Visa has launched the Visa Agentic Ready programme in Central Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), providing a controlled pathway for issuers to test agent-initiated transactions.
The first phase focuses on issuer readiness, allowing financial institutions to evaluate how AI agents can complete transactions on behalf of consumers.
The setup uses Visa’s foundational network capabilities, bringing together tokens, identity, risk, and controls into a production-grade testing environment.
Dozens of regional banks and fintechs have enrolled in the initial testing phase. Some of the early issuing partners engaging in the programme include Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Emirates NBD, Mashreq, Tabby, Ziina, and Qatar National Bank, with additional partners expected to join later this year.
“Across the region, we see a strong appetite for innovation, but also a clear need to ensure new payment experiences are introduced in a way that is secure and scalable,”
said Leila Serhan, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for North Africa, Levant and Pakistan, Visa.
Serhan noted that the initiative offers clients a practical way to prepare for agent-initiated payments while relying on established network controls.
The rollout builds on Visa Intelligent Commerce, a portfolio of solutions focused on programmable and AI-driven commerce at scale.
Visa is currently working with global AI platforms, developers, and merchants to securely support these automated transactions.
Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News UAE, based on image by ismode via Magnific
