Checkout.com Boosts UAE Payments with Native Jaywan Card Scheme Integration

Checkout.com has integrated Jaywan, the UAE’s domestic card scheme, into its acquiring platform to streamline local payment processing for merchants. For fintech professionals, this move signals a critical shift toward sovereign payment infrastructures in the Middle East, ensuring compliance with UAE mandates while reducing reliance on international rails for domestic transactions.

What was announced

The integration, announced on 28 September 2026, allows merchants in the United Arab Emirates to accept Jaywan cards through Checkout.com’s domestic connectivity. Operated by Al Etihad Payments (AEP), a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE, Jaywan is a national card scheme designed to bolster the country’s digital commerce infrastructure and support secure, sovereign digital commerce. Under the new arrangement, Checkout.com will automatically recognize and route Jaywan transactions through the domestic payment rails.

This transition is managed behind the scenes for merchants, aiming to maintain a consistent checkout experience while addressing operational and regulatory requirements. The capability ensures that UAE-based businesses can stay ahead of AEP regulatory mandates by having them embedded directly into the acquiring platform. By using domestic routing, merchants can reduce reliance on international networks and bring more control back onshore.

The rollout is particularly significant for large-scale enterprises. myAster, the omnichannel digital health platform for Aster DM Healthcare, is among the first to enable Jaywan as a payment method. Having partnered with Checkout.com in December 2025, myAster serves over 5 million registered users who can now use the domestic scheme for healthcare services. This follows Checkout.com’s 2023 milestone as the first global payments provider to secure a UAE acquiring license from the Central Bank. The company has also received in-principle approval for a Stored Value Facilities license, further consolidating its presence in the region where it already serves clients like SHEIN, talabat, Tamara, and Careem.

"Enabling Jaywan is a defining step in the UAE’s payments evolution. We have built Jaywan directly into our acquiring platform so businesses can stay ready for the mandate, protect performance and manage the cost and compliance impact within the same platform they currently use."

Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager, VP MENA at Checkout.com.

The companies involved

Checkout.com is a global digital payments company that has established a significant footprint in the Middle East. It distinguishes itself in the market by offering a unified platform that combines acquiring and issuing, a strategy supported by its status as a licensed acquirer in the UAE. The company has a history of infrastructure modernization, serving high-volume global and local brands across various sectors.

Al Etihad Payments (AEP) functions as the national payment entity for the UAE. As a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE, AEP is tasked with developing and operating the national payment systems that underpin the country’s financial stability and digital economy goals. Jaywan is the centerpiece of this effort, representing the UAE’s domestic card scheme. By creating a sovereign payment rail, AEP aims to reduce the domestic market's dependency on international networks. This initiative mirrors similar domestic schemes globally, where national central banks seek greater control over transaction data and costs within their borders. The integration with major acquirers is a key part of AEP's strategy to embed Jaywan into everyday digital commerce.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely followed Checkout.com’s rapid scaling and infrastructure updates. Recently, the company reported triple-digit US growth and the launch of a new North American payment suite, highlighting its global momentum. The firm also recently leveraged Primer for Partners to accelerate its global payment capabilities. In the retail sector, Best Buy tapped Checkout.com to modernize its marketplace payments infrastructure.

The Jaywan scheme itself has seen increasing adoption among major players. Earlier this month, FF News reported that Mastercard and noon payments launched Jaywan card acceptance via the Mastercard Gateway, indicating a broader industry push to integrate the UAE’s domestic scheme into existing global payment architectures and ensure widespread merchant acceptance.

What this means

This integration marks a pivotal moment for the UAE’s sovereign payments strategy. By embedding Jaywan into a global acquiring platform, the domestic scheme moves from a regulatory requirement to a functional reality for high-volume merchants. This puts pressure on other global payment processors to accelerate their local integrations or risk losing market share to those who can offer native UAE routing. The move also raises questions about the long-term dominance of international card schemes in the region. As domestic rails offer lower costs and localized compliance, the competitive landscape in the Middle East is shifting toward a more fragmented, yet locally optimized, ecosystem where national interests and digital efficiency converge.