Dubai eGovernment has signed a MoU with UAE Central Bank to expand the scope of its ePay gateway, a novel electronic channel to provide online payment facilities to customers of government departments, by including 46 new banks.

The move is aimed at opening new channels and providing more payment options for customers, said a statement from Dubai eGovernment.

The MoU is in line with Dubai eGovernment’s ongoing effort to provide government department customers with instant payment facilities of government fees without having to waste time and effort visiting banks or the concerned departments, thus ensuring the highest levels of efficiency, security and reliability, the statement added.

By connecting with the UAESwitch at UAE Central Bank, Dubai eGovernment will allow corporate or individual customers to settle government departments’ fees through Dubai eGovernment’s ePay portal using ATM cards or through pre-paid cards.

These payment options will be added to the other options that are already available to customers, the statement said.

Dubai eGovernment said it is keen on leveraging its co-operation with UAE Central Bank to open new prospects for customers by expanding the number of banks using the ePay gateway from four at present to all the 46 banks using the UAESwitch.

Commenting on the deal, Ahmed Bin Humaidan, director general of Dubai eGovernment, said, 'Over the past few years we have been able to upgrade the ePay portal to meet the needs of our customers, who can now make payments for government services electronically by three methods: credit cards, e-Dirham and direct debit from their accounts in the participating banks.'

'During the first half, the portal marked a considerable increase in the total amount collected, achieving a 60 per cent growth compared to the same period last year. This reflects both the increased adoption of ePay and the growing trust in the effectiveness and security offered by this service,” he stated.

“We are looking forward to expanding the ePay network by entering into more strategic partnerships. In this regard, we are pleased to partner with UAE Central Bank, which is keen to formulate and implement banking, credit and monetary policies aimed at supporting the growth of the national economy in line with Dubai’s progress towards eTransformation.'

Sultan Bin Nasser Al Suwaidi, governor of UAE Central Bank, said, “Connecting Dubai eGovernment with the UAESwitch is a significant addition for its ePay portal which allows it to provide more options to its customers and supports its initiatives and ongoing endeavours to upgrade its services.”

The UAESwitch, which has been in operation since 1996, is used by 46 banks and connected to all GCC countries.-TradeArabia News Service