E-dirham is a payment tool that was launched by the government of UAE in order to collect the revenues of the government and non-government services in a safe and secure way.
E-dirham payment gateway is a web-based system that enables and entitles the e-commerce to perform middleware between public entities and payment gateway.
Table of Content:
- E-Dirham Payment Channels
- E-Dirham Balance Check
- Banks partnered with E-Dirham
- Services offered by E dirham
- E-dirham cards
- Set and modify the passcode of the cards
- Top up E-dirham cards
- E-dirham cards Registration Process
E-Dirham Payment Channels
This particular system was launched in February 2001, making the UAE the first country to do so. Being widely available, this has many payment channels available. Payment channels available for this system currently are
- Electronic point of sale
- Over the internet
- E stamp
Recently the e-dirham got upgraded into a new system which is the second generation of e dirham that stands as the safe and secure mode of electronic payment in the emirate.
Through this new mode of e dirham, the transactions can be done in a more flexible way by collecting the government and non-government service fees in the ways mentioned below
- Payment via credit and debit cards
- E-vouchers: payment via electronic voucher
- E debit and e direct: direct debit from bank accounts
- Epig: online payment and e-commerce
- Eftpos: payment via counter
- E mobile: payment via mobile phones
- E kiosks: payment via electronic kiosks
- E-wallet: payment using a virtual wallet
E-Dirham Balance Check
- Visit E-Dirham website
- Enter your E-dirham card details
- Check your E-Dirham Balance along with the transaction history
Check: Top payment gateways in UAE
Banks partnered with E-Dirham
- FAB e-dirham
- CBD e-dirham
- ADIB (Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank)
Services offered by E dirham include
- Comprehensive mode of payment for prepaid cards and credit cards
- Payment via counter
- Online payment and E-commerce
-> Comprehensive payment of prepaid cards and credit cards
Payment regarding the entities that are subscribed via e dirham G2 can be paid using the other types of cards like Visa and Mastercards. The gateway accepts the payments via Point of Sale terminals and the Internet.
-> Electronic Fund Transfer Point of Sale
Payments for purchases you make and the recharge or reload of e dirham card can be made through the new e dirhams electronic machines that are in alignment with the latest international networks.
The significant feature of these machines is that they accept payments from any Visa or Mastercard.
-> Online payments and e-commerce
You can make the payments via online or internet in a very safe and secure way by using e dirham payment gateway.
E-dirham cards
With the help of e dirham, you get a variety of cards as stated below
You can keep track and control your spending by using the cards a variety of e dirham cards. Cards that are available
- Blue Alsalah
- Red Alsalah
- Gold Alsalah
- Green Alsalah
- Silver Alsalah
Things to know about different kinds of cards
Red E-dirham card
- With this card, you can load and reload your funds in an easy way allowing to keep track of your spending.
- The validity of this card is one year from the date of loading for the first time
- This card is available for you at AED 6
- The transaction fees of the card are less as per Ministries and Federal authorities
- No bank account is needed for the card
- This card is issued in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and is usually accepted by UAE ministries and Federal offices
- Cash can be withdrawn at any ATMs/CDMs for registered cards
Reloading fees of the card
- Reloading through CDM channels costs you AED 2
- Reloading through ATMs costs you AED 8
- Reloading through Distribution channels costs you AED 4
Balance limit on the card
| Registered | Not registered | |
| Max card balance | 50000 | – |
| Max load amount | 10000 | – |
| Max reload amount | 50000 | – |
| Max reload amount/ day in FAB | 50000 | – |
| Max reload amount/ month in FAB | 100000 | – |
| Max reload amount/ transaction in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 30000 | – |
| Max reload amount/ transaction/ day in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 30000 | – |
| Max reload amount/ transaction/ month in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 600000 | 200000 |
Eligibility and documentation required
- This card is available for all the UAE visitors and residents
- You need to submit valid Emirates ID and a passport if you are a UAE citizen
- A valid passport, UAE residence VISA, and valid Emirates ID are needed if you are an expat.
