Apple continues its slow Tap to Pay expansion, launching it in the United Arab Emirates. This enables merchants in the region to accept contactless payments through their iPhones.
Apple launched Tap to Pay in 2022 in the US, slowly expanding its availability to more regions since then.
Accept contactless payments from your iPhone
With Tap to Pay, small businesses and merchants can accept payments through their iPhones. It replaces the traditional card machine, enabling them to accept contactless payments through Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover credit or debit cards.
The feature works with iPhone XS and later devices running the newest iOS release. UAE’s Adyen, Magnati, and Network International payment platforms will support Tap to Pay on iPhone starting today.
“At checkout, the merchant will simply prompt the customer to hold their contactless credit or debit card, iPhone or Apple Watch, or other digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology.2 No additional hardware is needed, so merchants can accept payments from wherever they do business,” says Apple in its press release.
Following Tap to Pay’s launch in the US in 2022, Apple expanded its availability to the UK over a year later. In 2023, it brought the feature to Australia and Europe. In October this year, the company launched Tap to Pay in five more European countries.
Tap to Pay encrypts all transactions for consumer privacy. This way, only the merchant and the customer know what the purchased items or services.
