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UAE: Jaywan expands reach with new co-badge cards after Mastercard, UnionPay deals
Earlier this week, Al Etihad Payments signed a deal with Visa player to introduce a co-badged card enabling UAE residents to make payments in 200 foreign countries
- PUBLISHED: Wed 12 Mar 2025, 6:39 PM
Residents in the UAE will have more co-badged Jaywan cards for making payments within the country and outside as Al Etihad Payments (AEP) signs deals with Mastercard and UnionPay.
A subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), AEP operates the UAE’s national card switch (UAESWITCH) and also manages Jaywan, the domestic card scheme.
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On Wednesday, AEP and Mastercard have signed a deal to launch “Jaywan - Mastercard” co-badged debit and prepaid cards in the UAE for making payments, including e-commerce.
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“We aim to offer our citizens and residents more convenience, security, and access to a global network of financial services. This collaboration not only enhances the payment experience but also supports the UAE's broader economic growth and digital transformation goals,” said Saif Humaid Aldhaheri, assistant governor for banking operations and support services of Central Bank and chairman of Al Etihad Payments.
JK Khalil, division president of East Arabia, Mastercard, said the aim is to provide digital solutions that help customers make seamless and secure transactions in the UAE and beyond.
Al Etihad Payments also signed an agreement with UnionPay International (UPI) to launch co-badge “UnionPay – Jaywan” cards in the UAE.
Under this agreement, the co-badge cards will operate on Jaywan’s domestic payment network within the UAE, ensuring seamless local transactions. Internationally, the cardholders will benefit from the extensive UnionPay network, enabling effortless transactions across more than 180 countries and regions.
“By integrating the Jaywan and UnionPay networks, we are offering a premium card solution that enables consumers to make seamless payment transactions within and beyond the UAE,” said Saif Aldhaheri.
“This co-badge agreement will enhance the convenience and security of payments for UAE residents, ensuring a seamless domestic and international payment experience,” said Larry Wang, CEO of UnionPay International.
The first batch of the co-badge cards will be issued in the near future with widespread availability across the UAE’s financial institutions, it said.
As reported by Khaleej Times earlier, 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 while a co-badge card in partnership with international payment schemes such as Discover, Mastercard, Visa and UnionPay for payments in foreign countries.
Al Etihad Payments signed a deal with Visa player this week to introduce a co-badged card, allowing UAE customers to pay in the UAE and at more than 150 million merchant partners across 200 countries and territories when travelling abroad or shopping online.
