Emirates has signed an agreement with Al Etihad Payments to accept Jaywan, the UAE’s national card scheme, as a payment method for flight bookings. The deal was formalised by Abdulla Al Olama, Vice President Commercial Operations UAE for Emirates, and Andrea Cianchetti, Chief Product Officer at Al Etihad Payments, with senior leadership from both organisations present.
From 16 September 2026, UAE-based customers can use their Jaywan cards to book directly on Emirates.com or at Emirates Retail stores. In stores, physical cards are verified by staff before tickets are issued. Emirates will accept the full range of Jaywan cards: the Jaywan Royal Debit Card, Jaywan Prestige Debit Card and Jaywan Prepaid Card.
Cardholders will also be able to access discounted fares across all cabin classes and most fare types on one-way and return flights departing Dubai. The offer applies to bookings made between 16 September 2026 and 31 August 2027 for travel up to 29 February 2028. Online fare access is coming soon; UAE customers can currently access the special fares at Emirates Retail stores.
“Emirates already offers UAE customers a broad range of ways to pay for their travel, and Jaywan is now added as a homegrown option that adds further choice and simplicity when booking. It also means more people across the UAE that use Jaywan cards can book with Emirates as easily as they would make any other payment.
We’ve been working with partners across the UAE’s digital payments ecosystem to accelerate cashless adoption within travel, and accepting Jaywan is one step further in delivering on our commitment. Our partnership with Al Etihad Payments and Jaywan also plays a part in strengthening the financial infrastructure the UAE is building for the years ahead,” Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said in a statement.
“Our partnership with Emirates Airlines reinforces Jaywan’s ambition to deliver more than a payment solution by creating tangible value and a seamless experience for every cardholder. The acceptance of Jaywan cards across emirates.com and Emirates’ retail stores gives Jaywan Cardholders greater choice, flexibility and convenience, enabling them to pay seamlessly whether booking online or purchasing in person. Combined with access to exclusive fares across all cabin classes, this partnership demonstrates how Jaywan can connect everyday payments with meaningful benefits and experiences for cardholders,” Dr. Tariq Al Hawi, Chief Operating Officer at Al Etihad Payments added.
The agreement extends Emirates’ recent work on digital payments. In October 2025, the airline signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai Finance to promote the Dubai Cashless Strategy among international visitors. In July it launched Pay, giving eligible UAE residents another payment option on Emirates.com and the Emirates app.
Jaywan was introduced by Al Etihad Payments to localise the UAE’s card infrastructure and handle domestic transactions independently of international schemes. Cards are now issued by major UAE banks and accepted by merchants across ride-hailing, restaurants, healthcare, retail and other sectors.
