Jaywan — Rupay’s Twin
From the Tides of Mumbai to the Sands of Dubai
Wondering what went from Mumbai Tides to Dubai Sands?
Habibis….
Guess it!!!
It’s none other than Jaywan, the UAE’s latest card scheme, crafted with inspiration from India’s homegrown RuPay.
Let’s Explore!
Jaywan
The Jaywan card scheme is the UAE’s first national domestic card program aimed at revolutionizing its payment infrastructure and fostering financial inclusion. Developed in partnership with India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) International, it serves as one of the UAE’s nine Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) initiatives, launched last year.
Ownership and Operation:
Al Etihad Payments, overseen by the UAE Central Bank, manages Jaywan.
Why the Launch of Jaywan?
The launch of Jaywan serves two key purposes:
Financial Stability
Having a domestic card system, reduces the UAE’s reliance on external providers, gaining more control over its financial infrastructure and becoming less dependent on international actors.
Financial Inclusion
Jaywan aims to make digital payments more accessible to a wider range of people in the UAE, which is achieved by offering:
- Lower fees compared to traditional options.
- Simpler eligibility requirements, potentially bringing more people into the digital payment ecosystem.
- Encouraging merchants to accept card payments more readily, increasing the overall use of digital transactions.
The Connection: Mumbai Tides to Dubai Sands
Here’s how RuPay served as an inspiration for the introduction of the Jaywan Card scheme in UAE:
- Foundation and Interface Design: Jaywan is built upon the foundational principles of India’s RuPay. It adopts interfaces similar to those of RuPay, leveraging proven design elements that have been successful in India.
- Use of Components: UAE has purchased RuPay components to use as Jaywan's cornerstones. This includes technologies and frameworks that have been developed and tested under RuPay, ensuring reliability and compatibility with the UAE’s financial infrastructure.
- Domestic Payment Network Model: RuPay’s success in establishing a robust domestic payment network in India serves as a model for Jaywan. By focusing on developing a local card scheme, Jaywan aims to reduce dependency on international networks and enhance economic autonomy.
- Cost Efficiency and Financial Inclusion: RuPay’s emphasis on lowering transaction costs and promoting financial inclusion has influenced the objectives of Jaywan. The UAE aims to replicate these benefits by making electronic payments more accessible and affordable, thereby expanding financial services to underserved populations.
Jaywan Vs UAE Local Cards
Who can apply for a Jaywan card in the UAE?
Any UAE resident holding a valid Emirates ID is eligible to apply.
Current Landscape of Jaywan
1. Rollout Phases
Jaywan’s introduction will be implemented in stages, beginning with the initial acceptance of the physical card. This phased approach ensures comprehensive availability and usability of the card across different payment platforms and channels.
2. Issuance:
4 UAE banks currently offer the Jaywan card. They are:
- First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB),
- Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB),
- Mashreq Bank, and
- Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD).
3. Accessibility Focus:
Initially, the focus is on ensuring widespread acquirer acceptance across ATMs and Point-of-Sale (POS) devices to enable broad usage of Jaywan cards.
At present, Ajman Bank is one of the first banks in the UAE to integrate Jaywan card acceptance across its ATM network successfully.
4. E-commerce Integration:
While physical acceptance is prioritized initially, e-commerce acceptance of Jaywan cards is expected to be implemented later this year.
Know More:
There is currently no formal mandate requiring all banks to issue Jaywan cards. However, Abdulaziz Al Ghurair, chairman of the UAE Banking Federation has indicated a commitment from all banks to transition their debit cards to Jaywan within two and a half years.
P.S: What topic do you think we should explore next? Let us know in the comments.
