Schneider Electric’s Frédéric Godemel on AI, hybrid grids and Dubai’s energy future

Frédéric Godemel, EVP of Energy Management at Schneider Electric, explains how AI, hybrid AC/DC systems and digital technologies can support Dubai’s transition to a smarter, more resilient and lower-carbon power grid

Neesha Salian

21 August, 2026

Schneider Electric’s Frédéric Godemel on AI, hybrid grids and Dubai’s energy future

Image: Supplied

Dubai’s push to expand clean energy comes as population growth, electrification and digital infrastructure place greater demands on its power network. Integrating more solar generation, battery storage and distributed energy will require not only additional capacity, but also a grid capable of managing two-way electricity flows, variable supply and increasingly complex loads in real time. Artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, hybrid AC/DC systems and software-defined power are beginning to reshape how electricity is generated, distributed and consumed.

In this interview, Frédéric Godemel, EVP of Energy Management at Schneider Electric, discusses how these technologies can strengthen grid reliability, reduce energy losses and support decarbonisation. He also examines the rise of energy prosumers, the investments shaping the Middle East’s power sector and the obstacles to faster grid modernisation.

Dubai is accelerating renewable integration as part of its net-zero strategy. How do hybrid AC/DC systems and advanced distribution technologies practically enable higher renewable penetration without compromising grid stability?

Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is a national priority for the UAE, and Dubai plays an important role in supporting this ambition through the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. Under the strategy, Dubai aims to increase the share of clean energy in the emirate’s energy mix and position itself as a global hub for clean energy and the green economy.

With Dubai’s population expected to reach 5.8 million by 2040, expanding renewable and clean energy sources will be essential to meeting rising electricity demand while supporting the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 commitment. This growing share of renewables means the power system must evolve to integrate them reliably while maintaining grid stability.

Traditionally, large fossil-fueled power stations and Alternating Current (AC) have enabled efficient long-distance transmission and centralised power distribution. However, the rise of decentralised renewables, such as solar panels and battery storage, which operate on Direct Current (DC), is reshaping the energy landscape.

Hybrid AC/DC systems provide a practical solution by enabling both currents to coexist. Using separate AC and DC buses interconnected by power electronic converters, this architecture allows energy to be routed more efficiently to where it is needed, reducing losses that occur during multiple conversions between AC and DC.

Advanced distribution technologies further enhance the resilience and flexibility of the grid. Digitalised grid management platforms and solid-state breakers enable real-time monitoring, rapid fault detection, and automatic reconfiguration of the network. These capabilities ensure that even as more renewables are integrated, the grid remains stable and responsive to fluctuations in supply and demand.

Additionally, add a new layer of intelligence to the grid, bringing analytics and control to the edge of the electrical network, allowing operators to optimise energy use in real time, reduce waste, enhance safety, and improve uptime.

You’ve described the shift toward software-defined power. In operational terms, how are AI and predictive analytics transforming grid management, and where are they delivering measurable emissions reductions rather than incremental efficiency gains?

As grid constraints and energy volatility intensify, sites increasingly face long connection queues, sharp demand peaks, curtailment warnings, and unpredictable renewable output, making traditional planning insufficient and resilience harder to guarantee. Software-defined power addresses this through real-time edge intelligence that dynamically manages loads, storage, and on-site generation as grid conditions change. This allows sites and utilities to absorb volatility, managing peaks, responding instantly to grid signals, and maintaining stable operations instead of exposing sites to volatility.

For example, Schneider Electric is working with the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, the country’s national utility provider, to convert the national electricity distribution network into a future-ready smart grid. The project includes the establishment of four control centres to monitor and optimise the electricity network, alongside the deployment of more than 12,000 smart ring main units across the distribution system.

These systems use big data and artificial intelligence through Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Grid platform and Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) to monitor, control, and reconfigure the grid in real time. This smart grid enables faster fault detection, automated network reconfiguration, and reduced maintenance costs, while also optimising distributed energy resources, including renewables, and enabling new technologies such as microgrids to be connected to the main grid.

Additionally, at the Grand Egyptian Museum, Schneider Electric’s Tower Monitoring Expert solutions enabled integrated energy management that increased power availability by an average of 22 per cent, reduced outage duration by nearly five times, and delivered up to 24 per cent in energy cost savings, while improving overall network resilience and safety.

