discussions reinforced a shared commitment to move beyond pilot programs and toward true national-scale deployment.
Partnership Agreement Signed at Made in Saudi, Riyadh
The collaboration was formally sealed at the Made in Saudi event in Riyadh. The signing ceremony symbolised more than a commercial agreement. It reflected Saudi Arabia’s broader ambition to localize advanced technology, build industrial capability, and lead regional fintech innovation.
For Gekonova and X-Telcom, signing the partnership agreement in Riyadh was a moment of pride and confidence. It confirmed NovaPay’s trust in the AirOne platform and in the combined ability of the teams to deliver one million palm vein payment devices at scale.
Enabling the Future of Biometric Payments in Saudi Arabia
With the partnership agreement in place, the focus now shifts to execution. This includes production ramp-up, deployment scheduling, system integration, and operational support. The roadmap is designed to support long-term growth, continuous optimization, and expansion into additional biometric-enabled services.
Palm vein payment devices are expected to play a key role in enhancing payment security, reducing fraud, and improving user experience across Saudi Arabia’s fintech ecosystem. The project also aligns closely with Vision 2030 goals, supporting innovation, digital infrastructure, and technology-driven economic diversification.
A Long-Term Partnership Built on Trust and Vision
The teams at Gekonova and X-Telcom are delighted to embark on this journey with NovaPay. The partnership is built on mutual trust, technical excellence, and a shared vision for the future of biometric payments. As deployment progresses, this collaboration is set to become a reference model for palm vein payment adoption in the Middle East and beyond.
Together, Gekonova, X-Telcom, and NovaPay are not only delivering devices. They are shaping the next generation of secure, contactless, and scalable digital payment infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
