Emirates NBD and Nium Join Forces to Transform Cross-Border Payments in the Middle East

Emirates NBD has partnered with Nium to enable real-time cross-border payments for its retail and corporate customers, marking one of the most significant bank-fintech payment partnerships in the Gulf in 2024.

The collaboration integrates Nium's global payment network, which spans over 100 countries, directly into Emirates NBD's banking platform. Customers will be able to initiate instant international transfers through the bank's app, with recipients receiving funds in real time rather than the one-to-three-day windows typical of conventional cross-border transfers.

Emirates NBD said the partnership addresses the strong demand for affordable, transparent international transfers among its customer base. The UAE is one of the world's largest remittance-sending markets, with a large expatriate population regularly transferring money to home countries across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

Nium's infrastructure provides the real-time payout capability that distinguishes the service from Emirates NBD's existing international transfer options. The fintech's Direct Global Network connects to local payment systems in destination markets, enabling same-day or instant settlement without requiring correspondent banking intermediaries.

For Emirates NBD, one of the largest banking groups in the Middle East, the Nium partnership represents a strategic shift toward embedding fintech capabilities within its own platform rather than losing customers to standalone remittance services and fintech apps. The bank has been investing in digital services and partnerships to defend its market position as competition from digital-native players intensifies.

The partnership is expected to expand to additional corridors and payment types over time.