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Etisalat Money, the fintech arm of Etisalat, has announced a strategic partnership with Visa to expand and diversify cross-border money transfer options for its customers in the United Arab Emirates through Visa’s global money transfer platform, Visa Direct.

The partnership aims to meet a diverse range of international payment needs, including consumer remittances and international payments for small businesses, leveraging the global capabilities of Visa Direct. It also seeks to introduce new international payment capabilities within the Etisalat Money app, providing customers with a secure and seamless way to send money.

The partnership was signed at Visa’s regional headquarters for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) in Dubai Internet City. The collaboration combines Etisalat Money’s digital financial services ecosystem with the global money transfer capabilities of Visa Direct, unlocking new opportunities for individuals and businesses to send funds across borders via bank accounts, digital wallets, and eligible cards.

Melike Kara Tanrikulu, CEO of Etisalat Money, stated:

"International remittances form a core pillar of global transactions for individuals and businesses alike. As customer needs evolve, opportunities emerge to provide diverse and highly flexible money transfer options. Our partnership with Visa Direct marks a strategic step toward expanding our international payment capabilities and reinforcing our position in the digital financial services market, while underscoring our commitment to offering practical financial solutions that meet customer needs and support our long-term growth."

Fadi Dakroub, Senior Vice President and Group General Manager for UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar at Visa, commented:

"Trust is one of the most critical elements of successful money transfers, and Visa has spent decades building reliable and secure ways to connect individuals, businesses, and economies. By combining the global scale of Visa Direct with Etisalat Money’s digital financial services ecosystem, we are able to provide broader options for individuals and businesses to send and receive money internationally."

Four New Services Enhancing the User Experience

Under this partnership, Etisalat Money plans to launch four additional international transfer services:

Visa Direct Card Transfers: Enables users to send funds directly to eligible recipient cards using just the card number.

Visa+: An innovative service enabling fast and secure peer-to-peer transfers between different digital payment apps by using the recipient's phone number instead of traditional banking details.

Consumer-to-Business Transfers: Allows eligible customers to send international payments from their personal Etisalat Money accounts to corporate accounts.

SWIFT Network Transfers: Expands the scope of traditional international payment options available through the app.

Extensive Global Reach and Advanced Features

These new offerings complement Etisalat Money’s existing remittance ecosystem, which currently spans over 150 countries. Customers can send money through multiple payout channels—including bank accounts, digital wallets, and cash pickups. Additionally, the app offers real-time exchange rates, estimated delivery times, and transaction tracking to help users manage transfers with absolute transparency.

Target Corridors and Future Goals

In its initial phase, the partnership will support transfers to key remittance corridors including India, Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and China, alongside digital-wallet-enabled destinations in multiple markets. The collaboration supports Etisalat Money’s broader growth strategy in cross-border payments by bridging accounts, digital wallets, and eligible cards via Visa Direct.

Furthermore, Etisalat Money aims to cater to the diverse needs of the UAE’s internationally connected population by consolidating multiple payment methods into a single digital platform. These expanded services will allow customers to choose transfer methods based on their personal preferences and recipients' requirements, reducing the need to juggle multiple apps for various payment needs.

Ultimately, the partnership reflects a shared commitment by Etisalat Money and Visa to drive the continuous evolution of digital money transfer experiences in the UAE and beyond, making cross-border payments more connected, digitized, and accessible for both individuals and businesses.