Al Etihad Payments and Mastercard Launch Jaywan Co-Branded Credit Card in the UAE
Al Etihad Payments has partnered with Mastercard to launch co-badged Jaywan credit cards in the UAE, in a move designed to expand card payment capabilities and support the country’s domestic payments infrastructure. The agreement also includes the establishment of a dedicated Mastercard operations centre in the UAE.
The partnership brings together Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), and Mastercard’s global network to enable broader acceptance of Jaywan co-badged credit cards internationally. According to the announcement, Mastercard’s network will support the use of these cards beyond the UAE, while also helping strengthen local card payment processing.
Local infrastructure and payment processing
As part of the collaboration, the two organisations will develop local infrastructure for switching and processing card payment transactions. This includes creating a dedicated node within Mastercard’s global network in the UAE, which will handle both domestic and international payment flows.
Mastercard will also deploy payment systems in the country to support Jaywan debit, prepaid and credit co-badged cards. The setup is expected to include cybersecurity capabilities, fraud prevention tools and threat intelligence services, supporting the operational and security requirements of the payment ecosystem.
The launch comes as the UAE continues to expand domestic payment capabilities and strengthen financial infrastructure. The introduction of co-badged Jaywan credit cards is intended to give cardholders greater choice while preserving the role of national payment rails in local transactions.
Statements from the partners
Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services at the CBUAE and Chairman of Al Etihad Payments, said the initiative combines national infrastructure with global innovation.
“By combining national infrastructure with global innovation, we are strengthening sovereignty, resilience and choice, while accelerating the UAE’s journey toward a future-ready financial system,” he said.
Dr. Dimitrios Dosis, President of EEMEA at Mastercard, noted the strategic importance of the partnership as Mastercard marks four decades in the UAE.
“As Mastercard celebrates forty years in the UAE, this latest milestone with Al Etihad Payments reflects how together we can strengthen the foundation for continued growth in trade, tourism and commerce,” he said.
Industry Analysis
The launch of Jaywan co-branded credit cards reflects the UAE’s continued focus on building a more resilient and interoperable payments landscape. By pairing a domestic card scheme with Mastercard’s international network, the arrangement may help improve acceptance for UAE-issued cards while reinforcing local control over payment processing.
For the broader fintech and banking sector, the establishment of a dedicated operations node and supporting payment infrastructure suggests ongoing investment in transaction processing, security and card scheme integration. It also highlights the role of public-private partnerships in advancing national payment objectives and supporting cross-border commerce.
Overall, the partnership is likely to be viewed as part of the UAE’s wider push toward a more future-ready financial system, with implications for consumer choice, merchant acceptance and the scalability of domestic payment services.
