Checkout.com integrates Jaywan into UAE acquiring platform

Global digital payments company Checkout.com has integrated Jaywan, the UAE’s domestic card scheme, into its acquiring platform, enabling merchants to accept Jaywan cards through domestic payment connectivity.

The integration is designed to support merchants in meeting UAE payment requirements while maintaining a consistent checkout experience for customers.

Jaywan is operated by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE. The domestic card scheme is part of efforts to strengthen the country’s payments infrastructure and support secure digital commerce.

Jaywan transactions to be routed through domestic rails

As banks and licensed financial institutions continue issuing Jaywan cards, Checkout.com said its platform will recognise eligible transactions and route them through Jaywan payment rails.

For merchants, the transition is intended to take place through the existing acquiring infrastructure, without requiring significant changes to the customer-facing checkout process.

The company said domestic routing can reduce reliance on international payment rails while helping merchants manage local payment and regulatory requirements through their existing acquiring platform.

Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager, MENA at Checkout.com, said the integration would help businesses prepare for the UAE's evolving payments requirements.

“We have built Jaywan directly into our acquiring platform so businesses can stay ready for the mandate, protect performance and manage the cost and compliance impact within the same platform they currently use,” he said.

myAster among early UAE platforms to enable Jaywan

myAster, the omnichannel digital health platform of Aster DM Healthcare, is among the first UAE platforms to enable Jaywan as a payment method.

myAster partnered with Checkout.com in December 2025 to develop a digital payments system for its healthcare services. The platform has more than five million registered users, according to the companies.

Nalla Karunanithy, Chief Executive Officer of Aster Digital Health & Omnichannel, said adding Jaywan would support the company's efforts to provide locally relevant payment options across its website and mobile application.

“As one of the early platforms to offer Jaywan, we are proud to support the UAE’s vision for a more connected and resilient digital payments ecosystem,” Karunanithy said.

Andrea Cianchetti, Chief Products Officer at Al Etihad Payments, said integrating Jaywan into existing acquiring infrastructure would help expand acceptance across digital commerce.

“The integration with Checkout.com does that for digital commerce, bringing Jaywan to a broad range of businesses through the acquiring platform they operate on,” Cianchetti said.

Checkout.com expands UAE payments capabilities

The Jaywan integration builds on Checkout.com's existing operations in the UAE. In 2023, the company became the first global payments provider to receive a UAE acquiring licence from the Central Bank of the UAE.

Checkout.com has also received in-principle approval for a Stored Value Facilities licence, which the company said supports its plans to bring acquiring and issuing capabilities together on a UAE platform.

The company serves businesses in the region including SHEIN, talabat, Tamara and Careem.

The integration of Jaywan adds domestic card acceptance to Checkout.com's acquiring infrastructure as the UAE continues developing its national payments ecosystem.