By pairing a cloud-based MPC (model predictive control) optimiser with rugged edge controllers, Schneider Electric transformed distributed energy resources into self-learning microgrids that retrain every few minutes on real weather, tariffs, and demand patterns. Across 97 live sites, this shared AI “brain” has enabled a 12-person team to cut external energy draw by 458 MWh and reduce emissions by an average of 109 tCO₂ per site per year, which accounts for around a 28 per cent improvement.

How does Schneider’s EcoStruxure Energy Cloud deployment at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and automated fault detection, and what operational or structural changes are driving improvements in grid reliability and carbon emissions reduction?

Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Energy Cloud deployment at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) enables real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and automated fault detection by leveraging a cloud-based platform that processes over three million data points per minute.

EcoStruxure is developed with a three-layer architecture: intelligent devices, edge control and computing and software and services. These layers operate collectively to deliver efficient, resilient, and software-defined energy management from the grid edge to the enterprise level. Smart meters, grid sensors, and protection devices continuously capture high-resolution data across substations and renewable facilities. Edge controllers analyse this data locally, ensuring immediate responsiveness for critical operations such as fault detection, equipment protection, and voltage stabilisation.

The platform’s apps, analytics, and services layer aggregates data into a unified dashboard, providing operators with actionable insights through predictive analytics, load forecasting, and digital twin simulations. Machine learning algorithms anticipate load fluctuations, optimise demand response, and ensure smooth integration of renewables. As a result, DEWA improved grid reliability by 29 per cent and reduced carbon emissions by 18 per cent within the first year through optimising energy dispatch and reducing dependency on fossil-based peaker plants, while minimising service interruptions and enhancing mean time to repair (MTTR) across its grid network.

As homes and commercial buildings evolve into “energy prosumers”, generating and storing their own power, how does that shift the traditional utility model, and what infrastructure is required to coordinate distributed energy at scale?

The emergence of energy prosumers, homes and commercial buildings that generate and manage their own power, is reshaping the traditional utility model. Rooftop solar, batteries, heat pumps, and smart controls are creating multidirectional energy flows. This decentralised power distribution is optimising energy use and supporting the wider grid by balancing supply and demand and increasing flexibility and resilience in real time. Hybrid AC/DC systems route solar power directly to DC loads, while solid-state breakers and intelligent controls ensure safety and efficiency.

Integrating more DC support reduces energy losses, enhances grid flexibility, and enables resilient power solutions. As unified standards for DC grid control are developed, the infrastructure needed to coordinate distributed energy at scale is becoming more viable, empowering individuals and organisations to play an active role in the energy transition.

What major technology and investment trends are shaping energy management globally, and how do you see the Middle East, particularly Dubai, positioning itself within that shift?

Globally, energy management is being shaped by trends in energy security, affordability, decarbonisation, and the rapid adoption of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. Countries are investing in clean energy, energy storage, and digital solutions to enhance reliability and reduce emissions, while also balancing the ongoing importance of traditional energy sources.

In the Middle East, particularly Dubai, clean energy and green transformation are top priorities. Over the past 15 years, more than $40bn has been invested in the UAE’s energy sector, including alternative energy projects. The Dubai Clean Energy Strategy aims for 75 per cent of the city’s energy to come from renewables by 2050, supporting the national Net Zero Strategy and the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. By 2030, the UAE’s clean energy production capacity, including solar and nuclear, is forecast to reach 14 GW.

Regionally, the Middle East is set to achieve over $75.6bn in renewable energy investments by 2030, with 116 projects spanning solar power, onshore wind, hydropower, hydrogen production, carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS), geothermal energy, in addition to battery and energy storage systems.

Looking ahead, what are the biggest technical or regulatory bottlenecks that could slow Dubai’s ambition to build a smarter, lower-carbon grid, and how is Schneider Electric positioning itself to address them?

One of the key factors slowing down Dubai’s drive towards smarter grids is the speed at which grid infrastructure can be upgraded and digitalised. While the technologies and connected equipment for flexible, digital grids already exist, deployment has not kept up with the speed needed to connect more renewables and meet net-zero goals. Outdated infrastructure and the complexity of integrating distributed energy resources can slow progress if not addressed proactively.

