Advanced solution, led by Dubai Smart Government and developed by Quisk, uses only mobile numbers and secure PIN for transactions

Dubai, UAE, 10 January 2016

Quisk Middle East FZ LLC, a global payments technology company specialising in digitising cash, has signed an agreement with Network International, the leading payment solutions provider in the Middle East and Africa, to deploy an innovative new cashless, cardless and mobile-free payment method.

The next generation solution, led by Dubai Smart Government (DSG) and developed by Quisk, will be deployed by Network International across its points of sale (POS) merchant network in the United Arab Emirates in 2016, enabling people to conduct payment transactions without the use of cash, cards or their mobile phones. The payment service is part of Dubai Smart Government's mission to integrate technology to create innovative solutions that will boost Dubai's overall economic welfare and global competitiveness, while contributing to social progress.

The cloud-based Quisk solution utilises mobile phone numbers and a secured PIN to create and access a new type of digital cash account. The solution does not require smart phones or mobile operator services and can be used for physical and online payments for a wide variety of transactions including retail, government services and bill payments.  

Commenting on the new digital payment solution, H.E. Wesam Al Abbas Lootah, CEO of DSG, said: "Signing a strategic partnership contract with Dubai-based Quisk Middle East and Network International to activate a smart payment service channel for individual and corporate retail customers via mobile phone numbers will enhance our corporate vision of establishing a distinctive smart city that offers the world a new and unique model of developing cities. This initiative is in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council to speed Dubai's smart transformation, as part of its bid to become the smartest city in the world."

Lootah added: "DSG will carry on its tasks of recruiting skilful staff and harnessing enablers including an advanced smart infrastructure, smart service systems and high-level technical support with the aim of enhancing the performance of smart services to ensure efficient smart transformation and continued creativity and innovation through cooperation between the government and private sectors."

Bhairav Trivedi, CEO, Network International, said, "We are delighted to collaborate with Quisk to make available innovative and convenient payment solutions across our network of POS terminals. This solution heralds a new era of cashless payments across the region, enabling people to conduct transactions anytime and anywhere, in line with Dubai Smart Government's smart transformation initiatives to support Dubai's aspirations. Network International is committed to promoting innovative payment solutions in the UAE as the country consolidates its position as a regional market leader in payment technologies."

Samer Soliman, Executive Vice President - Product and Innovation at Network International, said, "We are honoured to contribute to this initiative by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to ensure that Dubai becomes the world's smartest city. The solution leverages the UAE's widespread mobile penetration, offering customers a never-seen-before convenient, flexible and secure payment method.

"This partnership will re-shape the way people think about making payments," commented Ziad Alshobaki, Managing Director of Quisk Middle East FZ LLC, the newly rebranded name for MOBIbucks. "It signifies next generation of payment types for both in-store and online transactions. It will serve a vast number of users across the region, as Quisk's innovative methods will be combined with Network International's extensive reach, being the first independent vendor to be certified by both Visa and MasterCard for card payments - a significant feat for any payment solutions provider in the Middle East."

Steve Novak, Chairman and CEO of Quisk, Inc. applauds Network International on its continued advances into new and innovative payment solutions.  "We are pleased to be working with both Dubai Smart Government and Network International to bring a new payment type to Dubai that will enhance the emirate's smart infrastructure.   Quisk's unique digital cash payment solution will advance the Smart Dubai Initiative, moving Dubai towards achieving its goal of becoming the world's smartest city." 

-Ends-

About Quisk Middle East:
Quisk Middle East is the MENA subsidiary of Quisk, Inc.  Quisk, Inc., headquartered in Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, CA, is an innovator in the digital cash and mobile money space and has developed a digital services and transaction processing platform for integrated mobile payments and marketing/loyalty programs. Quisk is a winner of both the Red Herring 2015 Global Top 100 and Red Herring 2015 Top 100 North America awards. For more information, visit www.quisk.co.

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 North Africa region (MENA). 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. This includes credit, debit and prepaid card processing, ATM management and monitoring, merchant acquiring and processing, fraud management, e-commerce services and mobile solutions for the payments industry, with the objective of enabling speedy, secure and convenient payment transactions for customers. 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 and India, with its corporate head office in Dubai. The company continues to invest in strategic partnerships that will increasingly see its influence spread across the region.

Network International is a Principal Member of Visa International and MasterCard International in the UAE and enjoys extension of its MasterCard License in other key countries. It is also a member of JCB and Union Pay card schemes, and it owns and manages the Diners Club International Franchise in the UAE, Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan. In 2013, the company launched a GCC based domestic scheme, Mercury, and partnered with Discover Financial Services (DFS) to allow global acceptance of Mercury cards on the Discover, Diners Club International and PULSE networks. Network International, a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certified company, is also a major player in the international remittance industry and owns a majority stake in TimesofMoney Ltd., a leading global online remittance and digital payments company facilitating cross-border remittances and domestic payments in emerging economies.

For further information, please contact:
Virtue PR & Marketing Communications
P.O Box: 191931
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: 00971 4 4508835
Email: info@virtuemena.com  
Website: www.virtuemena.com

© Press Release 2016