---
title: "UAE Formally Launches National Domestic Payment Card ‘Jaywan’"
date: 2026-07-22
author: "ABS Partners"
url: https://abspartners.ae/jaywan-card-uae-national-payment-scheme/
---

# UAE Formally Launches National Domestic Payment Card ‘Jaywan’

Posted On - 22 July, 2026 • By - [ABS Partners](https://abspartners.ae/people/abs-partners-2/)

![Jaywan Card launched as the UAE's national domestic payment card.](https://abspartners.ae/wp-content/uploads/jaywan-card-uae-national-domestic-payment-card-launch.jpg)

Banks, [licensed financial institutions](https://abspartners.ae/practice-areas/), and exchange houses across the United Arab Emirates have officially begun issuing Jaywan cards, marking the operational launch of the nation’s first domestic payment card scheme.

Managed by Al Etihad Payments—a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE)—the nationwide rollout establishes a homegrown alternative to international card networks like Visa and Mastercard.

The official launch was inaugurated by H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CBUAE. Sheikh Mansour highlighted that the scheme represents a strategic milestone in reinforcing national sovereignty over the UAE’s [financial infrastructure](https://abspartners.ae/) while accelerating digital transformation.

**How the Rollout is Unfolding**

The issuance of Jaywan cards is taking place in phases. Major financial institutions have already integrated the payment scheme into their consumer offerings:

- **First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)** has launched the Jaywan Debit Card for eligible account holders, integrating transaction management directly into its mobile banking app.
- **Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD)** is introducing Jaywan prepaid cards, designed for flexible budgeting and expense management.
- **Network International** has enabled online payment acceptance for Jaywan across thousands of merchants throughout the UAE.

Jaywan cards can be used for point-of-sale (POS) terminal purchases, e-commerce transactions, ATM cash withdrawals, and compatible digital wallets. Selected card tiers will also support international transactions based on issuing bank regulations and global co-badging partnerships.

**Strategic and Economic Impact**

By routing local transactions through domestic infrastructure—utilizing the UAESWITCH network—Jaywan eliminates the heavy cross-border processing fees typically associated with international clearinghouses.

This localization brings clear structural advantages to the UAE’s economy:

1. **Reduced Merchant & Banking Fees:** Lower processing overhead paves the way for reduced transaction costs for local businesses and potentially lower banking fees for consumers.
2. **Enhanced Data Sovereignty:** All domestic payment processing and transaction data remain securely hosted within the UAE rather than relying on overseas servers.
3. **Financial Inclusion:** The introduction of prepaid and standard debit options expands digital payment access to wider segments of the population.

**Card Tiers and Lifestyle Perks**

Consumers will have access to three main card categories: the **Jaywan Prepaid Card**, **Jaywan Prestige Debit Card**, and **Jaywan Royal Debit Card**.

To drive consumer adoption, Al Etihad Payments has partnered with lifestyle, retail, and travel brands to offer cardholder perks. Benefits include dining discounts via the Jaywan Entertainer app, flight offers with Etihad Airways and Air Arabia, Reel Cinemas deals, and travel insurance coverage.

The launch aligns the UAE with a growing list of global economies operating independent national payment rails, such as India’s RuPay, Saudi Arabia’s mada, and China’s UnionPay. Notably, Jaywan’s development was supported by a strategic partnership with India’s NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), drawing on their expertise in building indigenous payment systems.

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