Jaywan Card Explained: Everything UAE Residents Need to Know About the National Payment Scheme
By Thasmiya
The UAE has officially expanded the rollout of **Jaywan**, its first national card payment scheme, with banks, licensed financial institutions and exchange companies beginning to issue cards to customers.
Operated by **Al Etihad Payments**, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE, Jaywan is designed to process more everyday payments locally, strengthen the country’s payment infrastructure and offer residents an alternative to internationally issued debit and prepaid cards.
## **What is the Jaywan card?**
Jaywan is the UAE’s domestic card scheme for payments made at shops, online platforms and ATMs.
Rather than depending entirely on an international card network, eligible domestic transactions can be processed through UAE-controlled infrastructure. The scheme is designed around the needs of residents, businesses and local financial institutions.
The word **Jaywan** means “precious pearl” in Arabic, reflecting the UAE’s heritage and the scheme’s identity as a homegrown payment product.
## **Is Jaywan a bank?**
No. Jaywan is not a bank and does not directly hold customer deposits.
It is a payment-card network operated by Al Etihad Payments. Participating banks, financial institutions and licensed exchange companies issue the physical or digital cards and determine product-specific conditions such as eligibility, fees and benefits.
## **What types of Jaywan cards are available?**
Jaywan supports several categories, including:
- Debit cards connected to a bank account - Prepaid cards that can be loaded with funds - Co-badged cards carrying Jaywan and an international payment network
The exact products available will depend on the issuing institution. The current rollout includes both bank-linked debit cards and prepaid options.
## **Where can Jaywan cards be used?**
Jaywan cards can be accepted across:
- Point-of-sale terminals - E-commerce platforms - ATMs - Contactless payment systems - Compatible digital wallets
Domestic acceptance is being expanded across the UAE as banks, merchants and payment providers connect to the scheme.
## **Can Jaywan be used outside the UAE?**
A standalone Jaywan card is primarily designed for transactions within the UAE.
However, co-badged cards can also work internationally through partnerships with global networks. Al Etihad Payments has announced arrangements involving **Visa, Mastercard, Discover and UnionPay**. Domestic payments can be processed through Jaywan, while overseas transactions use the connected international network.
Residents should check the logos displayed on their card and confirm overseas acceptance with the issuer before travelling.
## **Which banks issue Jaywan cards?**
The rollout is taking place in phases, so availability differs by institution.
Recent announcements include Jaywan products or services from institutions such as First Abu Dhabi Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Al Maryah Community Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. More banks, financial institutions and exchange companies are expected to join as issuance expands.
Customers should contact their own bank or exchange provider to confirm whether applications, automatic replacements or prepaid products are currently available.
## **Will Jaywan replace existing debit cards?**
The rollout does not mean every existing card will stop working immediately.
Banks are introducing Jaywan in stages, including through new accounts, card renewals, replacements and selected prepaid products. Some customers may receive a Jaywan card when their current debit card expires, while others may be offered one as a separate product.
The timing and replacement process will depend on each issuing institution.
## **How do customers apply?**
Application methods may include:
- A bank’s mobile application - Online banking - A branch visit - A participating exchange company - Automatic issuance during card renewal
Eligibility requirements, delivery times and charges may vary. Customers should rely on information provided directly by their licensed bank or financial institution.
## **Is Jaywan secure?**
Jaywan is designed to support modern payment-security standards, including secure chip transactions, contactless payments, tokenisation and fraud-monitoring controls.
Its domestic structure also supports the UAE’s goal of keeping more payment data and transaction processing within the country.
Cardholders should still follow standard precautions, including protecting their PIN, avoiding suspicious payment links and reporting lost cards immediately.
## **What benefits could cardholders receive?**
Participating institutions may offer rewards and discounts across sectors such as:
- Travel - Shopping - Hospitality - Dining - Lifestyle services
Benefits are not necessarily identical across every Jaywan card. Reward programmes, lounge access, insurance, fees and cashback will depend on the issuing institution and card category.
## **Why did the UAE create Jaywan?**
Jaywan is intended to strengthen the UAE’s financial independence and digital-payment ecosystem.
Its main objectives include reducing payment-processing costs, supporting financial inclusion, protecting data sovereignty, encouraging local innovation and reducing reliance on external networks for domestic transactions.
For merchants, a domestic scheme may eventually support more locally tailored payment services and lower transaction costs. For customers, it introduces another secure option for daily payments.
## **What is the difference between Jaywan and Visa or Mastercard?**
Jaywan is a UAE-owned national payment scheme, while Visa and Mastercard operate international networks.
For a domestic Jaywan transaction, the authorisation and processing can take place through local infrastructure. A co-badged card can combine both systems, using Jaywan inside the UAE and the international network when the cardholder pays abroad.
## **Why this matters**
Jaywan moves the UAE closer to having a nationally controlled and widely accepted payment ecosystem.
As more banks and merchants join, residents could increasingly use locally issued cards for shopping, online payments and cash withdrawals while retaining international access through co-badged products.
The rollout also supports the UAE’s broader ambition to become a global centre for secure and advanced digital payments.
## **FAQs**
### **Is Jaywan a debit card or a credit card?**
The current rollout mainly includes debit and prepaid cards. The exact category depends on the issuing institution.
### **Can all UAE residents get a Jaywan card?**
Availability depends on the eligibility requirements of participating banks, financial institutions and exchange companies.
### **Can Jaywan be used for online shopping?**
Yes. Jaywan supports eligible e-commerce transactions on compatible platforms.
### **Can it be added to a mobile wallet?**
Compatible Jaywan products may support digital wallets. Customers should confirm availability with their issuer.
### **Does Jaywan work at ATMs?**
Yes. Jaywan is designed to support cash withdrawals at compatible ATMs.
### **Can tourists apply for one?**
Eligibility depends on the issuer. Certain prepaid products may have different requirements from bank-linked debit cards.
### **Will my current Visa or Mastercard stop working?**
No immediate nationwide cancellation has been announced. Existing cards remain usable according to their issuer’s terms.
## **Source Credits**
Information source/resource owners: Central Bank of the UAE, Al Etihad Payments, participating UAE banks and Emirates News Agency.
## **Image Credits**
Image sources are combined from AI-generated visuals and other platforms. If any owner wants to be mentioned or any content needs to be changed, please email us at **concerns@whatmatters.ae**.