The UAE Jaywan card is the country's first national domestic payment card, launched by Al Etihad Payments — a subsidiary of the UAE Central Bank — to expand access to financial services and lower payment costs for residents and merchants across the country. The scheme is designed to place the UAE at the forefront of global financial technology innovation.
What Is the UAE Jaywan Card?
Jaywan is named after a precious pearl from UAE history, a nod to the nation's heritage. The card is operated by Al Etihad Payments and functions as a fully domestic card scheme, meaning payment data is processed and stored within the UAE rather than routed through international networks.
The scheme aims to revolutionize the UAE payment industry by offering a homegrown alternative to internationally issued debit and prepaid cards — reducing reliance on global card networks and the fees associated with them.
Launch and Availability
The Jaywan card was set to launch in late June 2024, with multiple issuers going live and additional banks and exchange houses expected to follow in subsequent months. The initial rollout focused on broad physical acceptance at ATMs and point-of-sale (POS) terminals across the UAE. E-commerce acceptance was planned for introduction later in the year.
Eligibility and Issuance
Jaywan is available to all licensed financial institutions in the UAE, making it accessible to a wide range of customer segments. The card can be issued as a salary card by exchange houses or linked directly to bank accounts. Features include discounts on international remittances, purchase protections, and merchant discounts.
Key Benefits of the Jaywan Card
The Jaywan card is designed to be effective, secure, integrated, and low-cost:
- Increased Payment Options: Adds a new domestic option to the UAE's financial ecosystem, giving consumers more choice. - Cost Efficiency: Intended to be less expensive than existing international payment systems, benefiting both end users and merchants through lower transaction costs. - Merchant Discounts: Cardholders can access a range of merchant discounts, increasing the card's everyday utility. - Financial Inclusion: Reduces cash circulation and drives card adoption among merchants and underserved populations, diversifying the financial services sector. - Data Security: All payment-related data is processed and stored within the UAE, enhancing privacy and local data sovereignty.
International Usability and Co-Badging
Jaywan cards support both domestic and international payments. Through reciprocity arrangements, the card can be used across GCC countries and India. Al Etihad Payments has signed partnership agreements with international networks including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and UnionPay.
Issuers can also offer co-badged Jaywan cards — pairing the domestic scheme with an international network — allowing cardholders to use a single card for both local and cross-border transactions. A mono-badge Jaywan-only card is also available for customers who primarily transact domestically.
