UAE Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2030
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GlobalData’s ‘UAE Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2030' report provides detailed analysis of market trends in UAE cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cash, cards, credit transfer, direct debits and cheques during the review-period (2022–26e).
The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2026e–30f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.
The report brings together GlobalData’s research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in regulatory structure.
GlobalData’s ‘UAE Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2030' report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into UAE cards and payments industry, including:
• Current and forecast values for each market in UAE cards and payments industry, including debit, credit and charge cards.
• Detailed insights into payment instruments including cash, cards, credit transfer, direct debits and cheques. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.
• Ecommerce market analysis.
• Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing UAE cards and payments industry.
• Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, credit and charge cards.
• Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards.
• The competitive landscape of UAE cards and payments industry.
Scope
Card market size in terms of number of cards, value and volume of transactions in UAE along with detailed card segmentation of debit, credit and charge cards available in the country.
Market sizing and analysis of major payment instruments including cash, cards, credit transfer, direct debits and cheques.
Payment market trends and growth for both historical and forecast period
Competitor analysis with detailed insights into leading card issuers and schemes.
Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards.
A detailed snapshot of country's key alternative payment brands.
Key Highlights
In November 2025, the CBUAE launched the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) 2026–2030, in partnership with the World Bank, the OECD, and the Arab Monetary Fund, laid out a clear roadmap to ensure fair, secure access to financial services in the UAE. Key priorities include strengthening laws and regulation for inclusion, driving digital transformation across the financial sector, boosting financial literacy and wellbeing, and leveraging data and AI for innovation and policymaking—especially via a National Financial Wellbeing Index. Strategically, by 2030 the NFIS aims to increase financial accounts and use of digital payments, align financial innovation with regulatory standards, and expand inclusion.
Merchant payment acceptance in the UAE is developing with the launch of cost-effective mobile and Soft POS solutions. In November 2025, Sharjah Islamic Bank launched SIB Pay, enabling merchants to accept QR payments, smartphone tap-to-pay (soft POS), ecommerce transactions, and pay-by-link payments without traditional POS hardware. The solution lowers entry barriers for small and medium-sized businesses by reducing hardware dependence and accelerating deployment.
Contactless payments are increasingly being introduced in public transportation. In February 2026, the Roads and Transport Authority of Sharjah introduced an electronic toll system for commercial trucks called Masar. Using sensors and AI, the system automatically detects vehicles and processes tolls. Tahseel, the digital payments platform of the Sharjah Finance Department, handles payments and supports bank cards, digital wallets, and an NFC-enabled contactless card. The system replaces manual methods of toll collection. Under the Masar system, toll gates connect directly to Tahseel’s infrastructure, allowing immediate, cashless payment once a vehicle is identified. The system generates real-time financial reporting and integrates with Tahseel’s digital wallet to settle transactions instantly.
Reasons to Buy
Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to UAE cards and payments industry and each market within it.
Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in UAE cards and payments industry.
Assess the competitive dynamics in UAE cards and payments industry.
Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in UAE.
Gain insights into key regulations governing the UAE cards and payments industry.
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
Dubai Islamic Bank
First Abu Dhabi Bank
ADIB
Emirates Islamic
RAKBANK
HSBC
Mashreq Bank
Commercial Bank of Dubai
Standard Chartered
Citibank
Visa
Mastercard
American Express
Table of Contents
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Sample Report
UAE Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2030 was curated by the best experts in the industry and we are confident about its unique quality. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer free sample pages to help you:
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