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UAE Central Bank says infrastructure ready to launch Jaywan card locally, globally
Many variants of Jaywan card will be available including debit, pre-paid and credit cards, which be used for online transactions, ATM withdrawals, and at PoS terminals
- PUBLISHED: Thu 27 Feb 2025, 6:27 PM
The Central Bank of UAE (CBUAE) on Thursday said that financial infrastructure is ready to launch the country’s first domestic card — Jaywan — locally and globally.
Launched by the Central Bank’s subsidiary Al Etihad Payments, the card will help individual customers and companies in reducing payment costs.
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“The UAE's domestic card scheme to be activated locally and globally. Jaywan is the first domestic card scheme to be launched in line with the UAE’s digital transformation strategy, to strengthen the country’s position as a leading global hub for digital payments,” the regulator said on Thursday.
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Khaleej Times was the first to report about the plan to roll out Jaywan card in the UAE in February last year.
Banks across the UAE banks began rolling out infrastructure for Jaywan card cash withdrawals in the middle of last year. Ajman Bank was the first to announce integrating Jaywan card across its ATM network.
Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, assistant governor for banking operations and support services, and chairman of Al Etihad Payments, said Jaywan card is part of UAE’s plan to localise card payment operations.
“Through this scheme, we aim to reduce payment costs, accelerate the implementation of our digital transformation strategy, and strengthen our commitment to developing more future-ready financial services,” he said.
“Our plans for the next phase include offering Jaywan cards to all customers in the UAE, having considered their needs and expectations, further empowering users with great control, convenience and benefits domestically,” said Jan Pilbauer, CEO of Al Etihad Payments.
Debit, credit cards
Al Etihad Payments said that many variants of Jaywan card will be available including debit, pre-paid and credit cards, and can be used in all payment channels like online transactions, ATM withdrawals, and point-of-sale (PoS) terminals.
Banks and other financial institutions will offer their customers a mono-badge card, i.e. Jaywan only, for local usage as well as in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and others, and a co-badge card in partnership with international payment schemes such as Discover, Mastercard, Visa and UnionPay.
Al Etihad also signed an agreement with Samsung Gulf Electronics to enable Jaywan cards into the Samsung Wallet, allowing users to make payments seamlessly via their smartphones. Google Pay and Apple Pay will be added in the next phase.
Under the agreements with India in mid-2025 and other countries, Jaywan card acceptance will be expanded further outside the UAE.
Cards can also be used for e-commerce payments.
