Checkout.com has made a significant leap in advancing the UAE’s digital economy by becoming the first acquirer in the country to offer Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution. This new service enables fast, secure, and seamless money transfers for both businesses and consumers, facilitating near-instant transactions within local and international markets.
Visa Direct connects over 190 global markets and supports more than 8.5 billion endpoints, including cards, bank accounts, and digital wallets. The Push-to-Card feature enhances transaction efficiency by allowing direct transfers to eligible Visa cards, ensuring reliability through Visa’s secure network.
“Visa Direct is revolutionizing global money movement, and we are thrilled to see Checkout.com utilize this technology to meet the evolving needs of businesses and consumers,” said Shahebaz Khan, Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions, CEMEA. “By offering a faster, more convenient, and secure way to send and receive funds, this service is set to drive further innovation in digital payments.”
The UAE has been a leader in digital payment adoption, with a national vision aimed at achieving a cashless economy. Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA at Checkout.com, highlighted this transformation: “With seamless, secure, and real-time payout capabilities, we are equipping merchants with the tools they need to succeed in an evolving digital landscape while meeting consumer demand for speed and convenience. The Push-to-Card solution underscores our commitment to enhancing payment performance and demonstrates our ability to introduce cutting-edge solutions to the UAE market.”
Recent data from Checkout.com’s MENA eCommerce report indicates a surge in financial technology engagement, with nearly 80% of consumers participating in digital transactions beyond basic online payments, such as money transfers and personal wealth management. As real-time financial transactions become increasingly essential, efficient payment solutions are gaining momentum.
To address this demand, Account Funding Transactions (AFTs) have been gaining popularity in the UAE. By integrating AFTs with Visa’s Push-to-Card capabilities, Checkout.com is enabling merchants to offer secure, real-time account top-ups. Currently processing over one million AFTs per month with Visa, Checkout.com is at the forefront of modernizing financial transactions in the region, further strengthening the UAE’s position as a digital payment hub.
