Top 10 E Wallets in UAE

Following the evolution of technology in the banking and finance sector, the Central Bank of UAE is now also encouraging UAE nationals and residents to go cashless. There is now an impetus to use online banking services, mobile wallets, and similar payment options to send or receive money. 

With an increasing prevalence of smartphones, digital wallets and mobile wallets have gained considerable popularity in a short time. Most digital wallets in the UAE can be easily linked to your credit cards, while using mobile wallets eliminates the struggle of carrying extra cash while travelling. 

Top E-Wallets in the UAE
1. Payit
2. Google Pay
3. Samsung Pay
4. Etisalat Wallet
5. Apple Pay
6. Careem PAY
7. Beam Wallet
8. WePay
9. Emirates Digital Wallet
10. AliPay

This article will offer detailed insights into the 10 best digital wallets in the UAE that can be used to make payments. 

Payit

Payit is an e-wallet designed by First Abu Dhabi Bank to transfer funds, pay utility bills, complete mobile recharge, and more. Notably, when you use this mobile wallet, you won’t need to pay any registration fee or maintain a minimum balance. Using this wallet, you can make sound payments, QR code payments, Payit pay on delivery, and e-Commerce payments. 

The following are the key benefits and features of Payit e-wallet in the UAE –

• You won’t need to carry a wallet, cash, or card to make payments. With eDirham Instant service, Payit enables users to easily make payments 
• With the Pay Bills service, you can pay your bills directly using your mobile wallet and even recharge your Nol, Mawaqif, and Salik, or recharge Du. This mobile wallet eliminates the hassle of switching between applications to pay bills.
• You can withdraw cash using Payit from the ATM and even make local bank transfers (generally done within 24 hours) in a few steps. To make these bank transfers, all you need is an IBAN number. 
• This e-wallet in the UAE even helps you split the dinner bills among your friends in just a tap. This reduces the hassle of calculations and ensures that the bills are distributed equally to avoid any confusion or dispute. 
• Using Payit, you can transfer money across 200 countries within a few taps. This facility is safe, facilitates instant transactions, and is backed by competitive rates and 24/7 services. 
• You can use Payit to pay your domestic help workers instantly and via a cashless means. You can even handle your regular bill payments, merchant payments, remittances, and more from anywhere.
• You can ask for money from your contacts using Payit in case you are short on it and need it due to an emergency. For this, you can simply scan the QR code or choose a contact name via the app to make a payment request. 

Offers and deals available on the mobile wallet –

• A cashback of up to AED 25 on the first purchase via Payit
• 20% cashback on lifestyle expenses
• 50% cashback on dining bills
• 50% cashback on groceries

 

 

Google Pay

Google Pay is one of the most sought-after e-wallets across the world. This mobile wallet, while developed by Google, can be used by both Android and iOS users. To make effortless payments, all you need to do is register your credit or debit card to the e-wallet. 

The following are the benefits of using Google Pay to make payments –

• You can send and receive money without any transaction fees directly from your bank account to the third party’s bank account. With this mobile wallet, you can send money to your family, pay utility bills, complete merchant payments, and more.
• You can recharge your mobile number with just a tap or pay off the monthly bills using Google Pay. Moreover, you can even utilise this app for both online and offline shopping. 
• Various scratch cards and rewards can be earned with Google Pay. In case you get any cashback, the money will go straight to your bank account. 
• Google Pay is a reputed application that protects your money and the fund transfers using advanced security systems, which detect fraud and prevents hacking. You can even install a screen lock that can ensure that the application is only opened with your fingerprint. 

All the transactions done using this digital wallet in the UAE are encrypted. 

Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay is a convenient digital wallet in the UAE that enables you to make payments effortlessly. The application is compatible with the following – Galaxy S8, Samsung Gear S3, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy A5 (2016 or 2017 versions), Galaxy A7 (2016 or 2017 versions), Samsung S7 Edge, Galaxy A3 (2017 version), Galaxy S6 Edge+, and Galaxy Note5. 

The benefits and features of Samsung Pay are –

• Samsung Pay offers five-layered security for cashless transactions
• This mobile wallet can be used anywhere. You can tap or swipe the card and shop or dine conveniently. You can easily make payment at the payment gateways that are Near Field Communication-enabled and active for use. 
• You can simply scan the QR code to send money, pay bills, and complete other transactions.
• You can pay your mobile postpaid, Electricity, broadband, utility bills, and more directly from this digital wallet in the UAE 
• For each qualifying transaction performed using Samsung Pay, you can get Samsung Reward Points that can be easily redeemed from the redemption catalogue
• You get the option to choose and share gift cards from Samsung Pay Gift Store, which has a plethora of cards from some of the top brands. You can gift them to your loved ones on special occasions like anniversaries, birthdays, or weddings. 

Etisalat Wallet

Etisalat Wallet is one of the top mobile wallets in the UAE vouched for providing rewarding and secured services. This mobile wallet allows you to make payments for your purchases, utility bills, or recharge your mobile account. Easy, quick, and safe to use, the Etisalat Wallet eliminates the need to carry cash to make payments. 

