Ajman Bank, a Shariah compliant bank in the UAE, has introduced Google Pay for its debit and credit cardholders enabling them to make contactless payments in stores and online.
Customers of the bank will be able to use the digital wallet and payment platform to make payments on the go while via their Android phone and WearOS devices, the bank said.
Making the announcement, Mr. Faizal Kundil, Head of Consumer Banking in Ajman Bank, said, “This collaboration between Ajman Bank and Google Pay is a step towards providing a convenient and secure digital payment experience to customers who prefer paying using their smartphones and watches. It is also aligned with our commitment to offering innovative services to simplify customers’ daily lives and provide a seamless banking experience.”
To start using Google Pay, customers need to update their device software, download the Google Wallet app from the Google Play Store, and enter their card details manually or by scanning the card. They will also need to enter a one-time password (OTP) to verify their identity before they can start using the feature.
The trend in 2023
Ajman Bank is the latest in the region to adopt the digital wallet and enhance its digital payment solutions as society moves towards a more cashless future. In recent years, dominant players like Google Pay and Apple Pay have played a significant role in revolutionising financial accessibility. In fact, recent figures show that Google Pay was used more often for in-store payments in both India and Switzerland than in either the United States or the UK in early 2023.
In a separate study by Statista, eight out of 10 respondents from India indicated they had used Google Pay in a POS setting between April 2022 and March 2023 – with an additional seven out of 10 saying they used Google Pay during this same time for online payments.
Although Google Pay’s presence in Middle East and Africa is still developing, it has been available in the UAE since 2018 when it partnered initially with banks such as Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic, Mashreq and Standard Chartered. Earlier this year, it was introduced by the National Bank of Kuwait, a further sign that banks in the region are recognising the growing digital banking needs of its consumers
