etisalat money, the fintech arm of UAE telecom operator etisalat, has partnered with Visa to add four international transfer options to its app through Visa Direct, Visa’s global money movement platform.
The partnership covers person-to-person remittances and international payments by small businesses, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on Thursday.
Visa Direct to Card will let customers send money to eligible recipients’ cards using the card number. Visa+ will allow transfers between different person-to-person payment apps using a recipient’s phone number instead of bank details.
Customers will also be able to send money from personal etisalat money accounts to business accounts abroad. SWIFT transfers will be added to the app as well.
The service will initially support transfers to India, Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and China, as well as digital wallets in several markets.
etisalat money’s existing international transfer service reaches more than 150 countries through bank accounts, digital wallets and cash pickup.
“Our partnership with Visa Direct is a strategic step in broadening our international payment capabilities and strengthening our position in the digital financial services market,” Melike Kara Tanrikulu, chief executive officer of etisalat money, said.
Fadi Moukaddem, senior vice president and group country manager for the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar at Visa, said the deal would give consumers and businesses more choice in how money is sent and received internationally.
