In order to introduce the domestic card system (RuPay) in the UAE, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), a fully owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Al Etihad Payments (AEP). The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) indirectly owns the AEP. In accordance with the agreement, NIPL and AEP will collaborate to develop, implement, and operate the national domestic card scheme (DCS) for the UAE.

It will aim to facilitate the growth of e-commerce and digital transactions in the UAE, bolster financial inclusion, support the UAE's digitization agenda, increase alternate payment options, reduce the cost of payments, and enhance the UAE's competitiveness and position as a global payments leader. The partnership aligns perfectly with NIPL's mission to offer its knowledge and expertise to assist other countries in establishing their own cost-efficient and secure payment systems.

The DCS solution is based on the principles of sovereignty, speed to market, innovation, digitization, and strategic independence. The DCS solution provided by NIPL consists of a RuPay stack and value added services like fraud monitoring services and analytics. NIPL will also assist AEP in formulating the operating regulations for their domestic card scheme.