In response, Schneider Electric has introduced innovations that simplify and accelerate grid upgrades. For instance, EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex standardises and simplifies microgrid configuration for faster implementation, drastically reducing project timelines. Another example is the Cloud-based EcoStruxure DERMS, which manages distributed resources such as electric vehicles, energy storage, and rooftop solar, enabling rapid deployment and flexible integration. While tools like EcoStruxure Transformer Expert and the Power Automation System create digital twins of critical assets, optimising power management, reducing maintenance costs, and enhancing the reliability of the grid.

Moreover, the cost of upgrading and digitalising grid infrastructure can be a significant bottleneck. Schneider Electric designed the One Digital Grid Platform to help utilities modernise faster, strengthen grid resilience, and reduce energy costs. According to a Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact study, one composite organisation achieved a 184 per cent ROI over three years of utilising Schneider Electric’s ADMS, a core part of the One Digital Grid Platform. In addition to $62m in business benefits, $40m net financial gain, and a 16-month payback period. Operational improvements included 20% lower outage penalties, 65 per cent time savings for control room operators, and 35 per cent time saved for field crews.

How do you see the UAE’s energy outlook in the coming years?

A key element defining the future of the UAE’s energy sector is diversification. Not only across fuels and technologies, but also across where and how energy is produced and balanced. That matters because resilience today is about having an energy system that can anticipate disruption, absorb shocks, adapt quickly in real time, and recover fast, without compromising reliability, cost, or sustainability.

The UAE has been advancing that systems-style approach across the value chain, linking efficiency, clean generation, storage, alternative fuels, and stronger interconnection. By coordinating energy with wider infrastructure, particularly where power, water, and technology intersect, the country is building a model that is robust and flexible to adapt to any challenges for years to come.

Interview AI Schneider Electric energy management

No reiki, no NLP: Kuwait unveils tough new rules for therapists and counselors

The regulations prohibit non-physician practitioners from prescribing or adjusting drugs, medicines or supplements

Nida Sohail

20 August, 2026

No reiki, no NLP: Kuwait unveils tough new rules for therapists and counselors

Kuwait’s Ministry of Health has banned psychotherapists and psychological counselors from offering or promoting treatments that lack established scientific evidence, as part of a new regulatory framework governing the profession in the government and private sectors.

The rules, issued under Ministerial Decision 225 of 2026 by Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi, also establish requirements covering professional licensing, qualifications, clinical training, workplace standards and advertising.

Offices already undergoing the licensing process will have six months to comply with the new requirements, while practitioners working in the government sector will have 18 months to regularize their status.

According to a Kuwait Times report, the decision is intended to protect clients and prevent the use of practices that do not have a recognized scientific basis.

Broad ban on alternative practices

The decision introduces an outright ban on providing or promoting therapeutic services that are not supported by established scientific evidence. The prohibited practices are divided into four broad categories.

The first covers energy and spiritual therapies, including energy healing, Reiki, pranic healing, treatment involving stones and crystals, spiritual and cosmic healing, “star seeds,” astral projection, and the activation of chakras, the aura or energy field.

The second category includes programming and mental guidance practices that are not evidence-based. These include neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), cognitive programming, mental and psychological engineering, positive affirmations, psychological genetic activation, and psychological or neuro-spiritual preparation.

The third group covers suggestive and performative practices, including stage or fake hypnosis, law of attraction therapy, handwriting analysis, or graphology, body language analysis and time line therapy.

The fourth category concerns relaxation and frequency techniques, including psychological yoga, breath control for meditation, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), color therapy, treatment using frequencies and sound vibrations, tapping and thought field techniques.

The regulations also bring life coaching and self-development activities under the licensing framework, stating that they cannot be practiced outside an approved professional license.

New rules for qualifications

The decision defines regulated professional titles in the sector as senior psychotherapist, psychotherapist and psychological specialist. It also establishes a specialised applied behavior analysis track, covering senior applied behavior analysts, behavior analysts and assistant analysts.

