UAE Set to Launch 2 New Digital Payment Solutions

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have recently made announcements concerning new payment solutions. 

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the FinTech Magnati and PayRow Net, a PCFC company, announced that they would collaborate on a new digital payment platform in a joint press release on Friday (Dec. 23). 

The new platform is being designed to “transform the existing payment gateway, leading to an advanced customer payment journey and improved user experience,” the release stated.

Through the platform, users will be able to make payments for government services by using a variety of digital methods, including point-of-sale (POS) transactions, card payments, and digital wallets.

“This collaboration combines FAB’s technological expertise and Magnati’s payment know-how to transform Dubai Ports’ payment platform and in turn support Dubai’s transition to a cashless economy,” said Magnati CEO Ramana Kumar.

He added that “the new payment platform is a continuation of the efforts in Dubai to advance the payments landscape across areas which cover civic and government domains such as utilities, transport, logistics, social services, healthcare, and public convenience.”

From commercial to consumer payments, the UAE has recently been ramping up efforts to modernize its payment infrastructure.

In the second recent development affecting the UAE’s payment platforms, earlier this month, PYMNTS reported that the UAE’s new Instant Payment Platform (IPP) will launch in the first quarter of 2023.

Similar to other schemes elsewhere, the IPP will allow instant transfers between Dirham-denominated bank accounts.

Having initially been slated for an October launch, the latest announcement was made in a statement from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE). The statement said that the IPP would be rolled out in phases, with the initial launch involving a pilot group of licensed financial institutions.

In that initiative, ACI Worldwide has been helping the CBUAE build the platform and connect the country’s banks to the new real-time rails.

 For all PYMNTS EMEA coverage, subscribe to the daily EMEA Newsletter.