FAB partners with the Ministry of Finance to provide a new range of eDirham contactless cards and payit cashless and cardless solution

Introducing a new generation of eDirham contactless cards (Hala, Gold and Signature) and new features to FAB's digital wallet 'payit' to provide digital payments for government service fees, without the need for physical prepaid cards

FAB has partnered the Ministry of Finance to provide a new range of eDirham contactless cards and cardless solutions. Image supplied by FAB

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), has partnered with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to launch a new range of eDirham contactless cards (Hala, Gold & Signature) for governmental service fees. The eDirham was setup as a system of electronic channels capable of collecting service fees and revenue for the Federal Government via prepaid cards.

payit mobile wallet, powered by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), has also partnered with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to provide digital payments for governmental service fees, without the need of physical prepaid cards. The latest service adds to the digital wallet’s extensive profile of offerings to provide secure and contactless payments on the go. The feature will offer instant eDirham payments for a wide range of services and will be available in government centres, ministries and federal authorities across the UAE.

Customers can now apply for the new eDirham cards, namely Hala, Gold & Signature, through any selected FAB branches to be able to enjoy a seamless payment experience across participating government entities when they are enabled.

Saeed Al-Yateem Excellency, Assistant Undersecretary for Resources and Budget Affairs at the Ministry of Finance, said: "The Ministry of Finance has worked to develop the e-dirham system in terms of systems capacity and dimensions in order to improve performance and serve the aspirations of the UAE government customers.

"This national system is characterised by advanced and intelligent digital capabilities that reduce the time and effort of its employees and enable them to provide services to the public within the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. It also supports digital transformation initiatives and contributes into a cashless economy in the UAE.”

Hana Al Rostamani, Deputy Group CEO and Head of Personal Banking at FAB, said: “In an increasingly digital world, the move to contactless transactions is now more important than ever. I am delighted that our partnership with the ministry will enable additional benefits to our customers as we aim to drive growth and efficiency through digital solutions alongside government partners in the UAE for years to come. Our commitment to delivering a safe, secure and forward-looking payment experience will continue as we explore new digital services for our clients.”

Ramana Kumar, Head of Payments & Digital Banking, Personal Banking Group at FAB, said: “This partnership is a new milestone in our goal to achieve the cashless ambitions of the UAE. The swift service eliminates the need for customers to wait in long queues, which greatly enhances the experience for all stakeholders involved and aligns effortlessly with the government’s continued investment in digital channels. At a time where contactless services are crucial, payit continues to provide innovative solutions for its customers as we move towards an ecosystem of real-time and contactless payments.”

As consumers are increasingly choosing contactless payment solutions to protect their health and safety, FAB has been working on a number of digital initiatives with long-term investment in the fields of technology and digital investments. Digital wallets are the future of payments and are built with enhanced security controls, which is invaluable in an era of cybersecurity risks.

payit is the UAE's first fully-featured digital wallet. Send and receive money to anyone instantly 24/7, pay at restaurants and shops, split bills with friends when you eat out and track your spending on the go. Whether you're going out with friends or ordering food online, payit is the easiest way to pay. payit is open to all – it doesn’t matter who you bank with, all you need to start using payit is an Emirates ID.

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