Jaywan is the UAE's first national card payment scheme, run by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE. The idea is simple: domestic payments inside the country are routed over the Emirates' own payment infrastructure rather than through international networks. For businesses, it is a new part of the payments landscape worth understanding when you accept cards and plan how money moves.
What Jaywan is and who runs it
Jaywan is the UAE's first national (domestic) card scheme. The system's operator is Al Etihad Payments, part of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE). In effect, the country now has its own "rail" for card payments, alongside the national schemes that already operate in other markets around the world.
The system was launched in 2024, while nationwide card issuance to customers and online acceptance began in July 2026 — the operational launch took place on 21 July 2026. Banks, financial institutions and licensed exchange houses were among the first to issue the cards; the first banks included First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and Commercial Bank of Dubai. The list of issuers keeps growing as more market participants join.
How it works: domestic versus international networks
To see why Jaywan matters for business, it helps to look at how a payment travels. When a customer pays by card, the transaction runs through a payment network that connects the shopper's bank and the merchant's bank. Until recently, almost all such transactions in the UAE were routed through international networks — for example, Visa or Mastercard.
Jaywan adds a national option to that picture. Local (domestic) transactions between participants inside the UAE can now travel over the country's own payment infrastructure. The international networks do not go anywhere — they continue to serve cross-border payments, while Jaywan works as the domestic layer. The core principle: data on domestic payments stays inside the country, and routing runs through UAE infrastructure.
Importantly, Jaywan cards can be used for both domestic and international transactions — the exact scenario depends on the card type, which we cover next.
Jaywan-only and co-badged cards
Today there are two main types of Jaywan card, and the difference directly affects where each one works.
Jaywan-only is a card that runs over the UAE domestic network. Co-badged is a card that combines Jaywan and an international network: inside the country it can travel over the national layer, and abroad over the international one. The world's first co-badged credit card built on Jaywan was issued jointly by Al Etihad Payments and Mastercard in July 2026.
| Card type | Network | Where it works | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaywan-only | UAE domestic network | Within the UAE | Those who pay and get paid mainly inside the country |
| Co-badged (Jaywan + international network) | Domestic + international | Within the UAE and abroad | Those who need both local and cross-border payments |
| International network only | International | Within the UAE and abroad | The familiar card format before the national layer arrived |
Which card type to use for staff and company spending is best discussed with your issuing bank, based on where your payments actually happen.
What it means for business and accepting payments
For companies, Jaywan is first of all a question of accepting payments. The national scheme is gradually becoming part of everyday infrastructure: Jaywan cards work at points of sale (POS), at ATMs, in e-commerce and in supported digital wallets.
In practice, this means:
- Retail and POS acceptance. As Jaywan cards spread, customers will use them in person, so your terminal should accept the national scheme correctly.
- E-commerce. Online acceptance of Jaywan became available from July 2026, so online stores and services should check scheme support with their payment provider.
- Digital wallets. The cards work in supported wallets, which suits customers used to contactless payment.
Acceptance terms, support for specific scenarios and pricing depend on your acquiring bank and payment provider, so it is worth confirming them directly. Card acceptance is part of a company's wider payments readiness, which also includes correct electronic invoicing (e-invoicing).
Data and the independence of payment infrastructure
Behind the technical side of Jaywan sits a strategic goal — to strengthen the UAE's control over its own payment infrastructure and keep domestic payment data inside the country. This is a natural step for a mature financial system: many countries develop national card schemes to make settlement more resilient and to keep payment data sovereign.
For business, that independence is a positive signal. A national payment layer complements the international networks and makes the country's payment ecosystem more resilient and self-reliant. Jaywan fits into the UAE's wider digital infrastructure — the same direction of travel as the other digital tools for business interaction that a modern company in the Emirates relies on.
What business should do now
The national payment system is only now reaching the mass market, so companies have time to prepare calmly. A few practical steps:
- Check Jaywan acceptance with your acquirer. Confirm with your acquiring bank and payment provider whether Jaywan cards are supported on your POS terminals and in online acceptance.
- Discuss company cards with your issuing bank. If your staff need corporate cards, discuss which type — Jaywan-only or co-badged — fits your spending scenarios.
- Confirm the terms. Pricing and conditions for cards and acquiring depend on the bank, so request them directly.
All of these steps are easier once a company already has a working relationship with a bank. If you are only entering the market, start with the basics — a corporate bank account in the UAE: it is what opens the door to acquiring, cards and the rest of the payment services.
Conclusion
Jaywan is the UAE's national payment card and a new domestic layer for card settlement. For business, the key practical takeaway is simple: the national scheme is becoming part of accepting payments alongside the international networks, while data on domestic transactions stays inside the country. Understanding the card types, confirming acceptance with your acquirer and keeping your banking infrastructure in order is what helps a company meet these changes well prepared.
This article is for information only and is not legal or financial advice. Confirm details and conditions with your bank and with official sources — Al Etihad Payments and the Central Bank of the UAE; pricing and terms depend on the issuing bank.
