Dubai Islamic launches ‘Gioan’ national debit card to bolster UAE payments infrastructure
Dubai Islamic Bank unveils the ‘Gioan’ debit card, joining the UAE’s national payment system to boost data residency, security and digital payment adoption.
Dubai Islamic Bank has launched the national debit card “Gioan”, marking a major step in the expansion of the UAE’s domestic payments infrastructure. The move places the bank among the first major lenders to offer the Central Bank-backed card to customers, and underscores the institution’s support for the UAE’s drive toward a sovereign, resilient payment ecosystem. The Gioan national payment card is being offered to both current account and savings account holders, expanding customer choice in everyday payments.
Dubai Islamic introduces ‘Gioan’ debit card
Dubai Islamic said the new Gioan debit card is now available to clients holding current and savings accounts, aiming to make a national-branded payment option widely accessible. The bank described the launch as part of its broader commitment to national initiatives that modernise financial infrastructure and support economic priorities.
The introduction positions Dubai Islamic — the country’s largest Islamic bank by some measures — as a key distribution partner for the fledgling national scheme. Bank officials framed the rollout as a practical step to accelerate adoption of the UAE’s domestic card network across retail customers.
Integration with Central Bank-backed payments infrastructure
The Gioan card is issued on a payments scheme developed by the payments company affiliated with the Central Bank of the UAE, designed to create an integrated national payments infrastructure. That platform aims to enable local processing of payment transactions and to reduce dependence on overseas switching and clearing arrangements.
By offering cards tied to the national scheme, Dubai Islamic said it will help broaden the footprint of the infrastructure and support merchant and consumer acceptance at scale. The bank’s participation is expected to encourage other financial institutions and service providers to connect to the system.
Focus on security, data residency and resilience
A central objective of the Gioan initiative is to strengthen data residency and ensure that payment information is processed within the UAE’s borders. Officials emphasised that keeping payment data locally enhances privacy protections and allows regulators and industry participants to oversee transaction flows more directly.
The national platform also aims to improve resilience by diversifying the country’s payments backbone and reducing single points of failure. The bank highlighted ongoing investments in secure processing and compliance as part of broader efforts to maintain a high standard of cybersecurity and operational continuity.
Available to current account and savings customers
The new Gioan debit card will be rolled out to Dubai Islamic customers holding current accounts and savings accounts, with the bank saying card issuance will follow existing account eligibility processes. The bank intends to make the card a standard option at branch and digital channels for customers who prefer a locally routed payments solution.
Alignment with UAE digital and economic priorities
Dubai Islamic framed the launch as aligned with national strategic priorities to enhance the UAE’s digital economy and financial sovereignty. The bank said expanding the national payments ecosystem supports the country’s ambitions to sustain leadership in digital payments and fintech innovation across the region.
Bank leadership noted that embedding domestic solutions into everyday banking services helps translate strategic initiatives into tangible benefits for consumers and merchants. The initiative is also expected to contribute to the UAE’s goal of increasing the robustness and competitiveness of its domestic financial infrastructure.
Executive remarks on the strategic significance
Dr. Adnan Chilwan, Group CEO of Dubai Islamic, described the rollout as a pivotal development for the nation’s payments journey and said the bank has a responsibility to support national projects. He said the card supports the UAE’s priorities for sovereignty, resilience and readiness for future payment needs while providing customers with a secure and seamless payment option.
Chilwan added that Dubai Islamic will continue to back national infrastructure projects and encourage wider adoption of homegrown payment technologies that meet local market needs. The bank framed its participation as a way to translate long-term strategic visions into operational reality by increasing the reach of the national system.
The bank’s launch of the Gioan debit card comes as the UAE pursues greater self-reliance in financial infrastructure and as regional demand for secure, domestic payment options grows. Observers say broader merchant acceptance, consumer uptake and interoperability with international networks will be key tests for the new system’s long-term success, and the involvement of major banks such as Dubai Islamic is likely to be influential in meeting those goals.
