SAMA starts Mada, Himyan cards acceptance in Qatar, Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), in cooperation with Qatar Central Bank (QCB), announced the gradual rollout of acceptance for Saudi Arabia’s national payment network mada cards in Qatar and Qatar’s national payment card Himyan in Saudi Arabia.

The central banks said accepting the two countries’ national payment cards builds on ongoing cooperation and integration in payments, supports GCC efforts to develop shared payment infrastructure and expands acceptance of national Gulf cards, in line with the strategic goals of economic and financial integration among GCC states.

The Gulf Payments Network is a key strategic foundation enabling GCC citizens and residents to make cash withdrawals at ATMs and payments through Gulf Network debit cards at point-of-sale terminals. This enhances payment convenience and efficiency, lowers costs for customers and improves the quality of services provided across the GCC.