Al Etihad Payments Launches Instant Payments Platform in the UAE

Etihad Payments (AEP), a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), has launched Aani, an instant payments platform aimed at revolutionizing digital payments in the UAE. Aani, part of the CBUAE’s Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) program, offers seamless and secure digital payments, enabling transactions 24/7. It allows users to transfer money instantly using a recipient’s phone number, offers features like “Request Money” and “Split Bills,” and supports QR code-based cashless payments. Additional features, including real-time direct debit and e-checks, will be introduced. Eight licensed financial institutions are participating in the launch, with plans to onboard more by the end of 2024. Aani is accessible through participating LFIs or the AEP’s Aani mobile app, and partnerships with merchant acquirers aim to onboard thousands of merchants in the coming months. Jan Pilbauer, CEO of Al Etihad Payments, expressed the platform’s potential to reinforce the UAE’s role as a global digital payment hub. This launch follows the UAE’s introduction of its first Domestic Card Scheme (DCS), which supports the nation’s digitalization agenda and enhances competitiveness.