As contactless payments gain popularity in the UAE, the bank, a front-runner in banking and payments technology, has taken the lead in supporting new, easy and accessible ways to pay. Google Pay enables users to make quick and secure payments via their Android devices, wherever contactless payments are accepted.

To make purchases, customers will need to add their Emirates NBD Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards to Google Pay. 

Commenting on the announcement, Suvo Sarkar, Senior Executive Vice President, Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Emirates NBD said: “Enabling fast, easy and secure payments is core to our customer proposition. Our partnership with Google Pay reinforces our commitment to creating seamless payment experiences for our customers, as we continue to lead banking innovation and digitisation in the region.” 

Google Pay uses near field communication (NFC) to transmit card information thus replacing the need for authentication via chip and pin. Users can load their card details directly to their Google Pay wallet, making it a safer and more convenient transaction method. 

Added Girish Nanda, General Manager - UAE & Oman at Mastercard, “The UAE remains at the forefront of digital transformation and the launch of Google Pay reinforces the country’s commitment to driving the shift towards a cashless society. Building on more than 50 years of innovation at Mastercard, we are excited to bring seamless, secure and more convenient mobile payment experiences to Emirates NBD’s cardholders. With the launch of Google Pay, Mastercard continues to transform the payment landscape and encourage a greater adoption of digital transactions.” 

Shahebaz Khan, Visa’s Group Country Manager for UAE, said: “The rapid shift to mobile and digital is having a profound impact on our business, our industry and our partners including banks and merchants. Today, Visa is more relevant than ever, having become the connective tissue to enable new payment and commerce experiences such as Google Pay. With the launch of Google Pay, Visa is bringing all mobile payment options to merchants and empowering them to accept payments from consumers regardless of what device the consumer uses at payment terminals. Google Pay utilises Visa Token Service, a security technology that helps prevent fraud by offering financial institutions, merchants, and third party payment providers a secure way to enable mobile and online payments without sharing sensitive account information. Visa is pleased to work with Google and Emirates NBD to introduce Google Pay, which will help displace cash and propel digital payments in the UAE.”