Checkout.com is expanding its partnership with Visa to introduce the Visa Direct Push-to-Card solution for both domestic and cross-border transactions in the UAE.

As the first acquirer in the UAE to offer this service, Checkout.com enables merchants and consumers to make near-instant payments to eligible Visa cards.

Visa Direct is a global payments platform that connects over 190 markets and offers access to more than 8.5 billion endpoints, including cards, accounts, and wallets.

The Push-to-Card solution simplifies payments for consumers and merchants, providing fast remittances, peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers, and merchant payouts with both local and international coverage.

By using Visa’s global network, the service ensures security and reliability while reducing the complexity of banking details and improving payment performance.

“By providing seamless, secure, and real-time payout capabilities, we’re empowering merchants with the agility to thrive in this fast-evolving landscape, while effectively meeting the growing consumer demand for speed and convenience,”

noted Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA at Checkout.com.

Checkout.com’s latest annual MENA e-commerce report highlights that nearly 80% of consumers in the region are engaged in fintech activities beyond just online payments, such as money transfers, investments, and personal finance.

The demand for real-time money movement continues to rise, pushing the need for faster, more seamless payment experiences.

In line with this demand, Account Funding Transactions (AFTs) are gaining popularity in the UAE.

AFTs allow merchants to quickly and securely fund digital wallets and accounts, and Checkout.com now processes over one million AFTs per month with Visa.

These transactions eliminate intermediaries, reduce fraud risk, and increase operational efficiency, supporting the UAE’s shift toward a cashless economy.

Featured image: Shahebaz Khan and Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo