United Arab Bank and Mastercard Launch New Corporate Credit Card Suite in UAE

United Arab Bank has partnered with Mastercard to launch a new suite of corporate credit cards, targeting the increasing demand for digital expense management in the UAE. For fintech professionals, this move signals a deepening of the commercial card market in the Middle East, prioritising real-time visibility and granular control over traditional corporate credit facilities.

What was announced

The bank introduced two distinct products: the UAB Mastercard World Corporate Credit Card and the UAB Mastercard Executive Corporate Credit Card. These offerings are specifically designed to address different tiers of business expenditure within the UAE’s diverse economy. The World Corporate card is positioned for senior executives and frequent business travellers, offering global acceptance alongside travel privileges such as airport lounge access, global roaming support, and travel insurance, subject to specific eligibility requirements.

In contrast, the Executive Corporate card focuses on operational efficiency, tailored for day-to-day procurement, supplier payments, and government transactions. Both cards leverage technology from Network International, providing a centralized Self-Service Portal. This digital interface allows businesses to manage their spending through real-time transaction visibility, configurable limits, and user-level controls. The portal enables consolidated reporting, which is a critical feature for firms looking to streamline their accounting processes.

The launch comes as UAE-based corporates seek more sophisticated tools to manage cash flow and consolidate reporting. By integrating UAB’s banking infrastructure with Mastercard’s global network, the programme aims to provide a more transparent view of corporate spending. This infrastructure allows for better-informed financial decisions and strengthened internal controls, moving away from fragmented manual expense tracking toward a unified digital ecosystem for business payments.

"Corporates are vital to the UAE’s economic growth, and their evolving needs call for simpler, smarter and more efficient banking solutions. By providing greater visibility and control over business expenditure, we are helping our clients manage their finances more effectively while retaining the flexibility to grow. This initiative reflects UAB’s commitment to delivering digital payment solutions that support the ambitions and long-term growth of our customers."

Shirish Bhide, Chief Executive Officer of United Arab Bank.

The companies involved

United Arab Bank (UAB) P.J.S.C. is a Sharjah-based financial institution that has maintained a significant presence in the UAE banking sector since its inception in 1975. The bank provides a comprehensive range of retail and corporate banking services, positioning itself as a key partner for local businesses and international entities operating within the Emirates. UAB has focused on expanding its digital capabilities to compete in an increasingly tech-driven regional market, often collaborating with global technology providers to enhance its service delivery.

Mastercard is a global leader in payment technology, operating one of the world's fastest payment processing networks. The company connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, and governments in more than 210 countries and territories. In the Middle East, Mastercard has been a frequent collaborator with local banks to modernise payment infrastructures and drive the adoption of digital commerce. This partnership with UAB utilizes Mastercard’s extensive portfolio of value-added services and its global network to provide UAE corporates with international spending power. The collaboration also involves Network International, a major enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa, which provides the underlying payment-processing technology for the new card suite.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has extensively tracked Mastercard’s global efforts to diversify its payment solutions and navigate regulatory challenges. Recently, the network has faced scrutiny in Europe, where Visa and Mastercard Face £700m Legal Action Over Post-Brexit Fee Hikes. Despite these legal headwinds, the company continues to innovate in emerging markets, as seen when SoFi Tech, Orbi, and Mastercard Launch Crypto-Linked Payments in Mexico.

The network has also focused on resilience, recently implementing Mastercard Rolls Out New Offline Payment Requirements to Combat Power Outages Across Europe. Furthermore, Mastercard’s commitment to financial inclusion and neobanking was highlighted when Mukuru Launches Neobank Account and Card in South Africa with Bank Zero and Mastercard.

What this means

The launch of these corporate cards highlights a significant shift in the UAE’s commercial banking landscape, where the "consumerization" of corporate tools is becoming a competitive necessity. Traditional banks are under pressure from fintech challengers to provide the same level of digital transparency for a million-dollar procurement budget as a retail user expects for a coffee purchase. By integrating real-time controls and self-service portals, UAB is addressing a critical friction point: the lag between spending and reporting. This move suggests that the battle for corporate loyalty in the Middle East will increasingly be won on the quality of the software layer, not just the credit limit.