Abu Dhabi: Al Etihad Payments (AEP), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), has entered into a strategic partnership with Mastercard that will see the launch of the world's first Jaywan-Mastercard co-badged credit card.The agreement also includes the development of advanced infrastructure for the switching and processing of card payment transactions, as well as the establishment of a new operations centre in the UAE that will form part of Mastercard's global network and provide advanced payment services to local and regional markets.The announcement marks a significant milestone in the UAE's payments landscape, enabling the issuance of Jaywan co-badged credit cards with global acceptance while strengthening the country's position as an international financial hub.Under the partnership, a new Mastercard network node will be established in the UAE to process both domestic and international payment flows. The development will also position the UAE among the first countries to benefit from Mastercard's latest payment technologies and services.The collaboration supports Al Etihad Payments' efforts to bring together banks, fintech companies, merchants and global technology partners to modernise the UAE's payment infrastructure. It is expected to broaden payment options, support local innovation and strengthen the resilience of the country's financial ecosystem.The Jaywan-Mastercard credit card programme will provide secure, simple and accessible payment experiences while enabling banks, fintechs and merchants to offer enhanced services to consumers and businesses.As part of the agreement, Mastercard will deploy next-generation payment infrastructure in the UAE, supporting Jaywan debit, prepaid and credit co-badged cards. The platform will include advanced switching and processing capabilities, value-added services, cybersecurity solutions, fraud prevention tools and threat intelligence systems.Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services at the Central Bank of the UAE and Chairman of Al Etihad Payments, said: "This collaboration represents a defining moment for the UAE's payments ecosystem. By combining national infrastructure with global innovation, we are strengthening sovereignty, resilience and choice, while accelerating the UAE's journey toward a future-ready financial system."Dr Dimitrios Dosis, President, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) at Mastercard, said: "As Mastercard celebrates forty years in the UAE, this latest milestone with Al Etihad Payments reflects how together we can strengthen the foundation for continued growth in trade, tourism and commerce."We are bringing together trusted technology, global scale and deep local relationships to strengthen domestic resiliency while remaining deeply connected to the global economy."Al Etihad Payments and Mastercard said they will continue exploring market-focused solutions that support the UAE's digital transformation, enhance payment choice and further strengthen the country's domestic payments ecosystem.

Dubai: Dubai Police handled more than 1.3 million calls through its Command-and-Control Centre during the second quarter of 2026, while maintaining exceptional emergency response standards and advancing efforts to enhance operational efficiency through innovation and customer feedback.Major General Hareb Al Shamsi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Affairs, said customer observations, suggestions and complaints play a vital role in improving the quality of administrative and security services provided across police stations and general departments. He described customers as strategic partners in Dubai Police’s journey towards continuous development and global leadership.Dubai Police uses a "mystery shopper" mechanism to contact customers after they receive a service, measure satisfaction levels, gather feedback and transform suggestions into improvement opportunities that enhance services, increase operational efficiency and strengthen a culture of continuous improvement in line with international best practices.His remarks came during the General Department of Operations’ second-quarter performance review meeting, attended by Major General Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Mualla, Director of the General Department of Excellence and Pioneering; Brigadier Turki bin Faris, Director of the General Department of Operations; and several senior officers.The meeting reviewed operational performance indicators, assessed the implementation of previous decisions and discussed future projects aimed at strengthening operational capabilities and ensuring Dubai Police remains prepared to address evolving security challenges.Participants also reviewed a specialised workforce study focused on staffing requirements within the Command-and-Control Centre and measures to further improve operational efficiency, emergency response and round-the-clock operations.Performance figures showed that the Command-and-Control Centre handled more than 1.3 million calls during the second quarter, while achieving a 99.8% compliance rate in answering emergency calls within 10 seconds, significantly exceeding the target of 97%.Dubai Police also recorded 98.8% patrol coverage across police station jurisdictions during the reporting period, surpassing the 97% target and highlighting the effectiveness of its patrol deployment strategy and rapid-response capabilities.Major General Al Shamsi said the results reflect the continued advancement of Dubai Police’s operational system through close coordination between the General Department of Operations and police stations, supported by a performance-driven approach focused on innovation and measurable outcomes.He added that continuous improvement is no longer an option but a fundamental principle that strengthens policing readiness and enhances services provided to the community.Al Shamsi also praised the Command-and-Control Centre’s performance during recent exceptional circumstances, highlighting its ability to receive and manage emergency reports efficiently, dispatch patrols and coordinate with relevant authorities according to the highest standards of operational readiness.He stressed the importance of accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence into operational processes in line with Dubai Government’s goal of transforming 50% of government operations into AI-supported processes. He said AI will enhance decision-making, improve response times and maximise the use of big data to support policing and future readiness.At the conclusion of the meeting, Major General Al Shamsi honoured the best patrol supervisors from police stations across Dubai in recognition of their outstanding field performance and contributions to strengthening security and ensuring rapid responses to emergency reports.He said recognising excellence remains a core institutional approach that motivates talent, reinforces a culture of excellence and encourages positive competition across Dubai Police.