20 July 2026
The UAE has moved its home-grown card network from pilot to daily use. On 20 July 2026 the Central Bank of the UAE began the nationwide issuance of Jaywan cards through banks, licensed financial institutions and exchange houses, the biggest step yet toward a sovereign payment infrastructure that keeps domestic transactions on domestic rails. For companies operating in the Emirates, it signals lower payment costs, a more resilient financial system and a new option to weigh when you set up merchant acceptance or open a corporate account.
What was announced
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President and Chairman of the Central Bank of the UAE, announced the operational launch of Jaywan for consumers. Jaywan is the country's first national domestic card scheme, operated by Al Etihad Payments, a Central Bank subsidiary set up to run the national payment infrastructure. Central Bank Governor Khaled Balama described the launch as a "qualitative leap" in the development of the UAE's payment services.
The first wave of issuers is already live. First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has launched a Jaywan debit card for domestic use, Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) has introduced prepaid Jaywan cards for retail customers, and Network International has integrated Jaywan acceptance into its online payment gateway. More banks and licensed institutions are expected to roll out their own Jaywan products in phases over the coming months, so most UAE cardholders will meet the scheme through their existing bank.
From 2024 launch to 2026 rollout
Jaywan is not brand new. The scheme itself launched in 2024, which means more than two years of technical groundwork, bank integration and terminal readiness preceded this consumer distribution. That gap reflects the scale of the task: a national scheme has to be wired into thousands of point-of-sale terminals, ATMs, banking systems and online gateways before cards can be handed to the public with confidence. The 20 July milestone is the point at which that back-end work becomes something a customer can hold and tap.
How Jaywan works
Jaywan gives the UAE its own domestic network for routing, authorising and clearing card payments, rather than sending every transaction through an international scheme. Cards are accepted at point-of-sale terminals, e-commerce checkouts, ATMs and digital wallets, and they support contactless payments, online purchases and cash withdrawals.
There are two card formats to understand:
- Jaywan-only cards run primarily on the domestic network and are built for spending inside the UAE.
- Co-badged cards combine Jaywan with an international network, so the same card also works for eligible overseas and cross-border online payments. Al Etihad Payments has signed partnerships with Visa, Mastercard, Discover and UnionPay to support that international reach.
Not every Jaywan card will automatically work outside the country, so the card type matters for anyone who travels or pays foreign suppliers. It is worth checking the network on any new card your bank issues.
Why it matters for the UAE economy
A domestic scheme lets the Central Bank keep local payment data and clearing within the country and reduces the fees that flow abroad on every transaction. For merchants, cost is the headline benefit: Network International has confirmed there are no additional merchant fees on Jaywan transactions processed through its network. Lower acceptance costs, broader financial inclusion and greater resilience against external disruption are the stated goals of the programme.
The launch also fits a wider pattern of the UAE building sovereign financial infrastructure, alongside the Digital Dirham initiative and the country's record-setting non-oil foreign trade. Together these moves point to a maturing, increasingly self-reliant financial system, which is exactly the kind of stability that foreign founders and investors look for before committing to a market.
What it means for your business
If you run or plan to run a company in the UAE, the Jaywan rollout is worth tracking on two fronts. As a merchant, cheaper domestic acceptance can trim the cost of every card sale once your acquirer supports the scheme. As an account holder, expect your bank to start offering Jaywan debit or prepaid products, and check whether a co-badged card fits your travel and supplier payments.
- Ask your bank or payment provider when Jaywan acceptance and cards will be available on your account.
- For merchant accounts, compare acceptance fees under Jaywan against your current international-scheme rates.
- If you pay overseas suppliers or travel often, choose a co-badged card rather than a domestic-only one.
- Factor the new scheme into any new corporate banking setup so you start on the most cost-effective rails.
- Watch for incentives and launch offers, which issuers often attach to a new scheme to drive adoption.
How Atlant Capital can help
Payment infrastructure only pays off once your company is properly structured and banked. Atlant Capital helps you build those foundations, from company setup in the right free zone or on the mainland, to opening a corporate bank account with a UAE bank that will issue Jaywan and co-badged cards. We match your licence, banking and payment acceptance to how your business actually operates, so you can benefit from the UAE's new domestic rails from day one rather than retrofitting later.
The bottom line
The Jaywan rollout on 20 July 2026 turns the UAE's national card scheme into an everyday reality. For businesses it means lower payment costs, more choice and a financial system that is steadily building its own foundations. As banks add Jaywan products in the months ahead, the practical question for every company is simple: make sure your banking and merchant setup is ready to use them.
