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Debit Cards in the United Arab Emirates

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    Report

  • 21 Pages
  • January 2026
  • Region: United Arab Emirates
  • Euromonitor International
  • ID: 1449372
Debit cards in the United Arab Emirates saw circulation rise in 2025, continuing the upward trajectory seen in previous years of the review period. This performance was supported by several factors, including continued population growth, government-backed schemes and digital inclusion initiatives, and the growing preference for electronic over cash payments.

This Debit Card Transactions in United Arab Emirates report establishes the size and structure of the market for ATMs cards, smart cards, credit cards, debit cards, charge cards, pre-paid cards and store cards. It looks at key players in the market (issuers and operators), number of cards in circulation, numbers transactions and value of transactions. It offers strategic analysis of sector forecasts and trends to watch.

Product coverage: Commercial Debit Card Transactions, Personal Debit Card Transactions.

Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Why buy this report?

  • Get a detailed picture of the Debit Card Transactions market;
  • Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;
  • Understand the competitive environment, the market’s major players and leading brands;
  • Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.

Table of Contents

KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
  • Demographic, digital and infrastructure developments boost debit cards
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
  • Digitalisation spurs debit card usage
  • A strong share of the population remains unbanked or underserved
WHAT’S NEXT?
  • Debit card usage is set to rise over the forecast period
  • Transaction value per card may slow as frequency increases
  • Banks to invest in security, digital features and loyalty to stay competitive
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
  • Visa and First Abu Dhabi Bank enjoy wide coverage to lead
  • Emirates NBD and Mastercard International invest in strategic direction
CATEGORY DATA
  • Table 1 Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
  • Table 2 Debit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
  • Table 3 Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
  • Table 4 Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
  • Table 5 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
  • Table 6 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
  • Table 7 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
  • Table 8 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
  • Table 9 Forecast Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
  • Table 10 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
  • Table 11 Forecast Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
  • Table 12 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTSFINANCIAL CARDS AND PAYMENTS IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
  • The number of cards in circulation rises healthily and steadily
KEY DATA FINDINGS
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
  • Credit cards and pre-paid cards gain momentum while debit cards remain popular
  • Stronger fintech activity spurs usage
  • Leading players leverage ecosystems as smaller players struggle
WHAT’S NEXT?
  • Bright outlook for most types of financial cards
  • Company and government activities to increase the penetration of financial cards
  • E-commerce to hasten financial card use
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
  • RTA benefits from strong integration and tourism recovery to consolidate its position as the leading issuer
  • Visa benefits from strong growth in financial cards and partnerships
MARKET INDICATORS
  • Table 13 Number of POS Terminals: Units 2020-2025
  • Table 14 Number of ATMs: Units 2020-2025
  • Table 15 Value Lost to Fraud 2020-2025
  • Table 16 Card Expenditure by Location 2025
  • Table 17 Financial Cards in Circulation by Type: % Number of Cards 2020-2025
  • Table 18 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2025
MARKET DATA
  • Table 19 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
  • Table 20 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2020-2025
  • Table 21 Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2020-2025
  • Table 22 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
  • Table 23 Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2020-2025
  • Table 24 Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
  • Table 25 M-Commerce by Category: Value 2020-2025
  • Table 26 M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
  • Table 27 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
  • Table 28 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
  • Table 29 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Operator 2020-2024
  • Table 30 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Issuer 2020-2024
  • Table 31 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
  • Table 32 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2025-2030
  • Table 33 Forecast Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2025-2030
  • Table 34 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
  • Table 35 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2025-2030
  • Table 36 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
  • Table 37 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: Value 2025-2030
  • Table 38 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS
SOURCES
  • Summary 1 Research Sources