Applicants must hold qualifications from recognized educational institutions, with official equivalency where required. Their studies must also have been completed through regular, in-person attendance.

The rules require directly supervised clinical training and documentation of a specified number of face-to-face therapy sessions carried out inside licensed health facilities.

A psychological specialist with a bachelor’s degree will have a limited role. Such practitioners may conduct preliminary interviews, collect data and administer psychological scales under the direct supervision of a senior psychotherapist.

They may not independently provide therapy, conduct independent sessions, develop treatment plans or present themselves to the public as psychotherapists.

Psychotherapists, meanwhile, may conduct clinical assessments, formulate cases and make diagnoses under approved systems, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Such diagnoses must be linked to assessment and treatment planning and cannot carry medical or pharmacological consequences.

Restrictions on medication and emergency cases

The regulations prohibit non-physician practitioners from prescribing or adjusting drugs, medicines or supplements.

Electroconvulsive therapy, along with magnetic and nerve stimulation techniques of all kinds, is restricted to specialist doctors.

Practitioners must also make an urgent referral to a psychiatrist or specialised hospital when clients present with active suicidal thoughts, severe agitation or acute symptoms related to psychoactive substance use.

Stricter standards for private centers

Private psychological centers and complexes must have examination rooms measuring at least nine square meters and designed to ensure privacy and isolation. Rooms must also have an alarm system to summon assistance when necessary.

Surveillance cameras are limited to corridors and waiting areas, with recordings retained for three months. Recording sessions is prohibited without the client’s prior written consent.

Each complex must appoint a full-time senior psychotherapist to serve as its technical director.

The decision also prohibits misleading advertising and the promotion of psychological services through unlicensed platforms or centers.

Offices and companies that had already begun licensing procedures before the decision was issued will have six months to bring their operations into compliance. Those that had not started the licensing process must stop operating immediately.

Government-sector practitioners have 18 months to adjust their professional status and meet the requirements under the new regulatory framework.

Armed group hijack tanker off Yemen, divert it towards Somalia

Six armed people boarded the tanker in the Gulf of Aden and took control of the vessel, diverting it towards Somalia, according to UKMTO

Reuters

20 August, 2026

Armed group hijack tanker off Yemen, divert it towards Somalia

A tanker was boarded by six armed people who took control of the vessel and diverted it towards Somalia, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Thursday.

UKMTO earlier said it had received a report of an incident 136 nautical miles east of Yemen’s Mukalla, where the tanker, travelling west in the Gulf of Aden, reported being approached by an unauthorised vessel.

UKMTO provided no further details and did not say whether the tanker or its crew were safe.

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UAE Nafis rules change in September: What employees need to know

New Nafis rules will introduce a Dhs6,000 minimum salary threshold, revised salary support, uncapped child allowances and changes to pension contributions from September 2026

Gareth van Zyl

20 August, 2026

UAE Nafis rules change in September: What employees need to know

UAE nationals working in the private sector will see major changes to Nafis salary support, child allowances and pension contributions from September 2026, as the government begins rolling out an updated framework for the programme.

Nafis is the UAE government programme designed to increase the number of Emiratis working in the private sector. Launched in 2021 as part of the Projects of the 50, it provides a range of incentives and benefits for UAE nationals, including salary top-ups, pension support, training programmes and child allowances.

The programme has since been extended until 2040 as part of the UAE’s wider Emiratisation drive. More than 176,000 Emiratis had entered private-sector employment through Nafis initiatives by the end of March, according to the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (ETCC).

From September, however, several of its key benefits will operate under new rules.

Dhs6,000 minimum salary for Nafis support

One of the biggest changes is the introduction of a standard Dhs6,000 minimum monthly salary for Nafis eligibility across qualifying categories.

Under the revised framework, new beneficiaries will be eligible for maximum monthly salary support of:

Dhs6,000 for bachelor’s degree holders
Dhs5,000 for diploma holders
Dhs4,000 for secondary-school graduates
Dhs4,000 for those below secondary-school level who are married or have dependants
Dhs3,000 for those below secondary-school level who are unmarried and have no dependants
The new salary-support framework applies where an employee’s monthly salary does not exceed Dhs20,000.

