QuickPass, UnionPay’s contactless payment feature, to be accepted on all Network International POS terminals

Dubai, UAE: In line with global trends and in support of the UAE’s smart nation drive, UnionPay International and Network International, the leading payment solutions provider in the Middle East and Africa, have extended their partnership to include online and contactless (NFC) payments across the country.

UnionPay card customers in the UAE can now make purchases via UPOP (UnionPay Online Payment) at over 500 online merchants of Network International, the UAE’s largest merchant acquirer.

The companies have also collaborated on QuickPass, a secure, efficient and fast contactless payment service by UnionPay, in the UAE, substantially expanding QuickPass’ acceptance reach in the country. The partnership enables UnionPay cardholders to conduct contactless payments on all Network International POS terminals using their NFC-enabled chip cards or smartphones. Network International operates one of the largest NFC-equipped POS terminal networks in the UAE and QuickPass acceptance across all 65,000+ Network International terminals is set to be completed during 2018.

While cash payments still dominate in the UAE, the country is witnessing a transition to electronic payment methods, led by UAE government initiatives to offer citizens and residents innovative digital payment options. Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is among the latest payment solutions being adopted by financial institutions in the region enabling customers to conduct contactless transactions via cards or mobile phones.

“NFC and e-commerce transactions are rapidly picking up momentum in the UAE as customer confidence in the technology grows and smartphone manufacturers and banks are offering more contactless and online payment services in the market. We are also seeing a push at a government level as the nation hopes to achieve Smart City goals which include reduced cash transactions. This has resulted in a remarkable increase of contactless and online transactions this year and, with the expansion of QuickPass and UPOP in the UAE, we expect the numbers to increase further,” said Han Wang, General Manager, UnionPay International Middle East.

UnionPay, the world’s largest payment scheme, and Network International, region’s leading payment solutions provider, have previously collaborated to ensure card acceptance at traditional Network International terminals.

“Network International has played a leading role in supporting the UAE’s transition to cashless payments and we are pleased to expand this effort further through our partnership with UnionPay,” said Samer Soliman, Managing Director – Middle East, Network International. “We are confident that QuickPass acceptance at our POS terminals will help raise the value of contactless transactions in the UAE and are also delighted to support UnionPay customers’ e-commerce transactions with local merchants.”

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About UnionPay International

UnionPay International (UPI) is a subsidiary of China UnionPay focuses on international business. In partnership with more than 1,800 institutions worldwide, UnionPay International has extended its card acceptance to 168 countries and regions globally with issuance in 48 countries and regions. UnionPay International provides high quality, cost effective and secure cross-border payment services to the world’s largest cardholder base and ensures convenient localized services to a growing number of global UnionPay cardholders and merchants.

In the UAE, UnionPay cards are accepted at almost all POS terminals and ATMs.

About Network International:

Established in 1994, Network International LLC is the largest acquirer in the UAE, and a leading payment solutions provider in the Middle East and Africa region (MEA), servicing more than 70,000 merchant partners and 200 financial institutions across 55 countries. The company’s service offering comprises a comprehensive range of payment products and services for both the Issuing and Acquiring segments of banks, financial institutions and retail merchants including end-to-end consultancy ranging from planning and designing to developing of new card and consumer finance products and services. In addition, the company offers several value-add products including data analytics, scoring and loyalty solutions. Network International has Operation centers in the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, South Africa and Nigeria, with its corporate head office in Dubai. The company recently acquired Emerging Markets Payments Holdings Limited (EMPH) and continues to invest in strategic partnerships that will increasingly see its influence spread across the region.

Press Contacts:

UnionPay International:

Jing Leng

Tel.: +971-4-4345642

Email: lengjing@unionpayintl.com

Network International:

Tricia Kaul

ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, Dubai, UAE

Tel: 971-4-4507600 Fax: 971-4-4358040

Email: tricia.kaul@bm.com

© Press Release 2018