The UAE’s national instant payments platform, Aani, has crossed the 12.5 million user mark, a significant milestone reported by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE). The rapid adoption signals a clear shift in consumer and business behavior towards digital transactions, positioning the platform as a core component of the country’s evolving financial infrastructure.
Quick Facts
- User Base: Surpassed 12.5 million users nationwide.
- Merchant Adoption: Used by approximately 774,000 merchants.
- Transaction Speed: Account-to-account payments settle in under three seconds.
Weaving Aani into the UAE’s Financial Fabric
Aani’s growth is supported by its deep integration across the UAE’s financial ecosystem. The platform is connected to 74 licensed financial institutions, covering 85 percent of banks, 10 percent of exchange houses, and 5 percent of digital wallets and finance companies. This wide network ensures broad accessibility and smooth interoperability, allowing users to manage accounts from different banks through a single application.
A Sixfold Surge in Digital Transfers
The shift towards domestic digital payment options is starkly evident in Aani’s performance metrics. The platform recorded a sixfold year-on-year increase in the number of transfers, maintaining an average monthly growth rate of 10 percent throughout 2025. Demonstrating its integration into daily life, around 25,000 transfers are now executed every day using only a mobile number. For businesses, the ability to settle transactions instantly helps strengthen cash flow and improve operational efficiency.
Expanding Features on the Roadmap
Aani currently offers services like QR code payments, a “Request to Pay” function, and money transfers using a mobile number or Emirates ID. Al Etihad Payments confirmed that additional services are in development to further expand the platform’s utility. Upcoming features are expected to include cross-border payments, electronic direct debits, e-cheques, and dedicated business-to-business payment solutions.
CBUAE Backs Aani’s Role in Digital Economy
Officials from the Central Bank highlighted the platform’s success as a reflection of growing trust in the national payment system.
“The rapid growth in Aani’s usage rates reflects customers’ growing confidence in the security and efficiency of our national payment ecosystem, and further reinforces its position as one of the UAE’s leading national payment solutions,” said Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services at the CBUAE and Chairman of Al Etihad Payments. “We remain committed to strengthening the Central Bank’s contribution to shaping the future of the UAE’s digital economy by enabling individuals and businesses to access seamless and instant payment services that enhance the sustainability and efficiency of the UAE’s financial sector.”
About Al Etihad Payments
Launched by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), Al Etihad Payments is a subsidiary company tasked with developing and operating the national financial market infrastructure. It aims to provide advanced payment solutions and systems for the UAE. Its flagship initiative, Aani, is an instant payment platform designed to support the country’s transition to a digital, cash-light economy.
Source: Zawya