For existing Emirati Salary Support Scheme beneficiaries receiving more than the amount allowed under the new system, the change will be phased in rather than applied immediately.

Their support will be reduced automatically by Dhs500 every six months until it reaches the level specified under the new policy.

Different transitional arrangements will apply to workers outside the remit of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Central Bank of the UAE, including some employees in free zones.

For those earning below the new Dhs6,000 threshold, eligibility will depend on their salary being adjusted to the approved minimum.

Once corrected to Dhs6,000, eligible workers can receive 100 per cent of their existing support for six months from September, followed by 70 per cent for another six months and 30 per cent for a further three months.

Dhs600 child allowance with no cap on children

Nafis is also expanding its Child Allowance Scheme.

Eligible Emiratis working in the private sector will continue to receive Dhs600 per month for each qualifying child, but the previous limit on the number of children covered by the scheme is being removed.

The previous framework limited the allowance to four children.

The government said removing the cap is intended to strengthen family stability and improve quality of life for Emirati families.

The Nafis overhaul will also extend salary support to additional groups.

New schemes will cover eligible children of Emirati mothers working in the private sector, as well as qualifying wives of Emirati citizens working in the private sector, with salary support under the expanded programmes reaching up to Dhs3,000 per month.

Employers to pay their share of pension contributions

Changes are also being introduced to Nafis’ pension-support programme.

Nafis will continue to support pension-fund contributions for eligible Emiratis registered under its Subscription, or Eshtirak, programme.

From September, however, private-sector employers will be responsible for paying their own statutory share of pension contributions for Emirati employees enrolled in the scheme.

The broader reforms follow the UAE government’s decision earlier this year to extend Nafis until 2040, as authorities seek to make private-sector careers more attractive and sustainable for Emirati nationals.

UAE Emiratisation NAFIS

Which Abu Dhabi concerts have been cancelled in 2026?

The Corrs are the latest major act to call off an Abu Dhabi show, following Christina Aguilera, while the Shakira-led OFFLIMITS festival has pushed its return to 2027

Gareth van Zyl

20 August, 2026

Which Abu Dhabi concerts have been cancelled in 2026?

From left to right: Shakira, Christina Aguilera, Andrea Corr (part of The Corrs). (Images: Instagram)

The Corrs have become the latest major act to cancel an Abu Dhabi concert, with their September 27 show at Etihad Arena no longer going ahead.

The Irish sibling group announced the decision on August 19, citing “unforeseen circumstances beyond our control”, just a day after Christina Aguilera’s September 25 appearance at the same venue was also cancelled.

The announcements come during a week of significant changes to Abu Dhabi’s live entertainment calendar, with the Shakira-led OFFLIMITS festival also confirming its 2026 edition will not take place as planned.

Here’s what has been cancelled or postponed so far.

The Corrs — September 27

The Corrs were due to perform at Etihad Arena on September 27, but announced on August 19 that the concert had been cancelled due to circumstances outside their control.

Fans were told refunds would be available from the original point of purchase. No replacement date has been announced.

Christina Aguilera — September 25

Christina Aguilera’s Etihad Arena concert was cancelled on August 18, with Ticketmaster confirming that ticket holders would receive full refunds.

The show had already been rescheduled once, having originally been planned for April before being moved to September 25.

No reason for the latest cancellation or a replacement date has been announced.

OFFLIMITS — postponed to 2027

OFFLIMITS is slightly different from the individual concert cancellations.

Organisers announced this week that the 2026 edition has been postponed to 2027.

The festival had been scheduled for November 21 at Etihad Park, with Shakira headlining alongside Jonas Brothers, NE-YO and Biffy Clyro.

OFFLIMITS had already been moved once this year, from April 4 to November amid heightened regional tensions.

The festival debuted in Abu Dhabi in April 2025, with Ed Sheeran headlining a bill that also included OneRepublic, Faithless and Kaiser Chiefs.

Muse

Muse were among the first major international acts to cancel an Abu Dhabi concert in 2026.

The British rock band had been due to perform at Etihad Arena on February 4, but announced in January that the show would no longer go ahead.

The band cited “unforeseen circumstances beyond our control”, with promoter Live Nation confirming that ticket holders would receive automatic refunds.

