Visa Partners with Emirates NBD to Process Domestic Card Payments Locally in UAE
Local AED settlement to accelerate transaction speeds and reduce processing delays for Visa cardholders
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- Visa has appointed Emirates NBD as its National Net Settlement Service agent in the UAE, enabling domestic Visa card transactions to be settled locally in UAE Dirhams instead of through international channels.
- The partnership aims to accelerate transaction processing for retail, dining, and travel payments while reducing dependencies on international networks and potentially lowering banking fees over time.
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Visa card payments in the UAE are now faster. Visa has partnered with Emirates NBD for local processing of card transactions in UAE Dirhams. This means domestic Visa card payments for shopping, dining, and travel will be processed locally. Consumers will experience quicker transactions without any changes to how they use their cards.
Payments using Visa debit and credit cards in the United Arab Emirates are going to be faster as Visa has appointed Emirates NBD (National Bank of Dubai) as its National Net Settlement Service (NNSS) agent in the UAE. This means Visa's domestic card transactions will now be settled by Emirates NBD locally in UAE Dirhams (AED) instead of going through international channels.
For residents and citizens of the UAE, this is great news because this means your online and offline payments using a Visa card at grocery stores, malls and restaurants are going to become faster. Just keep in mind that this change is happening in the backend, so you don't need to do anything differently when using your Visa card.
According to the press release dated April 30, 2026 by Emirates NBD, here's how this new system benefits: Faster local settlement: Domestic Visa transactions clear and settle in AED through a UAE-based NNSS Settlement Agent, helping reduce processing time and payment delays. Improved reliability and resiliency: Local processing minimises dependencies on international networks for domestic flows, supporting continuity and stability. Cost efficiencies: Reduced international processing can lower certain fees, creating opportunities for more efficient operations. Greater flexibility for clients: Visa's clients gain new options to automate and manage domestic settlement obligations in line with local operating needs.
According to the press release, a Visa NNSS Settlement Agent (typically a licensed bank or financial institution) facilitates local settlement for participating Visa clients by managing fund transfers for domestic Visa transactions in line with Visa's network standards.
Fadi Moukaddem, Visa's SVP and Group Country Manager for UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar, said in the press release: "We are committed to expanding the growth of digital payments in the UAE, and are delighted to partner with Emirates NBD to continue facilitating local currency settlements among our clients for Visa domestic transactions."
Ahmed Al Qassim, Group Head of Wholesale Banking in Emirates NBD, said: "We are pleased to serve as Visa's NNSS Settlement Agent for settlements in the UAE. This partnership will streamline domestic settlement processes and bolster the nation's digital payments infrastructure, supporting the UAE government's ambitions for a more cashless economy."
According to a report by Gulf News, your banking charges can reduce over time since International processing can involve extra fees and currency conversions. By settling transactions in UAE dirhams, banks can avoid some of these costs. While this does not guarantee immediate fee cuts, it can help limit increases in banking charges over time.
