AUSTRIACARD Delivers First Jaywan Payment Cards to Wio Bank to Boost UAE Payments

AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS has delivered the first Jaywan payment cards to Wio Bank, marking a significant step in the rollout of the United Arab Emirates’ domestic card scheme. This partnership strengthens the country’s sovereign payments infrastructure and provides fintech professionals with a clear indicator of how digital-first banks are integrating national financial ecosystems to enhance local resilience.

What was announced

The delivery of Jaywan-branded cards to Wio Bank PJSC represents a key milestone in the UAE’s National Payment Systems Strategy. Launched by Al Etihad Payments under the guidance of the Central Bank of the UAE, Jaywan is designed to enhance the efficiency, resilience, and sovereignty of the nation’s payment infrastructure. By establishing a domestic card scheme, the UAE aims to advance its digital payment landscape and reduce reliance on international networks for local transactions.

The physical cards were produced at AUSTRIACARD’s manufacturing facility in Bucharest, Romania. These cards integrate AUSTRIACARD’s secure manufacturing processes with Wio Bank’s digital-first platform, allowing the bank’s customers to access payment products specifically issued under the Jaywan scheme. This initiative is part of a broader effort to build a locally anchored financial ecosystem that serves both individual and business users within the Gulf region.

The partnership enables Wio Bank, the UAE’s first platform bank, to offer its customers seamless access to domestic payment rails. For AUSTRIACARD, the move expands its footprint in the Middle East and Africa, where national card schemes are increasingly becoming a standard feature of the financial landscape. The project underscores a shared ambition to provide high-quality, secure payment solutions that align with the UAE’s vision for a robust national financial infrastructure.

"National card schemes are becoming a defining feature of payments across the Middle East and Africa and supporting them is a strategic priority for AUSTRIACARD. Adding Jaywan to the portfolio that already spans international and domestic schemes strengthens what we can offer every issuer we serve. We are pleased to take this step with Wio Bank, the UAE's first platform bank and one of the region’s fastest-growing digital banks, and we look forward to contributing to the growth of Jaywan and the wider UAE card market."

Burak Bilge, EVP Türkiye, Middle East and Africa at AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS.

The companies involved

AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS AG brings more than 130 years of history in information management, printing, and secure communications to the fintech sector. The company operates as a major provider of smart cards, payment solutions, and identification systems, alongside secure data management and digitisation services. With a global workforce of 2,360 employees, the group maintains a significant international presence and is publicly traded on both the Vienna Stock Exchange and Euronext Athens under the ticker ACAG.

Wio Bank PJSC is a digital-first financial platform based in Abu Dhabi, regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE. It positions itself as a "platform bank," aiming to provide personalised financial solutions for both retail and business clients. The bank benefits from a powerful ownership structure, with backing from major regional entities including ADQ, Alpha Dhabi Holding, e&, and First Abu Dhabi Bank. This institutional support has allowed Wio to scale rapidly within the UAE market, focusing on integrating advanced technology with human-centric banking services to redefine the local financial experience for its users.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely tracked the rapid growth of Wio Bank within the Middle Eastern fintech ecosystem. In early 2026, we reported that Wio Bank PJSC Reports AED 61 Billion Assets and Record Revenue of AED 1.24 Billion in FY2025, highlighting the bank's strong financial performance and its status as a leading player in the region. Further expanding its reach into niche sectors, the bank also collaborated on healthcare-focused financial tools. We covered this in Wio Bank and Toothpick Launch Embedded Finance for UAE Healthcare Sector, which detailed how the bank is supporting clinic growth and patient financing. Additionally, the broader Abu Dhabi financial landscape has shown significant momentum, as seen in our report on how the ADX Market Cap Hits 2.8 Trillion Dirhams as Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Drives H1 2026 Growth.

What this means

The adoption of Jaywan by a high-growth digital player like Wio Bank signals a shift in the power dynamics of the Gulf’s payment industry. While international schemes have long dominated, the rise of domestic rails like Jaywan puts pressure on global giants to justify their transaction fees and data sovereignty policies. This move is less about replacing international cards and more about building a dual-track system that ensures national economic resilience. For the wider industry, it raises questions about how quickly other UAE banks will follow suit and whether this domestic-first approach will become the blueprint for other emerging markets seeking financial independence.