Sheikh Mansour launches Jiwan national payments system as Jiwan card issuance begins
Sheikh Mansour inaugurates Jiwan national payments system and announces phased issuance of Jiwan cards across UAE banks and licensed exchange houses, enabling POS, e‑commerce, ATM and wallet payments.
The UAE has launched its first national payments system, Jiwan, with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan presiding over the inauguration and authorising the official issuance of Jiwan cards. The rollout, led by the Central Bank of the UAE in coordination with Union Payments Company and major financial institutions, begins with card issuance at licensed banks and exchange houses. Authorities said the Jiwan national payments system will be ready for consumer use immediately and will roll out in stages over the coming months.
Launch attended by central bank and industry leaders
Sheikh Mansour received Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, alongside members of the Union Payments Company board and senior executives from local and international banks and payments firms. The gathering underlined close public‑private collaboration in bringing the Jiwan system to market. Officials described the launch as a coordinated effort to align the financial sector behind a domestically operated payments infrastructure.
The Central Bank emphasised that the initiative reflects strategic direction from the UAE leadership to strengthen national financial infrastructure. Executives from participating banks and payments companies committed to a phased technical and commercial deployment. The industry confirmed continued cooperation on security, acceptance and consumer services.
Banks and licensed exchange houses begin phased card issuance
Licensed banks, financial institutions and authorised exchange houses have started issuing Jiwan cards in staged phases that will continue in the months ahead. The Central Bank and Union Payments Company will monitor the rollout to ensure operational readiness and consumer protection. Authorities said this phased approach will allow for incremental testing, merchant onboarding and user education.
Issuance is being coordinated to support broad geographic and demographic coverage across the Emirates. Participating institutions will integrate Jiwan into existing card programmes and digital channels to give customers multiple ways to receive and use their cards. Regulators noted contingency measures are in place to manage any technical or service interruptions during the transition.
Acceptance points and technical capabilities of Jiwan cards
Jiwan cards will be accepted at merchant point‑of‑sale terminals, online commerce platforms, ATMs and digital wallets, supporting contactless payments, internet purchases and cash withdrawals. The system is designed to support both domestic transactions and international use subject to applicable rules and permissions. Officials highlighted encryption and fraud‑prevention mechanisms built into the platform to protect cardholders.
Integration with digital wallets and e‑commerce platforms was a key design priority to meet evolving consumer payment behaviours. Merchant technical specifications and certification processes have been issued to ensure interoperability with existing payment terminals. The Central Bank confirmed that settlement and reconciliation infrastructure has been tested as part of the prelaunch phase.
Cardholder rewards and strategic merchant partnerships
Cardholders will benefit from a bundled programme of offers and privileges developed with strategic partners across travel, retail, hospitality and lifestyle sectors. The benefits package is intended to boost early adoption and provide tangible value to consumers using Jiwan for everyday spending. Financial institutions will tailor promotions and loyalty features within their own card products to complement the national programme.
Union Payments Company and partner merchants will run coordinated marketing campaigns to introduce the benefits to consumers. Participating banks will also offer digital onboarding tools and in‑app card management features to simplify adoption. Officials said consumer education initiatives will explain safety features, dispute resolution and cross‑border usage rules.
Strategic aim to bolster financial sovereignty and innovation
Authorities described Jiwan as a strategic step to reinforce the UAE’s sovereignty over core financial infrastructure and to support the nation’s long‑term digital economy objectives. The national payments system is intended to catalyse innovation in payments and widen financial inclusion by expanding options for consumers and businesses. Officials framed the initiative as aligned with the UAE’s broader economic visions and digital transformation priorities.
By operating a domestically governed payments network, policymakers expect to increase resilience and control over payment flows while attracting fintech development. The project is positioned to create a platform for future services such as instant settlement, merchant data services and programmable payments. Regulators also said this infrastructure will support competitiveness and the growth of home‑grown payments firms.
Oversight, compliance and next steps for rollout
The Central Bank will retain oversight of Jiwan operations, issuance rules and cross‑border arrangements, working with market participants to maintain compliance and stability. Authorities confirmed that clear governance frameworks and operational guidelines have been established for issuers and service providers. Regular progress reviews were announced to evaluate adoption metrics and technical performance.
Over the coming months regulators and banks will continue merchant certification, consumer education and phased card distribution to broaden availability. The Central Bank and industry partners said they will publish further details on timelines, eligibility and product variants as the rollout advances. Consumers were advised to contact their banks for information on how and when Jiwan cards will be available to them.
The launch of the Jiwan national payments system marks a concerted effort by the UAE to own its payments backbone while expanding digital payment choices for residents and visitors. The phased issuance, broad acceptance plans and partner benefits are designed to drive adoption and support the country’s ambition to be a global financial hub.
