Wire · technology
UAE rolls out Jaywan, the first national payment card: Banks launch new schemes
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Fusion42 · 20 July 2026 · Fusion42 review
The UAE has formally launched Jaywan, a domestically-operated national payment card scheme run by the Central Bank subsidiary Al Etihad Payments, with First Abu Dhabi Bank issuing debit cards, Commercial Bank of Dubai issuing prepaid cards, and Network International enabling online merchant acceptance. The scheme is designed to keep payment data within the UAE and reduce reliance on international card networks.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Fintech, and 4 sources have reported it between 20 Jul 2026 and 27 Jul 2026.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
If you build payment processing, acquiring, or digital wallet software for the Middle East, Jaywan just became infrastructure you need to support. The Central Bank has created a captive domestic network - merchants and fintechs will be forced to integrate it, and Network International's lead means competitors have a narrow window to do the same.
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4 sources · first reported 20 Jul 2026 · latest 27 Jul 2026
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