MasterCard celebrates Silver Jubilee in the UAE

MasterCard Worldwide in the UAE is celebrating its Silver Jubilee marking the 25^th anniversary of the launch of its presence in the UAE when the company licensed its first customer, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, to issue its payment cards. MasterCard commemorated the occasion together with senior representatives of the Central Bank of the UAE, executives of financial institutions, Ann Cairns, president International Markets, MasterCard Worldwide and other senior members of the MasterCard team. 

Welcoming guests to the event, Cairns said, “It is a great pleasure to be in the UAE, the country has been and continues to be a very significant market for MasterCard, in an exciting and dynamic region. MasterCard is one of the world’s leading technology companies and we remain committed to bringing innovative and leading edge solutions to the UAE.” 

Michael Miebach, president, Middle East & Africa, MasterCard Worldwide, said, “Twenty five years ago MasterCard licensed its first customer in the UAE, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, to issue MasterCard cards. Since that time, in parallel with the growth of the UAE, MasterCard has been at the forefront of the migration to electronic payments facilitating commerce and leading the payments landscape towards new, safe and more convenient electronic payments that cater to the varied needs of consumers – residents and visitors, businesses and banks across the UAE”.  

“We are committed to this market and the region, and we draw upon our technological leadership, innovation, knowledge leadership and strong collaborative relationships with our customers and business associates to continue leading the industry and shaping the future of electronic payments”, he added. 

Recognizing the significant role of the UAE in the global economy, MasterCard selected the UAE as its regional headquarters, for the company’s presence in the Middle East and Africa. The strong growth potential of the region together with the robust payment solutions offered by MasterCard make the region a high growth market for MasterCard. 

Eyad Al Kourdi, vice president, UAE country Manager, MasterCard Worldwide, said: “The UAE has made great strides over the last 25 years. The futuristic vision of its leadership has created a highly dynamic and cosmopolitan environment where commerce and finance have thrived, taking advantage of the country’s advanced technological and telecommunications infrastructure”. 

“MasterCard has been  leading the evolution of commerce in the UAE, continuously diversifying and customizing its portfolio of products and offerings for customers, consumers, and merchants building a safer, more convenient and more efficient payments system.” added Al Kourdi.