UnionPay, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE, has unveiled the results of its instant payment platform, “Ani.” This platform marks a significant advancement in the national payment infrastructure and reflects remarkable progress in the UAE’s digital transformation, establishing itself as the fastest and most secure instant payment system in the region.
Recent operational indicators highlight the growing trust in the “Ani” platform, with the number of registered users surpassing 12.5 million, benefiting from a robust network of 74 licensed financial institutions.
Currently, the platform integrates with 85% of banks, 10% of currency exchange companies, and 5% of digital wallets and financing firms. This ensures comprehensive access and seamless operations within the national financial ecosystem. In a clear sign of the rapid shift towards national digital payment options, “Ani” experienced an extraordinary growth in transfers, increasing sixfold year-over-year while maintaining a steady monthly growth rate of 10% throughout 2025.
The platform has become an integral part of daily financial behavior in the country, with approximately 25,000 transactions executed daily using only mobile phone numbers. This underscores its success in streamlining financial operations and enhancing both flexibility and reliability.
The achievements of “Ani” have also extended to a vast array of businesses, with around 774,000 commercial establishments in the country adopting the platform as a primary payment solution.
Growth
Saif Hamid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor of the Central Bank for Banking Operations and Support Services, and Chair of UnionPay, commented that the accelerated increase in “Ani” usage reflects growing confidence among users in the security and efficiency of the national system. He added that they are committed to enhancing the Central Bank’s contribution to shaping the digital economy’s future by enabling individuals and businesses to access seamless instant payment services that promote sustainability and efficiency within the UAE’s financial sector.
The results achieved demonstrate significant progress towards a developed “cashless” economy, with the platform serving as the foundation for daily transactions and transfers for both individuals and businesses.
The platform allows companies of all sizes to execute and settle financial transactions instantly, with an average completion time of no more than three seconds. This greatly enhances cash flow and operational efficiency for organizations.
The “Ani” platform continues to evolve its services to meet user needs, currently featuring payments via QR codes, payment request services, and money transfers using phone numbers or UAE identity numbers, in addition to managing multiple accounts from various banks and digital wallets within a single application.
Future plans include launching additional services such as cross-border payments, direct debit, electronic checks, and inter-company payments, expanding the benefits for individuals and all sectors of businesses and institutions.