Does the UAE have a domestic card scheme?
Yes. Jaywan, run by Al Etihad Payments, is the UAE's first national card scheme. Banks started nationwide issuance on July 20, 2026, and the Ministry of Finance added Jaywan and Aani to federal payment channels in August 2026.
In detail
Yes, since recently. The UAE was long the exception in the Gulf, without a domestic card scheme. Jaywan changes that. It is run by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE.
Rollout
Nationwide issuance of Jaywan cards opened on July 20, 2026, starting with FAB debit cards and CBD prepaid cards. Online acceptance followed at some acquirers, and in August 2026 the Ministry of Finance added Jaywan and Aani, the UAE's instant payment platform, to federal payment channels.
The Gulf context
Every other GCC state already had its national debit network: mada in Saudi Arabia, KNET in Kuwait, NAPS in Qatar, BENEFIT in Bahrain and OmanNet in Oman. These schemes keep domestic payments local and usually come with lower costs. Visa and Mastercard remain central for credit cards, co-badged cards, tourists and cross-border sales.
What it means for payment operators
For operators serving UAE merchants, Jaywan acceptance will become part of the standard card setup as issuance grows. Checking which acquirers support it, and adding it next to Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Aani, prepares merchants for domestic cards without a new integration later.