UAE instant payments platform ‘Aani’ surpasses 12.5 million users

The United Arab Emirates’ national instant payments platform Aani has exceeded 12.5 million users, reflecting rapid growth in the country’s shift toward digital payments, according to Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE.

The update, reported by the Emirates News Agency (WAM), said the platform’s latest operational indicators highlight growing user confidence, supported by a connectivity network linking 74 licensed financial institutions.

The results signal what officials described as a major step forward in the UAE’s national payment infrastructure, as the country continues to expand its digital economy and reduce reliance on cash-based transactions.

Aani is now a key component of daily financial activity in the UAE, enabling individuals and businesses to carry out transfers and payments across the country.

The platform is integrated with 85% of banks, 10% of exchange houses, and 5% of digital wallets and finance companies, allowing broad access and interoperability across the financial system.

Usage has grown sharply, with a sixfold year-on-year increase in transfers and an average monthly growth rate of 10% throughout 2025, according to the statement.

Around 25,000 transfers are processed daily using mobile numbers alone, reflecting increasing reliance on digital channels for routine financial transactions.

Adoption has also expanded among businesses, with approximately 774,000 merchants across the UAE using Aani as a primary payment solution.

The platform allows instant account-to-account transactions, with an average completion time of no more than three seconds. This, officials said, supports stronger cash flows and operational efficiency for businesses.

Aani offers a range of services, including QR code payments, a Request to Pay feature, transfers using mobile numbers or Emirates ID, and the ability to manage multiple accounts from different banks and digital wallets within a single application.

Additional services are planned, including cross-border payments, electronic direct debit, e-cheques, and business-to-business payment capabilities.

Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, assistant governor for banking operations and support services at the Central Bank of the UAE and chairman of Al Etihad Payments, said the platform’s growth reflects increasing trust in the country’s digital payment systems.

“The rapid growth in Aani’s usage rates reflects customers’ growing confidence in the security and efficiency of our national payment ecosystem,” he said.

He added that the central bank aims to continue expanding access to instant payment services to support the UAE’s financial sector and broader digital economy.