Etihad Airways Becomes First Carrier to Accept Jaywan Payments

Etihad Airways has introduced Jaywan as an online payment option, allowing customers in the United Arab Emirates to purchase tickets with the country’s domestic card scheme. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier said the option is available on etihad.com and can be used when booking flights across its global network.

Customers based in the UAE can select Jaywan during checkout when making a reservation directly through Etihad’s website. The announcement refers specifically to bookings made on etihad.com and does not say that Jaywan is accepted through travel agencies, airport ticket offices or Etihad’s mobile application. Travelers using those channels should therefore check the available payment methods before completing a purchase.

Jaywan Expands Beyond Everyday Purchases

Jaywan is operated by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE. The card scheme is intended to give the country domestic infrastructure for processing card payments rather than relying exclusively on international card networks. Banks and other licensed financial institutions are responsible for issuing the cards to customers.

The Central Bank of the UAE formally inaugurated Jaywan as the country’s first national card scheme in July 2026. Earlier groundwork had already been announced in February 2025, when the regulator introduced the domestic scheme as part of its effort to develop the UAE’s payment infrastructure.

Card transactions routed through domestic infrastructure can keep more of the payment-processing chain within the UAE. The central bank’s 2025 Financial Stability Report said Jaywan transactions would be processed locally and that the supporting national switch had been prepared for capabilities including e-commerce and tokenization. The report also said financial institutions were preparing to issue Jaywan debit and prepaid cards with different features and loyalty benefits.

Before reaching airline bookings, Jaywan had already been introduced across point-of-sale terminals, e-commerce platforms, ATMs and compatible digital wallets. Banks and licensed financial institutions are issuing the cards through a phased nationwide rollout as payment providers continue to expand merchant acceptance.

Adding airline tickets extends the scheme into a category where purchases can be larger and less frequent than routine retail transactions. A customer can use a UAE-issued payment method while booking an international journey, even though the payment itself begins on the airline’s local website. Etihad’s integration consequently gives Jaywan an early test in travel e-commerce as issuance continues to expand.

Earlier Agreement Shapes Planned Benefits

The payment launch follows a memorandum of understanding signed by Etihad Airways and Al Etihad Payments in October 2025. That agreement focused partly on benefits for holders of Jaywan Royal cards, linking the domestic card program with Etihad Guest, the airline’s loyalty program.

Under the previously announced arrangement, Jaywan Royal cardholders are expected to receive discounts on Etihad’s Comfort and Deluxe fares, along with priority business-class check-in and priority boarding. An Etihad announcement outlining the agreement said the benefits would apply to eligible bookings made through the airline’s website.

Mark Potter, managing director of Etihad Guest, said: “Being the first airline to accept Jaywan payments is a proud moment reflecting our commitment to deliver greater choice and convenience for our guests, while rewarding loyal travellers. This is the first step in our partnership with Al Etihad Payments, and a demonstration of how closely Etihad is aligned with the UAE's strategic growth and integration across sectors. UAE-based guests can now book with us using a payment method built specifically for them, and it's a move towards a broader offering that will soon reward our Etihad Guest members holding Jaywan Royal cards with exclusive fare discounts and priority benefits.”

Implications for UAE Payments

Etihad’s adoption gives Jaywan a recognizable merchant in a sector closely connected to the UAE’s role as an international travel hub. It also demonstrates that a domestically operated card can be incorporated into the checkout process for purchases connected to an airline’s worldwide route network.

Airline bookings present a different payment environment from routine retail purchases. Ticket prices can vary significantly, while cancellations, itinerary changes and refunds create more complex transactions. Jaywan’s use in this setting provides an early example of how the scheme can function within a service that involves higher-value purchases and changing customer requirements.

The integration may also encourage UAE card issuers to place greater emphasis on online usability when introducing Jaywan products. Customers considering a card will likely assess where it can be used, how online payments are authorized and whether refunds and modified bookings are handled efficiently.

Participation by more airlines, hotels and booking platforms would indicate that Jaywan is moving beyond its initial rollout and becoming more established in the UAE’s digital payment landscape.