No rescheduled Abu Dhabi date has been announced.

Despite the recent changes, Abu Dhabi’s live events calendar remains active. Hans Zimmer is still scheduled to perform at Etihad Arena on November 13, while Andrea Bocelli is due to appear on December 2 during Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race week.

Abu Dhabi

One month of Jaywan: Here are the airlines, retailers now taking the UAE’s national card

Jaywan is operated by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the CBUAE, and has been designed as the UAE’s national domestic card payment scheme while remaining connected to global payment networks

Nida Sohail

20 August, 2026

One month of Jaywan: Here are the airlines, retailers now taking the UAE’s national card

Just one month after the UAE officially launched its national card scheme, Jaywan is already moving beyond its rollout phase and into everyday transactions, with acceptance spanning airlines, retail and leisure destinations, government payments, physical stores and thousands of online merchants.

The UAE’s first national card scheme was inaugurated on July 20, 2026, by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court and Chairman of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE).

The launch marked the official commencement of nationwide Jaywan card issuance by banks, licensed financial institutions (LFIs) and exchange houses, with cards being rolled out to consumers in phases.

The announcement came during Sheikh Mansour’s reception of Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, alongside members of the Board of Directors of Al Etihad Payments and chief executives from banks, LFIs and local and international payment companies, according to the UAE’s official news agency, WAM.

Jaywan is operated by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the CBUAE, and has been designed as the UAE’s national domestic card payment scheme while remaining connected to global payment networks.

The scheme’s first month has seen its acceptance footprint widen quickly.

The latest major development came on August 19, when Etihad Airways became the first airline to accept Jaywan for flight bookings. Majid Al Futtaim has enabled the card across more than 200 destinations in the UAE, while payment infrastructure providers including Network International, Magnati, noon payments and Telr have extended acceptance across their merchant networks.

The Ministry of Finance has also brought Jaywan into government transactions by adopting it for federal service fees and fines.

So, where can UAE consumers actually use Jaywan today?

Etihad brings Jaywan to flight bookings

Etihad Airways delivered one of the biggest acceptance milestones for Jaywan on August 19, when it enabled the national card as a payment option on its website.

UAE-based customers can now select Jaywan at checkout and use the card to book Etihad flights directly through etihad.com. The option is available across the airline’s full route network, making the carrier the first airline to accept Jaywan for flight bookings.

The development gives Jaywan a significant consumer use case barely a month after its official launch. Rather than being confined to everyday, lower-value purchases, the card can now be used to complete a major travel transaction, including international flights.

Mark Potter, MD of Etihad Guest at Etihad Airways, described the move as a significant moment for the airline and its partnership with Al Etihad Payments.

“Being the first airline to accept Jaywan payments is a proud moment,” Potter said, adding that the move was intended to provide UAE customers with greater choice and convenience.

The partnership is also expected to offer additional benefits to Jaywan Royal cardholders. Etihad said eligible Etihad Guest members using Jaywan Royal cards will receive exclusive discounts on Comfort and Deluxe fares, as well as priority-related benefits, with those features to be introduced soon.

Andrea Cianchetti, chief products officer at Al Etihad Payments, said the Etihad partnership adds direct value to Jaywan cardholders by combining everyday payment utility with benefits for customers in the UAE.

The development builds on an agreement between Etihad and Al Etihad Payments signed in October 2025.

More than 200 Majid Al Futtaim destinations now accept Jaywan

While Etihad gives Jaywan a high-profile presence in aviation, Majid Al Futtaim provides one of the scheme’s biggest physical acceptance footprints.

The company confirmed in July that Jaywan had been enabled across more than 200 destinations in the UAE, covering its retail, leisure, hotel and entertainment businesses.

The rollout was enabled through Majid Al Futtaim’s acquiring partnership with Network International, allowing customers to use Jaywan at its physical locations.

The significance of the rollout is its breadth. Jaywan is not being introduced into just one retail chain or one category of spending. The card is being made available across a portfolio covering shopping, entertainment, leisure and hospitality.

Majid Al Futtaim has also indicated that online acceptance across its digital platforms would follow the physical rollout.

