Emirates and Al Etihad Payments partner to bring Jaywan the UAE’s national card scheme to flight bookings, opening up special fares for customers
Emirates and Al Etihad Payments have signed an agreement to bring Jaywan, the UAE’s national card scheme to Emirates, expanding payment options for customers booking travel from Dubai.
The agreement was formally signed by Abdulla Al Olama, Vice President Commercial Operations UAE for Emirates and Andrea Cianchetti, Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Al Etihad Payments, witnessed by senior leadership from both organisations.
Starting on 16 September 2026, customers can book flights with their Jaywan cards in two ways:
- Online: At checkout, UAE-based customers can enter their Jaywan card details to complete their booking on emirates.com.
- In retail stores: Jaywan is accepted at Emirates Retail stores, with physical cards verified by staff before payment and issuance of tickets.
Emirates will accept all Jaywan cards, including the Jaywan Royal Debit Card, Jaywan Prestige Debit Card and Jaywan Prepaid Card, with the security and seamless experience customers expect at checkout when booking their travel.
Jaywan customers can also enjoy discounts across all cabin classes and most fare types, on both one-way and return fares from Dubai*. The offer is available for bookings made from 16 September 2026 until 31 August 2027, for travel until 29 February 2028.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said: “Emirates already offers UAE customers a broad range of ways to pay for their travel, and Jaywan is now added as a homegrown option that adds further choice and simplicity when booking. It also means more people across the UAE that use Jaywan cards can book with Emirates as easily as they would make any other payment.
We’ve been working with partners across the UAE’s digital payments ecosystem to accelerate cashless adoption within travel, and accepting Jaywan is one step further in delivering on our commitment. Our partnership with Al Etihad Payments and Jaywan also plays a part in strengthening the financial infrastructure the UAE is building for the years ahead.”
Dr. Tariq Al Hawi, Chief Operating Officer at Al Etihad Payments, said: “Our partnership with Emirates Airlines reinforces Jaywan’s ambition to deliver more than a payment solution by creating tangible value and a seamless experience for every cardholder. The acceptance of Jaywan cards across emirates.com and Emirates’ retail stores gives Jaywan Cardholders greater choice, flexibility and convenience, enabling them to pay seamlessly whether booking online or purchasing in person. Combined with access to exclusive fares across all cabin classes, this partnership demonstrates how Jaywan can connect everyday payments with meaningful benefits and experiences for cardholders.”
The agreement builds on Emirates’ wider work to expand digital payments in the UAE. In October 2025, the airline signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dubai Finance to promote the Dubai Cashless Strategy among international visitors, and in July it launched Crypto.com Pay, giving eligible UAE residents another way to pay on emirates.com and the Emirates app.
Jaywan is the UAE’s domestic card scheme, introduced by Al Etihad Payments for a resilient and robust national payments ecosystem. Created to handle local transactions safely and efficiently, it localises the country’s card infrastructure and reinforces national financial sovereignty. Jaywan cards are issued by major banks across the UAE and are accepted by a growing network of merchants spanning ride-hailing and car rentals, restaurants, attractions, healthcare and pharmacies, retail, among other businesses.
Source: Emirates 24|7