AANI INSTANT PAYMENT PLATFORM
Tap. Send. Done: Aani Is Redefining the Way the UAE Pays
Innovation that is shaping the future of financial transactions in the UAE
Eqbal
Sana
sana@khaleejtimes.com
Payment innovation is not just a convenience, it’s a necessity in a rapidly advancing digital economy. Leading this transformation in the UAE is Aani Al Etihad Payments, a groundbreaking initiative by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE. Since its launch in October 2023, Aani has introduced a seamless, secure, and instant way for residents and businesses to transfer money, it is setting a new natioinal benchmark for financial efficiency and user-centric design. Unlike traditional banking processes that often involve lengthy steps, IBANs, and beneficiary approvals, Aani enables real-time transfers using just a mobile number, email address, or QR code. In less than 10 seconds, the transac-
tion is complete — with both sender and recipient receiving immediate confirmation. This speed and simplicity are redefining the nation’s expectations around everyday payments. The rise of Aani coincides with the UAE’s emergence as a regional fintech powerhouse, with the country actively embracing innovation across its financial ecosystem. Aani is not just keeping pace - it is setting the tone. Its platform is built on a foundation of seamless design, strong security, and practical features tailored to the needs of individuals and businesses alike. Whether it’s splitting a bill with friends, sending money to family, or paying a contractor, Aani ensures the experience is frictionless. What makes Aani truly distinctive is its expanding ecosystem. In less than a year, it has integrated with 57 licensed financial institutions, including the UAE’s largest banks and exchange houses.
CBD ushers in a new era of instant payments with Aani
Customers can now access Aani’s services through CBD mobile app and Aani app
Sana Eqbal
sana@khaleejtimes.com
As the UAE rapidly progresses towards a cashless economy, Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) has strategically aligned with this digital evolution by integrating with Aani, the national instant payments platform of Central Bank of the UAE.
Aani is not just a payment method, it represents a strategic leap in the UAE’s financial infrastructure. Aani enables customers to send or request money instantly using a mobile number, email address, or QR code, in under 10 seconds. CBD’s integration with Aani reflects its commitment to supporting the Central Bank’s Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) program and the broader vision of a digitally empowered economy.
“CBD is proud to be part of an initiative with this level of scale, ambition and national impact,” said Vladislavs Mironovs, Chief Digital Officer at Commercial Bank of Dubai. “Our integration with the Aani platform strengthens the UAE’s competitiveness in the global digital economy and reflects our full commit-
Vladislavs Mironovs Chief Digital
Officer
Bank
Commercial
of Dubai Khaled Al Hammadi General Manager Personal Banking Group Commercial Bank of Dubai
ment to the country’s vision of a cashless society. By offering instant, secure and user-friendly payments through both our mobile and the Aani app, we are helping build a more agile, inclusive and digitally empowered financial future.”
With features like QR-based payments, secure peer-to-peer transfers, and the ability to split bills, Aani offers a user-friendly digital payment experience for all. Its speed and simplicity make it an ideal solution for both techsavvy users and those taking their first steps into digital banking.
“CBD customers can now access Aani’s services through both our award-winning mobile app and the official Aani app, delivering a frictionless, secure, and truly omnichannel experience,” said Khaled Al Hammadi – General Manager, Personal Banking Group, Commercial Bank of Dubai. “Given the vital role that SMEs play in the UAE’s business landscape, participating in this initiative will be a game changer as it is set to help small businesses handle transactions more efficiently and securely.” This milestone fits squarely
within CBD’s long-term digital transformation strategy. At the heart of CBD’s journey has been the Digital Factory, the bank’s inhouse fintech incubator that rapidly develops and deploys customer-centric digital solutions. CBD was the first bank in the UAE to offer fully digital onboarding. Its mobile app is consistently top-rated, featuring biometric login, customisable dashboards, AI-powered fraud detection, and real-time credit decisioning. The bank’s partnerships with Microsoft and Accenture have led to enterprisewide AI upskilling initiatives, including the CBD Promptathon and early adoption of Microsoft Copilot across its teams. CBD’s role in digital payments extends far beyond Aani. It was the first bank in the Middle East to integrate JP Morgan’s Kinexys Liink application Confirm, streamlining cross-border payments for corporate clients. Its advanced iBusiness platform continues to evolve with solutions for digital trade finance, liquidity management, and account validation. As instant payments become the norm and customer expectations rise, CBD’s forward-thinking approach continues to set benchmarks in the UAE’s financial sector. Download the CBD mobile app to experience the future of instant payments with Aani. For more information, visit www.cbd.ae
Magnati simplifies contactless payments with the launch of tap to pay on iPhone
This solution ensures that both the merchant and customer data remain secure
Kushmita Bose kushmita@khaleejtimes.com M
agnati, a leading payment solutions provider in the Middle East, has introduced Tap to Pay on iPhone, enabling businesses to accept contactless payments in the UAE using only an iPhone. With this feature, merchants can process a variety of contactless payments via credit, debit, and prepaid cards, as well as Apple Pay and other digital wal-
lets, using only an iPhone and the SwipeX iOS app. No additional devices or payment terminals are required. Tap to Pay on iPhone offers a seamless checkout experience. Merchants simply prompt customers to hold their contactless payment method near the iPhone, and the transaction is securely completed via NFC technology. This solution ensures that both the merchant and customer data remain secure as it uses the iPhone’s built-in security features.
Apple does not store card or transaction information on the device or its servers.
Setting up Tap to Pay on iPhone is straightforward. New merchants with an iPhone XS or later models, running the latest version of iOS, can download the SwipeX app from the Apple App Store. After a brief digital onboarding process, they can enable Tap to Pay on iPhone and start accepting payments immediately.
Nishit Doshi, Managing Director and Head of Products, Partnerships and Data at Magnati commented, “The introduction of Tap to Pay on iPhone helps enhance the customer experience with contactless payments. For UAE consumers, contactless in-person payments have become second nature, with over 95% of transactions now conducted via this method. With Tap to Pay on iPhone, we are equipping businesses in the UAE with an efficient solution that enhances sales while providing customers with greater choice and convenience.”