Al Etihad Payments and Mastercard Launch World’s First Jaywan Co-Badged Credit Card

Quick Summary

Al Etihad Payments and Mastercard have launched the world’s first Jaywan co-badged credit card, integrating the UAE’s domestic card scheme with Mastercard’s global network. This partnership enables international card acceptance for UAE residents while establishing a new local operations node to process domestic and global payment flows efficiently.

How Does the Jaywan Co-Badged Credit Card Benefit UAE Consumers?

The introduction of the Jaywan co-badged credit card represents a significant shift in how UAE residents interact with global commerce. By combining the national card scheme with Mastercard’s international reach, cardholders gain the ability to use their locally-issued cards at millions of merchants worldwide. This initiative ensures that secure payment experiences are accessible both at home and abroad, bridging the gap between domestic utility and global mobility.

• Global Acceptance: Use Jaywan cards anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
• Enhanced Security: Integration of Mastercard’s advanced cybersecurity and fraud prevention.
• Local Resilience: Domestic transactions processed via a new UAE-based operations centre.

What Infrastructure Upgrades Are Coming to the UAE?

Beyond the physical card, this partnership establishes a new operations centre in the UAE, serving as a critical node in Mastercard’s global network. This infrastructure is designed to handle the switching and processing of both domestic and international flows, ensuring that the UAE remains at the forefront of digital economy transformation. By localized processing, the CBUAE and Al Etihad Payments are strengthening national financial sovereignty while maintaining high-speed connectivity to the global market.

"This collaboration represents a defining moment for the UAE’s payments ecosystem. By combining national infrastructure with global innovation, we are strengthening sovereignty, resilience and choice, while accelerating the UAE’s journey toward a future-ready financial system." said Humaid Al Dhaheri, the CBUAE’s Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services, and Chairman of Al Etihad Payments.

How Will This Impact Fintechs and Merchants?

The rollout of the Jaywan co-badged credit card provides a robust platform for local innovation. Banks and fintechs can now offer more versatile products that cater to a diverse consumer base, while merchants benefit from streamlined payment processing and reduced friction at checkout. The partnership also introduces threat intelligence capabilities, protecting the entire ecosystem from evolving digital risks and supporting the growth of the national economy through modernized infrastructure.

"As Mastercard celebrates forty years in the UAE, this latest milestone with Al Etihad Payments reflects how together we can strengthen the foundation for continued growth in trade, tourism and commerce. We are bringing together trusted technology, global scale and deep local relationships to strengthen domestic resiliency while remaining deeply connected to the global economy." added Dr. Dimitrios Dosis, President, EEMEA, Mastercard.

FF NEWS TAKE:

This move is a masterstroke for the UAE's financial independence. By launching the Jaywan co-badged credit card, Al Etihad Payments isn't just launching a product; they are building a bridge between national identity and global interoperability. It moves the needle by proving that domestic schemes don't have to be insular. For Mastercard, it cements their 40-year legacy in the region by becoming the backbone of the UAE's sovereign payment future.