Merchants and consumers in the UAE are going to have greater accessibility to make real-time transactions following a new partnership between digital payments firm, Checkout.com and payments juggernaut, Visa.
As a result of this collaboration, Checkout.com is going to launch Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, facilitating cross-border and domestic transactions in the country. It also marks the first organisation to use Visa’s solution in the region.
The Push-to-Card solution enables merchants and consumers in the UAE to send money quickly and easily to eligible Visa cards, offering near real-time fund disbursements. This solution brings a host of benefits, including:
- fast remittances
- peer-to-peer (P2P) payments
- merchant payouts
With both local and cross-border coverage, it expands users’ reach while leveraging the security and reliability of Visa’s global network. The solution also helps merchants enhance operational efficiency by simplifying transactions, eliminating the need for complex banking details, and ensuring improved payment performance.
“The UAE has rapidly emerged as a leader in digital payments, fueled by a clear vision to create a cashless, interconnected ecosystem. By providing seamless, secure, and real-time payout capabilities, we’re empowering merchants with the agility to thrive in this fast-evolving landscape, while effectively meeting the growing consumer demand for speed and convenience,” noted Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, general manager for MENA at Checkout.com.
“The Push-to-Card solution not only reinforces our commitment to powering payment performance but also showcases our agility in bringing yet another innovation to the UAE market.”
Why Visa Direct?
Visa Direct is a global money movement platform that connects more than 190 markets, offering access to over 8.5 billion card, account, and wallet endpoints through a single entry point.
“Visa Direct is transforming the way money moves globally, and we are excited to see Checkout.com leverage this technology to meet the evolving demands of businesses and individuals alike by offering them a faster, more convenient, and secure way to send and receive funds,” said Shahebaz Khan, senior vice president and head of commercial and money movement solutions, CEMEA, Visa.
Impact in the UAE
According to Checkout.com’s latest annual MENA e-commerce report, nearly 80 per cent of consumers in the region engage in fintech activities beyond just making online payments, including money transfers, investments, and personal finance. As digital financial solutions continue to grow, real-time money movement has become a key consumer demand, driving the need for faster and more seamless payment experiences.
In response to this shift, account funding transactions (AFTs) are gaining significant traction in the UAE. Alongside the growing adoption of Push-to-Card services, AFTs enable merchants to offer a fast, secure, and efficient way for consumers to fund digital wallets and accounts. Checkout.com now processes over one million AFTs per month with Visa, helping businesses meet evolving payment expectations.
By eliminating multiple intermediary steps, AFTs allow real-time account top-ups through secure transactions, reducing friction, minimising fraud risk, and enhancing customer satisfaction. For merchants, this also translates to lower transaction costs and greater operational efficiency, reinforcing the UAE’s push toward a cashless economy.
As digital commerce expands, AFTs are playing a pivotal role in accelerating financial inclusion and driving payment innovation across the Middle East.
