Network International, the main empowering agent of digital commerce over the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, has consented to an agreement with UnionPay International on the acknowledgment of QR code-based payment services.

The agreement signed by Han Wang, General Manager of UnionPay International Middle East, and Samer Soliman, Managing Director Middle East, Network International, in the presence of SHAO Fujun, Chairman of China UnionPay, and Simon Haslam, Group CEO of Network International, will see nearly 10,000 merchant terminals in the UAE bolster UnionPays QR code-based payment service carrying comfort to UnionPay cardholders who utilize the UnionPay app, the companys secure, efficient and quick installment service.

The partnership pursues UnionPay Internationals agreement last year with Network International on acknowledgment of UnionPay QuickPass, which empowered UnionPay cardholders to lead contactless payments on Network International POS terminals in the UAE utilizing their NFC-enabled chip cards or smartphones.

Chinas multibillion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has added to the nation keeping up its situation as the UAEs biggest trading partner for several years. 15.95 million Chinese visitors visited the UAE in 2018, as indicated by Dubai Tourism figures, making UnionPay cards an increasingly important tool for payments. UnionPay cards are currently accepted, online and offline, across the UAE. In 2018, trading volumes of the locally issued UnionPay cards increased nearly 20% year-on-year.

While cash payments still dominate in the UAE, the nation is seeing a progress to electronic payment methods, driven by UAE government initiatives to offer citizens and residents innovative digital payment options.

As of now, all Network POS terminals in the UAE support UnionPay QuickPass, and the new agreement will boost extensive acknowledgment of QR code services among merchants over the UAE.
SHAO Fujun remarked that the BRI has prompted progressively stronger demand for cross-border payments between China and the UAE. In response, UnionPay has fundamentally extended coverage of UnionPay mobile payments service to fulfil the needs of its clients visiting the UAE. He further stated that UnionPay is focused to utilizing its networks, products and technologies to help the continuous digitisation payment industry in the UAE and provide the UAE residents with UnionPay mobile payments.

Remarked Samer Soliman, Managing Director Middle East, Network International, As the main empowering agent of commerce in the MEA region, we are charmed to join with UnionPay to support UAE vendors' acceptance of QR code-based payments. We keep on supporting the UAEs transition to digital payments and are glad to extend this exertion further through our association with UnionPay.

Clients would already be able to enjoy safe and convenient UnionPay mobile payment services in 47 countries and regions around the world. They can make QR code scanning -based payments at more than 10,000,000 merchants in 29 countries and regions, most of which are located along the BRI countries and regions. In the Middle East, UnionPay QR code payment service has been acknowledged by tens of thousands of dealers in nations including Turkey and Pakistan, offering visitors a consistent and helpful payment experience.