Emirates NBD Egypt Launches Apple Pay, Accelerating Nation’s Digital Payment Shift

Mohammed Fathy

Last updated 25-02-2026

3 min

Emirates NBD Egypt has launched Apple Pay for fast, contactless payments.

Transactions use Face ID or Touch ID with a ‘dynamic security code’.

Card numbers aren’t stored; a secure ‘Device Account Number’ protects data.

Customers get 50% cashback as Egypt pushes towards digital adoption.

The move supports Vision 2030 and growing trust in cashless payments.

Emirates NBD Egypt has rolled out Apple Pay for its customers, marking another step in the country’s steady shift towards digital payments. For many users, it means one simple thing: you can now tap your iPhone or Apple Watch at a terminal and pay in seconds no card swapping, no cash, no awkward search for change at the bottom of your bag.

The service allows customers to make contactless payments by holding their device near a payment terminal. Each transaction is authenticated through Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode, alongside a one-time dynamic security code. In plain terms, that adds an extra layer of protection on top of what we already expect from card payments.

Apple Pay is already widely accepted across grocery shops, pharmacies, taxis, cafés and retail outlets. It can also be used for in-app purchases or online shopping via Safari on iPhone, iPad and Mac, removing the need to repeatedly type in billing and shipping details. Well… I mean, anything that cuts down the faff of entering card numbers again and again is usually a welcome change.

Security and privacy sit at the core of the service. When a card is added to Apple Pay, the actual card number is not stored on the device or on Apple’s servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is created, encrypted and stored in what is known as the Secure Element—an industry-certified chip designed specifically to safeguard payment information. It sounds technical, but the idea is straightforward: sensitive data stays protected.

Setting up is equally simple. Customers open the Wallet app on their iPhone, tap the “+” symbol and follow the instructions to add their Emirates NBD credit or debit card. Once added, the card can be used immediately on that device, whether it is an iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad or Mac. Importantly, cardholders will continue to receive the same rewards and benefits associated with their Emirates NBD cards.

To coincide with the launch, Emirates NBD Egypt is offering 50% cashback for all its card holders using Apple Pay. That is quite a generous push, and I reckon it signals how serious banks are about accelerating digital adoption. Egypt has been moving quickly to expand electronic payment solutions, aligning with broader national efforts to build a more flexible and secure digital economy under Vision 2030.

From where I sit, covering startups and fintech across the region for Arageek, it’s clear that consumer confidence is the real battleground. Founders often tell me that trust is everything in financial tech — and without it, even the slickest product falls flat. Moves like this, backed by established banks, can help normalise cashless behaviour. On the flip side, some still prefer physical cards, and change can take time. But the direction of travel seems spot on.

Digital wallets are no longer a niche add-on; they are becoming part of everyday life. For Egypt’s growing base of tech-savvy consumers and entrepreneurs, this kind of integration is another piece of the puzzle in building a more connected financal ecosystem. And believe it or not, what once felt futuristic now feels pretty standard ,we have definately come a long way from counting coins at the checkout.

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