Darren Taylor, SVP, SHARE Rewards & Customer Solutions at Majid Al Futtaim, said the move gives customers greater payment choice while maintaining a seamless payment experience across the group’s destinations.

For Jaywan cardholders, the group’s more than 200 locations represent one of the clearest examples of the national card moving into everyday spending.

flydubai adds Jaywan at Dubai International Airport

Jaywan has also entered the aviation sector through flydubai, although the airline’s acceptance model differs from Etihad’s.

Network International and flydubai announced a collaboration to enhance passenger payments at Dubai International Airport (DXB), with Network integrating its Push to Pay solution into POS terminals used at flydubai’s airport service touchpoints.

The announcement specifically included expanded acceptance for Jaywan.

The distinction matters.

Etihad now accepts Jaywan directly for flight bookings on its website across its route network. flydubai’s confirmed acceptance, meanwhile, applies to supported transactions at its airport service payment touchpoints at DXB.

Taken together, the two developments show Jaywan appearing at different stages of the air-travel journey — from airport services to the purchase of flights.

Network International is opening the door to tens of thousands of merchants

Perhaps the most important answer to the question of where Jaywan is accepted is not a single retailer or airline.

It is Network International.

The payment company was among the first acquirers in the UAE to enable Jaywan acceptance across its merchant network.

The company said its UAE network included more than 60,000 merchants, spanning sectors such as retail, hospitality, electronics, jewellery and hypermarkets.

Network later confirmed that Jaywan cards issued through Emirates NBD would be accepted at its merchant terminals and e-payment gateways, providing access to more than 60,000 merchant partners in the UAE.

This infrastructure is crucial to understanding Jaywan’s actual reach.

A consumer may walk into a shop that has never publicly announced that it accepts Jaywan and still be able to use the card because the retailer’s payment terminal has been enabled by its acquiring provider.

In other words, the number of businesses that publicly mention Jaywan is not necessarily the same as the number of businesses capable of processing it.

Thousands of online merchants are now part of the network

Network International has also taken Jaywan into e-commerce.

On July 20, the company announced that it had integrated Jaywan into its e-commerce payment gateway, allowing customers to use their cards across thousands of Network’s online merchants in the UAE.

The company said the integration enables secure and seamless online transactions and that merchants would not face additional fees for Jaywan transactions processed through the gateway.

The online expansion is particularly important because it means Jaywan’s acceptance is not dependent on physical retail terminals.

For consumers, the practical result is a much larger potential digital footprint: an online merchant using Network’s enabled gateway can offer Jaywan without having to build a separate direct connection to the domestic card scheme.

That also makes it harder to produce a definitive list of every business accepting Jaywan. The payment infrastructure may be operating behind the scenes.

Magnati adds another major physical merchant network

Magnati is another important part of the acceptance infrastructure.

The payment solutions provider announced that it had partnered with Al Etihad Payments to enable Jaywan across payment terminals supplied to its merchants.

The company confirmed that Jaywan cards could be used for transactions through Magnati payment terminals.

That means merchants using compatible Magnati infrastructure can form part of the Jaywan acceptance network without necessarily issuing individual public announcements.

Al Etihad Payments has also highlighted Network International and Magnati as leading regional acquirers that have enabled Jaywan across their merchant networks.

For consumers, the message is straightforward: Jaywan’s physical footprint extends beyond the large companies that have publicly promoted the card.

ADIB merchants can process Jaywan on POS terminals

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank provides another confirmed route for Jaywan transactions.

ADIB’s Merchant Services information explicitly states that the bank accepts Jaywan cards on its POS terminals.

The development again highlights the role of acquiring infrastructure in the scheme’s expansion.

Businesses using compatible ADIB merchant POS infrastructure can process Jaywan payments, meaning acceptance can be present at the point of sale even when the individual merchant has not separately publicised its participation.

This bank-led approach could become increasingly important as Jaywan expands, because consumers are likely to encounter the national card across a growing number of terminals operated by different acquiring institutions.

noon payments brings Jaywan to online businesses

Jaywan’s digital reach is also being expanded through noon payments.

The company announced in May that it had enabled Jaywan across its merchant network in the UAE.

Merchants using noon payments can accept Jaywan cards through the platform, creating another route into the country’s e-commerce economy.

noon payments provides services including online checkout, payment links, marketplace payments and in-store payment solutions.

