UAE Visa card payments are set to become more efficient following a new arrangement between Visa and Emirates NBD that will see domestic transactions settled locally in UAE dirhams.
Visa has appointed Emirates NBD as its National Net Settlement Service (NNSS) agent in the UAE, a move that allows Visa card transactions made within the country to be processed and settled locally rather than through international settlement systems.
The change applies only to domestic transactions within the UAE and is part of Visa’s broader efforts to strengthen local payment infrastructure in partnership with regional banking institutions.
What changes for users
For customers, there is no change in how Visa cards are used. Payments will continue as usual through tapping, swiping, or online checkout.
The difference lies in the backend process. Domestic Visa transactions will now be settled within the UAE banking system in dirhams, rather than being routed through cross-border settlement channels.
Why this matters
By handling settlement locally, transactions between banks can be processed within the country, supporting a more streamlined payment flow across the banking network.
The arrangement is designed to improve the efficiency of domestic Visa transactions and strengthen the UAE’s payments infrastructure, particularly as digital payments continue to grow.
Impact on businesses
For merchants, especially retailers and e-commerce platforms, local settlement means transactions are cleared up through domestic channels. This supports smoother financial operations and more efficient settlement cycles within the banking system.
Part of a wider payments upgrade
The appointment of Emirates NBD as NNSS agent forms part of Visa’s wider global settlement framework, which allows selected markets to process domestic transactions locally in their own currencies.
In the UAE, this means Visa payments made within the country will now be settled in UAE dirhams through a local banking partner, while still operating on Visa’s global network.
No change in user experience
Importantly, Visa cardholders will not notice any change in the way they pay. The update works entirely behind the scenes, with the aim of improving efficiency and strengthening the domestic payments ecosystem.