Blue E-dirham card
Features of the card
- Cost of the card is AED 12
- Transaction fees are decreased at Ministries and Federal authorities
- Having an expiry date of two years, this card requires no bank account
- This card is used in partnership with the Ministry of finance and is acceptable at UAE ministries and Federal government offices
- The registered users can make purchases anywhere where VISA logo is visible. This includes online purchases as well.
Fees involved
- If you reload it in FABs CDMs it is AED 2
- If you reload it in FABs branches AED 8
- If you reload it via distribution channels AED 4
Balance limit on the card
| Registered | Not registered | |
| Max card balance | 20000 | 2500 |
| Max load amount | 2500 | 2500 |
| Max reload amount | 20000 | |
| Max reload amount/ day in FAB | 20000 | |
| Max reload amount/ month in FAB | 400000 | |
| Max reload amount/ transaction in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 20000 | |
| Max reload amount/ transaction/ day in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 20000 | |
| Max reload amount/ transaction/ month in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 400000 |
Eligibility and documentation required
- You need to submit your valid passport and Emirates ID if you are a UAE citizen
- Passport, residence VISA, and passport are needed if you are an expat
- This card is available to all the UAE residents
Silver E-dirham card
Features of the card
- Cost of the card is AED 30
- Reduction of the transaction fees at Ministries and Federal government authorities
- This is a personalized card with no bank account needed and has an expiry date of 3 years.
- This card is accepted by the UAE ministries and Federal government authorities and can be used for the purchases you make online wherever Visa is accepted
Fees involved
- This card comes with a reloading fee of AED 2 if it is with CDMs of FAB
- Reloading fees is AED 8 if reloading is done via FAB branches
- Reloading fees is AED 4 it is done via distribution channels
Balance limits on the card
| Max card balance | 200000 |
| Max load amount | 200000 |
| Max reload amount | 200000 |
| Max reload amount/ day in FAB | 200000 |
| Max reload amount/ month in FAB | unlimited |
| Max reload amount/ transaction in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 30000 |
| Max reload amount/ transaction/ day in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 30000 |
| Max reload amount/ transaction/ month in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 600000 |
Eligibility and documentation needed for the card
- This card is available for UAE companies
- You need to submit your valid passport and Emirates ID if you are a UAE citizen
- You need to submit your valid Emirates ID, passport and residency VISA if you are an expat.
- You should also submit Registration documents of the company, Power of attorney or trade license
- Signature of the cardholder
- Colored photograph
Gold card
Features of the card
- This is a personalized card with no bank account needed
- The card is issued in partnership with the Ministry of finance and is accepted by UAE Ministries and Federal Govt offices
- The availability of the is for both institutions and individuals
Fees involved
- If the card is reloaded at the CDMs then the fees are AED 2
- If the card is reloaded at FAB branches then the fees are AED 8
- The reloaded fees if the card is reloaded at distribution channels is AED 4
Balance limits on the card
| Corporate/ individual limits | |
| Max card balance | 10,000,000 |
| Max load amount | 10,000,000 |
| Max reload amount | 10,000,000 |
| Max reload amount/ day in FAB | 10,000,000 |
| Max reload amount/ month in FAB | unlimited |
| Max reload amount/ transaction in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 30000 |
| Max reload amount/ transaction/ day in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 30000 |
| Max reload amount/ transaction/ month in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 600000 |
Eligibility and documentation needed
- This card is available for all UAE companies and residents
- A valid passport and Emirates ID should be submitted if you are a UAE citizen
- Passport, residence VISA, and Emirates ID should be submitted if you are an expat
If you want to apply for an individual card
- Colored photograph
- Valid passport
- Cardholder’s signature is needed
If you are applying for a corporate card
- Valid passport with Visa page
- Passport size picture
- Registration documents of the company or trade license
- Power of attorney is needed
Green card
Features of the card
- You can get this card at AED 27
- Transaction fees are reduced at Ministries and Federal government authorities
- This is a personalized card with no bank account needed
- The expiry date of the card is 3 years
Fees involved
- If you reload the card with the branch CDMs, the fees are AED 2
- If the card is reloaded at the FAB branch, the fees are AED 8
- If the card is reloaded at distribution channels, the fees are AED 4
Balance limits on the card
| Max card balance | 50000 |
| Max load amount | 50000 |
| Max reload amount | 50000 |
| Max reload amount/ day in FAB | 50000 |
| Max reload amount/ month in FAB | unlimited |
| Max reload amount/ transaction in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 30000 |
| Max reload amount/ transaction/ day in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 30000 |
| Max reload amount/ transaction/ month in FAB CDMs and ATMs | 600000 |
Eligibility and documentation needed
- This card is available for all the UAE needed
- If you are a UAE citizen, then a valid passport and Emirates ID should be submitted
- If you are an expat, passport and valid residency VISA should be submitted
- You should also provide the card holder’s signature and a colored picture.
