Botim, the UAE fintech platform owned by Astra Tech, has partnered with Mastercard to launch Mastercard One Credential, a card that lets eligible cardholders switch between prepaid balances and credit funding through a single digital interface.
Mastercard described the launch as the first rollout of One Credential in the UAE and across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA).
The company, though, had already named Wio Bank, another UAE digital bank, as one of its original global launch partners for the same technology when it debuted worldwide in February 2025.
Global consumer research cited by Mastercard found that 83% of surveyed UAE consumers said they would use card instalments through One Credential.
The card lets Botim users convert purchases into instalments, access funds across multiple currencies, and get clearer visibility over their transactions, an entry point Mastercard positioned as especially useful for first-time credit users.
Gina Petersen-Skyrme, Senior Vice President and Country Manager for the UAE and Oman at Mastercard, said the partnership demonstrates how One Credential “can be implemented quickly and efficiently in markets.”
She added that it supports partners’ efforts in launching new solutions.
H.E. Dr. Tariq BinHendi, Board Member at Astra Tech and CEO of Botim, said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to fostering choice, transparency, and confidence in digital payments.
He added that the launch aims to support long-term financial participation for Botim’s users.
Both companies described this as the first milestone in a broader roadmap, with plans for additional Botim card products and payment use cases to follow.
A Fintech Platform Built on a Messaging App
Botim began as a UAE-based voice and video calling app before its parent, Astra Tech, expanded it into a financial “ultra-app” following a string of acquisitions, including fintech firm PayBy in 2023.
The platform now serves more than 150 million users globally, and its finance arm holds a full Finance Company License from the Central Bank of the UAE.
Mastercard One Credential itself launched globally in February 2025, positioned as a rival to Visa’s similar Flexible Credential product.
Featured image: Edited by Fintech News UAE based on an image by Mastercard via its website.