Check out the major benefits of this digital wallet in the UAE below –

• You can access thousands of merchants and retailers who use Etisalat 
• This e-wallet is accessible to both iOS and Android users
• Other benefits of this mobile wallet include the provision for easily purchasing parking tickets in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, paying bills, recharging your Etisalat credit and that of your family members, and more 

The transactions done are free of cost. To make payments, you can link your credit or debit card to the app. Please note that you can easily add up to 5 cards to the wallet for convenience of use.

This digital wallet in the UAE can be secured using a 4 or 6-digit PIN or via a one-time password (OTP).

Apple Pay

This mobile wallet can be paired with iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watches. To use Apple Pay for making payments via phone, you will simply need to add your credit card to the app. You can add multiple credit cards and manage them easily, as this mobile app does not share your card details with anyone when you make purchases online. 

The following are the salient features of Apple Pay –

• More convenient to use compared to cash or regular cards
• Compatible with millions of websites and apps
• Accepted by more than 85% retailers across the globe
• Apple Pay eliminates the need to press buttons, handle cards, and more – you can simply tap your phone to have the payment completed. This Touch ID enables users to make payments by holding their phones near the reader. 

To add a credit card to the digital wallet, follow the steps mentioned below –

• Open the wallet application and tap on the Plus icon
• Scan your credit card and select the “Add Card” option. You can even enter the card details manually 
• The bank will then verify the addition

The e-wallet is secure to use and is generally safer compared to physical credit, prepaid, or debit cards. 

Careem PAY

Careem PAY is a digital wallet in the UAE that makes it easy for users to complete payments, clear utility bills, and receive money. This e-wallet can be used within the Careem app. One of the most remarkable aspects of this application is that you can use it to send money without requiring IBANs. 

Careem PAY greatly simplifies regular payments as –

• You can send or receive money without the need for IBANs, including beneficiaries, and more. Such transactions can be performed using a phone number, payment link, or QR Code. 
• You can conveniently pay your utility bills in a few taps and make sure that you don’t miss out on any paying any bill
• You don’t need to provide card details wherever you shop. The application doesn’t share the card details either. 

Beam Wallet

This mobile wallet uses a Near-Field Communication-based system for payments. Once your credit card is linked to the application, you can make payments made using this digital wallet by tapping your phone at the payment terminal. You can recharge your mobile phone, pay for DTH subscriptions and fuel, and do more with Beam Wallet. 

WePay

This digital wallet is an integrated part of WeChat, the Chinese online social media platform. This application accepts Mastercard credit cards and global Visa cards to make payments. WePay uses the same security system as other mobile wallets. However, it must be kept in mind that you cannot link your bank account to this e-wallet in the UAE as it integrates banks present only in mainland China. 

Emirates Digital Wallet

This is a one-of-its-kind digital wallet in the UAE and operates Klip, which is a payment system that removes the need for cash even at small shops or with friends and family members. This is a digital cash app that makes it easy to spend, remit, or store money. 

You can link your bank account to the account or add cash to it at select locations in the UAE. This e-wallet in the UAE is vouched for its biometric banking and voice-activated payments. 

AliPay

First Abu Dhabi Bank has collaborated with AliPay to make transactions easy for the merchants in the UAE. It offers a smooth mobile payment experience and is convenient to manoeuvre. You can simply link your credit card to the e-wallet and make the payments. 

The process for AliPay is similar to that of most other platforms mentioned above. To perform transactions, you can choose the scan-to-pay option and scan the QR code on the terminal and confirm the payment. 

Find below the key features of AliPay –

• All transactions are secured by reliable technology. Moreover, the transactions are done via contact-free payment options and reduce the chances of contracting diseases that spread via contact. 
• This digital wallet in the UAE can be accessed anywhere for any transaction, whether sending money to a family member or making purchases 
• Besides the convenience of payment, this mobile wallet also offers opportunities related to e-commerce, strong data-oriented marketing capabilities, and more
• You can use the e-wallet in the UAE to pay taxi fares and conduct both online and offline shopping 

With online payment options, AliPay tries to connect customers from across the world with the help of its innovative digital wallet payment solutions. 

The following are the primary benefits of making online payments via AliPay –

• Diversified payment methods – you can use payment modes like cashier payment and auto debit for payments
• Flexible and measurable integration options
• Choice to opt for global and multi-currency settlement 
• Secured payment using the best financial technology

Key Takeaways

• Payit is an e-wallet designed by First Abu Dhabi Bank to transfer funds, pay utility bills, recharge mobile numbers, and more. When you use this e-wallet, you do not need to pay any registration fee or maintain a minimum balance. 
• Google Pay, one of the most used mobile wallets in the UAE, has been developed by Google and can be used by both Android and iOS users. To make effortless payments with it, all you need to do is register your credit or debit card to the e-wallet. 
• Etisalat Wallet is one of the top mobile wallets in the UAE and provides secured services. This mobile wallet allows you to make payments for your purchases, utility bills, mobile account recharge, and more. 
• Apple Pay is compatible with iPhones, Apple watches, and iPad. One can use Apple Pay for payments via phone by adding their credit card to the app. With Apple Pay, one can add multiple credit cards and manage all of them easily. 
• Careem PAY is a digital wallet in the UAE that makes it easy to payments, clear utility bills, and receive money. This e-wallet can be used within the Careem app and allows the transfer of money without IBANs. 
• Klip is another payment system that removes the need of making payments in cash even if it is at small shops or for friends and family members. This is a digital cash app that makes it easy to store, spend, or remit money.

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