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UAE rolls out Jaywan card to unify local payments
The new domestic card scheme, developed by the Central Bank of the UAE, aims to reduce transaction costs and enhance the national payments infrastructure.
The UAE has launched its first domestic card payment scheme, named Jaywan. The initiative, led by the Central Bank of the UAE, will bring a new standard for electronic payments for residents and citizens, potentially lowering costs for both consumers and merchants.
The UAE has introduced a national payment card, Jaywan, designed to streamline all electronic transactions within the country. This initiative, developed by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) through its subsidiary Al Etihad Payments, marks a significant step in creating a more efficient and independent financial infrastructure. For residents, the rollout of Jaywan will be gradual, but it will change the landscape of everyday spending, from grocery shopping to online purchases. The scheme is modelled on successful national card systems in other countries and is built on India's advanced RuPay technology. ## What is the Jaywan card scheme? Jaywan is the UAE's domestic card scheme. Its primary goal is to facilitate electronic payments across the country through a unified, state-owned platform. This reduces the reliance on international card networks for local transactions. The system was developed by Al Etihad Payments (AEP), a company established by the CBUAE in 2023. The technical foundation for Jaywan is based on the technology of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and RuPay card scheme, a collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Initially,…