Visa and etisalat money, the fintech arm of etisalat, have partnered to expand international money transfers in the UAE.

Under the agreement, etisalat money will use Visa Direct to handle cross-border transfers.

The platform supports personal remittances as well as international payments by small businesses.

Both companies signed the etisalat money Visa partnership at Visa’s regional headquarters in Dubai.

Four new transfer options are planned for the etisalat money app. Visa Direct to Card will allow customers to send funds to a recipient’s eligible card using the card number.

Visa+ links different payment apps. With it, customers can send money using a recipient’s phone number instead of bank details.

Customers can also send money from personal accounts to business accounts overseas. SWIFT transfers will be offered as another option.

At launch, transfers will be available to India, Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and China. Digital wallets in several markets will also be supported.

These features will sit alongside etisalat money’s current transfer service.

According to the company, it reaches more than 150 countries through bank accounts, digital wallets and cash pickup.

Melike Kara Tanrikulu, Chief Executive Officer at etisalat money, said cross-border transfers help people and businesses stay connected across borders.

Visa’s Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, Fadi Moukaddem, said the partnership will give consumers and businesses more choice in how they send and receive money abroad.

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News UAE, based on image by etisalat via its Press Release.