Emirates has teamed up with Al Etihad Payments to bring in Jaywan, the UAE’s national card scheme, as a new way to pay for flight bookings, offering UAE customers more flexibility when buying travel from Dubai. This partnership will let customers use Jaywan cards to book Emirates flights online and at the airline’s retail stores, broadening the payment methods open to travelers. The step also links the country’s homegrown digital payments infrastructure with one of its top international airlines, helping deliver a smoother booking experience for customers.
As part of the agreement, Jaywan cardholders will also gain access to special fares across Emirates’ cabin classes and most fare types. The offer applies to both one-way and return fares from Dubai, giving customers more chances to save when arranging international trips. This initiative reinforces the link between the UAE’s expanding digital payments ecosystem and its international aviation sector, while offering travelers more choice, convenience and value when booking flights.
Emirates Rolls Out Jaywan for Flight Bookings
From September 16, 2026, customers based in the UAE will be able to use their Jaywan cards to book flights on the airline’s website. Customers can enter their card details at checkout to complete purchases, which makes Jaywan a direct payment option within the airline’s online booking process. This addition offers customers who already use the UAE’s national card scheme another way to buy Emirates tickets without depending on other payment methods.
Jaywan cards will also be accepted at Emirates Retail stores, where staff can verify physical cards before payment and ticket issuance. Emirates will accept every Jaywan card type, including the Jaywan Royal Debit Card, Jaywan Prestige Debit Card and Jaywan Prepaid Card, so customers holding different Jaywan products can use the new payment option. By offering the cards through both digital and in-person booking channels, the partnership gives customers more flexibility in how they arrange and pay for travel.
Special Fares Offered Across Emirates Cabins
The partnership also brings special fares for Jaywan customers, covering all Emirates cabin classes and most eligible fare types on one-way and return journeys from Dubai. The offer will apply to bookings made from September 16, 2026, through August 31, 2027, while eligible travel can be completed through February 29, 2028. This provides customers with a longer window to plan and book qualifying journeys with their Jaywan cards.
The special-fare arrangement adds a travel benefit on top of the new payment facility, letting Jaywan cardholders pair a locally supported payment method with access to selected Emirates fares. The initiative is expected to give UAE customers another reason to use Jaywan when planning international travel from Dubai. The airline stated that this new payment method is designed to make booking smoother and give customers more options for paying for their flights.
Partnership Expands UAE’s Digital Travel Payments
The agreement was officially signed by Abdulla Al Olama, Vice President Commercial Operations UAE at Emirates, and Andrea Cianchetti, Chief Product Officer at Al Etihad Payments, with senior representatives from both organizations present. This agreement represents a new stage in collaboration between the airline and the UAE’s domestic payments infrastructure, integrating the national card scheme directly into Emirates’ travel booking channels. It is also part of Emirates’ wider efforts to broaden digital payment options for customers in the UAE.
Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said Jaywan introduces a homegrown payment option for UAE customers and offers greater ease when buying travel. He also pointed to the airline’s broader collaboration with partners in the UAE’s digital payments ecosystem to support the country’s shift toward greater cashless adoption. The partnership with Al Etihad Payments and Jaywan thus builds on Emirates’ ongoing efforts to make digital payment options more accessible to travelers while supporting the growth of the country’s financial infrastructure.
Jaywan Strengthens Its Role in UAE Travel
Dr. Tariq Al Hawi, Chief Operating Officer at Al Etihad Payments, said the partnership aims to give Jaywan cardholders more choice, flexibility and convenience when booking with Emirates. He emphasized that Jaywan cards are accepted through both emirates.com and Emirates’ retail stores, enabling customers to complete their purchases online or in person. He also noted the availability of special fares across cabin classes as an added benefit that links everyday payments with travel-related value for cardholders.
Jaywan was launched by Al Etihad Payments as the UAE’s domestic card scheme and is intended to support a resilient national payments ecosystem. The cards are issued by leading UAE banks and are being accepted in a growing range of sectors, including ride-hailing and car rentals, restaurants, attractions, healthcare and pharmacies, and retail. Now that Emirates has joined the network, Jaywan is expanding into international air travel and offering cardholders another major channel for using the UAE’s national payment system.
