As the UAE rapidly progresses towards a cashless economy, Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) has strategically aligned with this digital evolution by integrating with Aani, the national instant payments platform of Central Bank of the UAE.

Aani is not just a payment method, it represents a strategic leap in the UAE’s financial infrastructure. Aani enables customers to send or request money instantly using a mobile number, email address, or QR code, in under 10 seconds. CBD’s integration with Aani reflects its commitment to supporting the Central Bank’s Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) program and the broader vision of a digitally empowered economy.

“CBD is proud to be part of an initiative with this level of scale, ambition and national impact,” said Vladislavs Mironovs, Chief Digital Officer at Commercial Bank of Dubai. “Our integration with the Aani platform strengthens the UAE’s competitiveness in the global digital economy and reflects our full commitment to the country’s vision of a cashless society. By offering instant, secure and user-friendly payments through both our mobile and the Aani app, we are helping build a more agile, inclusive and digitally empowered financial future.”

With features like QR-based payments, secure peer-to-peer transfers, and the ability to split bills, Aani offers a user-friendly digital payment experience for all. Its speed and simplicity make it an ideal solution for both tech-savvy users and those taking their first steps into digital banking.

“CBD customers can now access Aani’s services through both our award-winning mobile app and the official Aani app, delivering a frictionless, secure, and truly omnichannel experience,” said Khaled Al Hammadi – General Manager, Personal Banking Group, Commercial Bank of Dubai. “Given the vital role that SMEs play in the UAE’s business landscape, participating in this initiative will be a game changer as it is set to help small businesses handle transactions more efficiently and securely.” 

This milestone fits squarely within CBD’s long-term digital transformation strategy. At the heart of CBD’s journey has been the Digital Factory, the bank’s in-house fintech incubator that rapidly develops and deploys customer-centric digital solutions.

CBD was the first bank in the UAE to offer fully digital onboarding. Its mobile app is consistently top-rated, featuring biometric login, customisable dashboards, AI-powered fraud detection, and real-time credit decisioning. The bank’s partnerships with Microsoft and Accenture have led to enterprise-wide AI upskilling initiatives, including the CBD Promptathon and early adoption of Microsoft
Copilot across its teams.

CBD’s role in digital payments extends far beyond Aani. It was the first bank in the Middle East to integrate JP Morgan’s Kinexys Liink application Confirm, streamlining cross-border payments for corporate clients. Its advanced iBusiness platform continues to evolve with solutions for digital trade finance, liquidity management, and account validation.

As instant payments become the norm and customer expectations rise, CBD’s forward-thinking approach continues to set benchmarks in the UAE’s financial sector.

Download the CBD mobile app to experience the future of instant payments with Aani.