For merchants, gateway-level integration can make the adoption of a new payment scheme significantly easier. Rather than establishing a separate integration themselves, businesses can access Jaywan through their existing payment provider.

For consumers, that means an online business using enabled noon payments infrastructure may offer Jaywan as one of its available payment options.

Telr expands online acceptance

Another UAE payment gateway, Telr, has also enabled Jaywan across its merchant network.

The company said merchants using its platform could accept Jaywan cards through supported online checkout environments.

That adds another layer to the growing digital acceptance ecosystem and is particularly relevant to online businesses that rely on third-party payment gateways.

The significance is the same as with Network International and noon payments: a merchant does not necessarily need to establish a direct relationship with Jaywan to begin accepting the card.

Gateway-level integration can effectively distribute the payment method across a much wider merchant base.

The Ministry of Finance takes Jaywan into government payments

Jaywan’s acceptance is also moving beyond commercial transactions.

On August 3, the UAE Ministry of Finance announced that it had adopted Jaywan as a new payment channel for federal service fees and fines, alongside Aani.

The ministry became the first federal government entity to implement the initiative.

According to the ministry, the decision followed Cabinet Resolution No. 176M/4M of 2026 concerning adoption of the payment systems and applicable fees.

The move gives Jaywan another important use case: government payments.

The Ministry said the implementation would pave the way for the subsequent adoption and rollout of Jaywan and Aani by other federal entities and collection banks, in accordance with their approved procedures.

That suggests the government acceptance footprint could grow beyond the Ministry of Finance as more entities adopt the systems.

The Ministry has described the initiative as part of efforts to develop the government payments ecosystem and provide more flexible, convenient and faster payment options.

Where can you use Jaywan today?

One month after its official launch, the confirmed Jaywan acceptance map is already broad.

UAE customers can use the card to book Etihad Airways flights directly on etihad.com, make supported payments at flydubai airport service touchpoints at DXB, and transact across more than 200 Majid Al Futtaim destinations.

The card can also be used through enabled merchant infrastructure operated by Network International, Magnati and ADIB, while digital acceptance has expanded through Network International, noon payments and Telr.

The Ministry of Finance has added federal service fees and fines to the list of transactions that can be paid using Jaywan.

But the most important figure may be the one that is hardest for consumers to see.

Network International has described its acceptance network as covering more than 60,000 UAE merchant partners, while its e-commerce integration extends to thousands of online merchants.

That means Jaywan’s actual footprint is likely to be considerably larger than a simple list of major companies would suggest.

Jaywan’s first month shows how payment schemes really scale

The first month of Jaywan has demonstrated that the success of a national card scheme will depend less on how many brands put out individual announcements and more on how deeply the card becomes embedded in the country’s payment infrastructure.

Etihad has given Jaywan a high-profile role in aviation. Majid Al Futtaim has established a major physical retail and leisure footprint. Network International and Magnati provide acquiring scale, while noon payments and Telr expand the card’s online reach.

ADIB adds another merchant-acquiring channel, and the Ministry of Finance has taken Jaywan into government payments.

The result is a payment network that is beginning to cover the places where consumers actually spend money: travel, shopping, entertainment, hospitality, e-commerce and government services.

That matters because acceptance is ultimately what determines whether a payment card becomes part of everyday life.

A card can be issued to millions of customers, but if consumers repeatedly encounter merchants that do not accept it, adoption can remain limited. Conversely, when acceptance becomes widespread through payment terminals and gateways, the card can become a routine choice without every merchant having to market it separately.

That appears to be the direction Jaywan is now taking.

One month after its launch, the UAE’s national card is no longer simply a newly introduced payment scheme. It is becoming a payment option that consumers can encounter across airlines, major retail and leisure destinations, government services, physical merchant terminals and thousands of online businesses.

And the next phase could be less visible but potentially even more significant.

As acquiring banks and payment gateways continue to enable Jaywan across their networks, more businesses may begin accepting the card without making separate public announcements.

For consumers, that means the answer to “Where can I pay with Jaywan?” is already considerably broader than it was on launch day, and the acceptance map is still expanding.

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