UAE's Jaywan Card to Work in 183 Countries Through UnionPay Partnership

The United Arab Emirates' national payment system, Jaywan, is set to significantly expand its global reach through a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UnionPay International. Etihad Payments, the operator of the UAE's National Payment Systems and the Jaywan card scheme, signed the agreement in Shanghai, aiming to broaden the acceptance of Jaywan single-scheme cards worldwide.

This strategic partnership will allow Jaywan cardholders to utilize their cards at an estimated 100 million points of sale and 1.8 million ATMs across more than 183 countries. Under the agreement, UnionPay will manage the routing of transactions made outside the UAE using Jaywan cards to Etihad Payments' Electronic Payment System. Separate arrangements will cover settlement, liquidity, and foreign exchange services to facilitate Jaywan's international expansion.

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This agreement marks an important step in expanding Jaywan globally and improving cross-border payment efficiency, supporting trade, tourism and economic cooperation.

Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Chairman of Etihad Payments, hailed the agreement as a crucial step in Jaywan's global growth, emphasizing its role in improving cross-border payment efficiency and supporting trade, tourism, and economic cooperation. He expressed confidence that the partnership will provide broader international access for Jaywan cards and enhance their standing within global payment networks.

Dong Junfeng, Chairman of UnionPay China and UnionPay International, highlighted the developing strategic relationship between China and the UAE, driven by increasing demand for seamless cross-border payment services. He noted that this agreement builds upon a 2025 MoU between the central banks of China and the UAE, aimed at boosting cross-border payment cooperation. The partnership is expected to bolster the global competitiveness and operational resilience of the UAE's domestic card scheme, while also improving payment settlement efficiency using local currencies and strengthening bilateral trade ties.

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The strategic partnership between China and the UAE continues to develop amid growing demand for seamless cross-border payment services for trade and tourism.