Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has announced a new strategic move to boost the efficiency of the payment ecosystem within the UAE. They've chosen Emirates NBD, one of the leading banking institutions in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, as the official agent for the National Net Settlement Service (NNSS). This appointment marks a significant shift in how Visa card transactions are settled within the country. Settlements will now happen locally in UAE Dirhams, moving away from reliance on international settlement systems. This change will help make financial operations more flexible and faster, while also supporting the localization of payments and reducing dependence on external channels. Under this framework, the settlement entity in the National Net Settlement System – typically a licensed bank or financial institution – will handle local transaction settlements between Visa customers according to the network's standards.
Simplifying Local Currency Settlement Procedures
Related editorial

Egyptian SMEs Get AI Boost for Global Exports Through New Partnership
Egypt's Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (MSMEDA) and EXBY have signed a letter of intent for a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to leverage artificial intelligence and modern digital tools to help export-ready Egyptian businesses reach new global markets, boosting their contribution to national exports and improving their competitiveness.

Qualcomm, Aramco, and Humanain Announce 10 Startups for Saudi AI Program DISAI 2026
Qualcomm, Aramco, and Humanain have teamed up to select 10 exciting startups for the DISAI 2026 program. This initiative aims to supercharge AI innovations, with 8 Saudi companies and 2 international firms joining the cohort.

Oman Future Fund Invests in gatekey.money to Drive Digital Financial Services and Transformation
The Oman Future Fund has announced its investment in gatekey.money through R&D Capital. This exciting move aims to boost digital payments, foster innovation, enhance financial inclusion, and accelerate digital transformation across Oman.

Paymob Teams Up with Tap Digital Business Card to Boost Sales and Digital Transformation
This exciting partnership aims to bring together all sales team and merchant interaction data onto a single platform. This means every communication, meeting, and follow-up can be easily recorded in one complete digital log, making sales processes much smoother and more efficient.

