Digital Financial Services, a joint venture of Etisalat and Dubai Islamic Bank, has announced its partnership with Al-Futtaim to enable secure and contactless payment options for eWallet customers across its brand network.

With this agreement, eWallet customers can now make purchases at selected Al-Futtaim brand stores across the UAE including leading brands such as Al Futtaim Watches and Jewelry, Watsons, IKEA, Marks & Spencer, ACE Hardware and Toys R Us among others. eWallet will enable customers to enjoy an array of benefits from quick checkouts to a secure and contactless payment facility.

Regulated and licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, eWallet is a revolutionary digital payment service aimed at empowering the UAE residents with safe, convenient and flexible payment solutions through an easy-to-use eWallet mobile app.  

Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, eWallet subscribers can conduct digital payments without a bank account, credit or debit card. Customers only require a valid Emirates ID and a UAE mobile number to open an eWallet account. Once registered, users can instantly top up their wallet balance and start sending and receiving money within the UAE as well as internationally amongst 200 countries and territories simply through their mobile phones. Further services include transfer to own or third-party bank accounts, direct merchant payments, bill payments, and mobile recharges, amongst others.

Ahmed Al Awadi, Chairman of Digital Payment Services at Etisalat, said: “Contactless payments have emerged as an integral solution for all businesses enabling them to drive their business forward along with ensuring safety to combat the current pandemic. eWallet has given all consumers and businesses a safe and convenient channel interacting with fewer surfaces providing an optimal and seamless experience.

“Today’s announcement reiterates our commitment in unlocking the value in mobile wallets for all customers and sharply moving forward to making eWallet the go-to payment source across all channels.”

Tansel Kilicarslan, Chief Transformation Officer at Al-Futtaim, noted: “Al-Futtaim’s ability to adapt and meet changing customer demands is a core strength, so expanding our contactless payment options during these times is an important development.”

Paul Carey, EVP Cards & Payments at Al-Futtaim, commented: “As the digital payments landscape is rapidly changing in the UAE, our focus is to ensure our customers can pay with the latest payment solutions in a secure and seamless manner. Our partnership with eWallet will enable us to broaden our contactless payment options, so important at this time to safeguard our customers and staff when checking out.” – TradeArabia News Service