The United Arab Emirates has officially launched the nationwide rollout of Jaywan, the country’s first domestic payment card network. Banks, licensed financial institutions, and exchange houses have begun issuing the new cards, marking an important step in strengthening the UAE’s financial infrastructure and reducing dependence on international payment systems. According to Gulfnews.com, the initiative represents the first phase of a nationwide payment scheme designed to support the country’s growing digital economy.
The official launch took place under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Central Bank of the UAE. Several leading financial institutions have already joined the project, including First Abu Dhabi Bank, which introduced a Jaywan debit card, Commercial Bank of Dubai with prepaid cards, and Network International, which has expanded online payment acceptance for the new system.
The introduction of Jaywan is expected to give residents a locally operated alternative for everyday payments while supporting secure transactions in stores, online platforms, ATMs, and compatible digital wallets. Officials believe the national payment network will enhance financial innovation, improve payment efficiency, and reinforce the UAE’s position as a global financial hub.
National Card Network Strengthens UAE Financial Independence
Jaywan is managed by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE. Unlike traditional card networks that rely on international payment infrastructure, Jaywan enables domestic transactions to be processed through a locally operated system.
The objective is to improve the country’s control over payment processing, enhance data security by keeping transaction information within the UAE, and build a more resilient national financial ecosystem.
According to Sheikh Mansour, launching the country’s own payment network represents an important step toward strengthening financial sovereignty while encouraging innovation and increasing competitiveness across the banking sector.
Officials believe the project will support financial inclusion, stimulate digital payment adoption, and reinforce the UAE’s reputation as one of the world’s leading financial centers.
Multiple Card Types Available for Customers
Jaywan has been designed to support several payment products, including debit, prepaid, and credit cards. The specific options available will vary depending on each issuing bank or licensed financial institution.
Cardholders can use Jaywan for purchases in retail stores, online shopping, ATM cash withdrawals, and transactions through compatible digital wallets. The cards also support contactless payments, EMV Chip & PIN security, and 3D Secure authentication for e-commerce purchases.
First Abu Dhabi Bank has already made its Jaywan debit card available to customers with eligible accounts. Existing clients can request the card through the bank’s mobile application or by visiting a branch, while new customers must first open a qualifying account.
As with any standard debit card, payments and cash withdrawals are deducted directly from the linked bank account.
Commercial Bank of Dubai, meanwhile, is focusing on prepaid cards. Users will need to load funds before making purchases, with spending limited to the available balance. These cards will also support ATM withdrawals, online payments, contactless transactions, and tokenization for secure use in mobile wallets.
Online Acceptance Continues to Expand
A key requirement for any payment card is broad merchant acceptance. To support this, Network International has integrated Jaywan into its e-commerce payment gateway, allowing cardholders to make purchases at thousands of online retailers throughout the UAE.
The company had previously enabled Jaywan for point-of-sale transactions in physical stores, and the latest integration extends the payment network to digital commerce.
Network International also confirmed that merchants using its payment gateway will not face additional processing fees specifically for Jaywan transactions, although banks may still apply their own customer charges depending on the card product.
Industry representatives note that each new issuer, acquiring bank, or payment provider joining the scheme increases the number of places where consumers can use Jaywan, whether in shops, online platforms, or digital wallets.
International Payments Will Depend on the Card Type
Although the Central Bank has stated that Jaywan supports both domestic and international transactions, overseas usage will depend on the specific version of the card issued.
Cards operating exclusively on the domestic Jaywan network will primarily function within the UAE. For international purchases and foreign ATM withdrawals, customers will require co-badged cards that combine Jaywan with global payment networks.
To facilitate worldwide acceptance, Al Etihad Payments has established partnerships with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and UnionPay.
Before traveling abroad, customers are advised to confirm with their banks whether their card supports international transactions, along with any applicable foreign exchange fees, overseas ATM charges, and currency conversion costs.
In addition to payment functionality, Jaywan cardholders are expected to receive access to partner offers and promotional benefits in sectors such as travel, retail, hospitality, and lifestyle services. Individual banks will determine their own reward programs, eligibility criteria, account requirements, and fee structures.
For everyday users, paying with Jaywan will feel much like using any other bank card. The major difference lies behind the scenes, where domestic transactions are processed through the UAE’s own national payment infrastructure rather than international networks, supporting the country’s long-term vision of building an independent and modern financial ecosystem.