Etihad Payments has officially partnered with UnionPay International to take the UAE’s domestic Jaywan card system onto the world stage. Through a new memorandum signed in Shanghai, Jaywan cardholders will soon gain access to an expansive network spanning over 183 countries. This integration allows users to utilize their cards at more than 100 million point-of-sale terminals and nearly 2 million ATMs globally, significantly broadening the utility of the local payment scheme.

The deal establishes a seamless framework where UnionPay manages international transaction routing back to the UAE’s electronic switch, while a secondary agreement ensures smooth liquidity, settlement, and foreign exchange services. By leveraging this collaboration, the UAE aims to bolster the competitiveness of its local payment infrastructure, promote the use of local currencies in international settlements, and strengthen trade ties. This initiative builds on the existing "Jaywan-UnionPay" co-badged cards, ensuring that residents enjoy reliable domestic processing while benefiting from a massive global payment network.