Emirates, Jaywan open new booking benefits for UAE cardholders
Special fares cover all cabin classes and most fare types
DUBAI – Emirates is expanding its payment options for UAE customers by bringing Jaywan, the country's national card scheme, to flight bookings from Dubai.
The airline and Al Etihad Payments have signed an agreement that will allow customers to use Jaywan cards when booking through emirates.com and at Emirates Retail stores.
The new payment option will be available from September 16, 2026, while Jaywan customers will also gain access to special fares across Emirates' cabin classes and most fare types. The partnership further expands the airline's work with the UAE's digital payments ecosystem.
Booking options
UAE-based customers will be able to enter their Jaywan card details at checkout when booking flights online through emirates.com.
Customers can also use Jaywan cards at Emirates Retail stores. Physical cards will be verified by Emirates staff before payment is completed and tickets are issued.
Emirates will accept all Jaywan cards, including the Jaywan Royal Debit Card, Jaywan Prestige Debit Card and Jaywan Prepaid Card.
The airline said the arrangement provides customers with the security and seamless experience expected when completing a travel purchase, while giving Jaywan users another way to pay for Emirates flights.
Jaywan customers can also access discounts across all cabin classes and most fare types on one-way and return fares departing from Dubai.
The offer applies to bookings made from September 16, 2026, until August 31, 2027, with travel permitted until February 29, 2028.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said Jaywan adds a homegrown payment option to the airline's existing range of ways to pay for travel.
He said the partnership would allow more people across the UAE using Jaywan cards to book Emirates flights in the same way they make other payments, while also supporting the country's wider move towards cashless travel transactions.
Kazim added that Emirates has been working with partners across the UAE's digital payments ecosystem to accelerate cashless adoption within travel, with Jaywan forming part of that wider effort.
Digital expansion
Dr Tariq Al Hawi, Chief Operating Officer at Al Etihad Payments, said the partnership with Emirates strengthens Jaywan's focus on providing more than a payment solution by connecting card use with tangible benefits.
Jaywan cardholders will be able to use their cards across emirates.com and Emirates Retail stores, providing flexibility when booking online or purchasing tickets in person. The arrangement also gives customers access to exclusive fares across Emirates' cabin classes.
The agreement builds on Emirates' wider work to expand digital payment options in the UAE.
In October 2025, the airline signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dubai Finance to support the Dubai Cashless Strategy among international visitors. In July, Emirates also launched Crypto.com Pay™, giving eligible UAE residents another payment option on emirates.com and the Emirates app.
National scheme
Jaywan is the UAE's domestic card scheme, introduced by Al Etihad Payments to support a resilient national payments ecosystem.
The scheme was created to process local transactions securely and efficiently, while localising card infrastructure and supporting the UAE's national financial infrastructure.
Jaywan cards are issued by major banks across the UAE and are accepted across a growing network of businesses and services. These include ride-hailing and car rentals, restaurants, attractions, healthcare and pharmacies, as well as retail outlets.