Visa, a world leader in digital payments, has enabled Apple Pay to its Saudi-based cardholders, which allows them to make easy, quick and secure purchases using their iPhone and Apple Watch in stores that accept contactless payments.

 Visa cardholders can also make payments with Apple Pay in-app or on the web.

Apple Pay will allow Visa cardholders across the Kingdom to make payments using their Apple devices while ensuring that their financial details are private and secure. Security and privacy are at the core of Apple Pay.

When you use a credit or debit card with Apple Pay, the actual card numbers are not stored on the device, nor on Apple servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in the Secure Element on your device. Each transaction is authorized with a one-time unique dynamic security code.

According to “Contactless & ‘the Pays’: the catalyst for digital payments growth,” research by Visa Consulting and Analytics, millennials account for 40 per cent of the Kingdom’s population, with smartphone penetration levels reaching nearly 74 per cent overall. There is an overall desire to try new solutions, with 80 per cent of respondents stating that they have performed a contactless transaction and were open to do so again.

Ali Bailoun, Visa’s general manager for Saudi Arabia, said: “Mobile payments are becoming an ever-present part of consumers’ lives. In today’s world, people expect speed and convenience without security being compromised — an approach that Visa embodies.

“As a country filled with tech-savvy, mobile-first consumers, we are delighted to work with Saudi Payments and our bank partners to help bring Apple Pay to Visa cardholders here, making their payments experience easier, faster and more secure than ever before. This launch also aligns with one of the goals of Vision 2030 of creating a cashless society, and we enthusiastically welcome Apple Pay to the market and are excited to help Saudi Arabia usher in this new era of payments.”

Ziad Al Yousef, managing director of Saudi Payments, said: “We are pleased to bring Apple Pay to the Kingdom to help drive the continuing evolution of Saudi Arabia’s payments landscape. This technology offers consumers a hassle-free and unique contactless payment experience, making it an attractive option for Saudi consumers looking for quick and secure ways to pay. It represents an important step forward in the realization of the ambitious goals set by the Financial Sector Development Program to achieve the kingdom's vision 2030 cashless society targets.”

How to use Apple Pay:

Apple Pay is easy to set up and users will continue to receive all of the rewards and benefits offered by their Visa credit and debit cards in stores. Apple Pay works with iPhone 6 and later, iPhone SE and Apple Watch.   

Online shopping in-app and on websites accepting Apple Pay is simple with Touch ID, or just double-click the side button and authenticate with a glance with Face ID. There’s no need to manually fill out lengthy account forms or repeatedly type in shipping and billing information with Apple Pay. When paying for goods and services in-app or on Safari, Apple Pay works with iPhone 6 and later, iPhone SE, iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation and later), iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 3 and later, a statement said.

You can also use Apple Pay in Safari on any Mac introduced in or after 2012 running macOS Sierra and confirm the payment with iPhone 6 or later or Apple Watch, or with Touch ID on the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, it added. – TradeArabia News Service