Go through : All you need to know about mPay
How to set and modify the passcode of the cards?
The passcode for the card is needed to
- Access the functionalities of e dirham G2 call center
- Access the functionalities of e dirham G2 website
- Go with the transactions related to e-commerce on the e dirham G2 subscribed entities websites as you will be needed to enter the passcode to carry out the transactions
A passcode can be set by the cardholder by means of the following channels
- The toll-free number of e dirham
- E dirham G2 ATMs/CDMs
- FAB ATMs/CDMs
- E dirham G2 website
In the cases mentioned above, you should enter the activation code while setting the passcode except for the cases of ATMs and CDM machines
Changing the passcode
The cardholder can change the passcode by the following ways
- E dirham number ( 800663)
- G2 ATMs/CDMs that can be used by only registered and short registered cardholders
- FAB ATMs/CDMs that can be used only by registered and short registered cardholders
- By visiting the official website
Also check : What is the best time to make a credit card payment
How to top up E-dirham cards?
You can recharge or top up any of the cards mentioned above by using debit cards or your account. Credit cards are not accepted for this.
Steps to recharge your cards
- Go through e dirham official website
- Select card top up
- Fill the form containing the details of your card number, payment method, top up amount, passcode, email and email confirmation
How to get registered with E-dirham cards?
Registration of e dirham cards can be done in two ways
- Short registration
- Full registration
Registration of Blue and Red cards
Short registration of these cards can be done by going through G2 website, by contacting G2 call centers or by visiting FAB branches nearby
Process of Short registration
- Visit the website e dirham G2 website
- Login to the website using your login and passcode
- Select “Short register” from Account services in the homepage
- Enter the needed information of cardholder name and mobile number
- Click submit to complete the process
- You can also go with short registration by contacting the call center and answer the validation questions to get registered
Process of full registration
- Visit the e dirham G2 website
- Click on the “Register your card”
- Once you enter the required information, upload the scanned documents like passport, Emirates ID and EIDA
- Click on “Submit”
- Note down the “ticket number” that will get displayed on the screen
- Carry your Emirates ID and Ticket number to the FAB offices to complete the registration
- You can also get registered by visiting FAB branches by visiting the branches, filling the form and submitting the original documents (passport, EIDA, Emirates driver’s license)
Registration of Gold card
Registration of Gold card doesn’t involve short registration. You need to go for full registration for this card.
Process of registration
- Go through the G2 e dirham website
- Click on “Apply for Gold Al Salah card”
- Select the type of your application
- Enter the required information and upload the scanned copies of essential documents
- Upload the scanned documents of card holder’s original ID be it a passport, EIDA, Emirates driving license, card colored picture, the signature of the cardholder if you are up for an individual card,
- Upload the scanned documents of card holder’s valid original ID, passport size photo, card holder’s signature, registration documents of the company if you are up for the Corporate card.
- You can also get registered in collaboration with FAB by submitting the documents of Cardholder’s original ID, passport size photo, the signature of the cardholder if you are up for Individual card and
- By submitting cardholder’s passport-sized photo, the signature of the cardholder and registered documents of the company if you are up for the Corporate card
The functionality of both the individual and corporate cards are the same except for the only thing that the corporate card has the company’s name written on it in Arabic or English.
Conclusion
E-dirham is a smart evolution in technology in the UAE that allows you to go with your payments in the most flexible way possible. Also, the services provided by the system allows you to get benefited with your payments 24/7.