Latest news with #SaeedaJaffar
Qatar Tribune
18-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Commercial Bank, Visa launch pay later feature for online buys
Tribune News Network Doha Commercial Bank, a leader in innovative digital banking solutions in Qatar, has partnered with Visa, a world leader in digital payments, to launch the Visa Installments Solution (VIS) in Qatar. Commercial Bank is the first merchant acquiring bank globally to offer this innovative solution for eCommerce through Cybersource, a Visa Acceptance Solutions offering. This milestone allows credit cardholders in Qatar to access convenient installment payment options when shopping online. Visa Installments Solution empowers credit cardholders to split their purchases into smaller, manageable payments. Available to all eligible credit cardholders, this feature is designed to provide financial flexibility, making large purchases easier and more affordable. 'This is a landmark moment for us,' said Shahnawaz Rashid, EGM and Head of Retail Banking of Commercial Bank. 'We are excited to be the first merchant acquirer globally to bring Visa Installments to the eCommerce space through our partnership with Visa. It demonstrates our dedication to innovation and delivering world-class financial solutions to our customers. As more consumers look for flexible payment options, this collaboration offers a secure, seamless way to make high-value purchases more manageable.' 'We are delighted to see Visa Installments Solution officially live in Qatar. This is the result of Visa's efforts in line with the Qatari government's digital commerce agenda to enable local banks and merchants in bringing innovative solutions to the country's retail sector. Our partnership with Commercial Bank – the first acquiring bank globally to enable VIS for eCommerce through Cybersource, is also a testament to Visa's commitment to delivering an enhanced digital retail journey for consumers in Qatar who seek financial empowerment and deserve better, more rewarding payment experiences,' said Dr Saeeda Jaffar, Visa's SVP and Group Country Manager for GCC. The partnership reflects the growing consumer demand for installment payment options that cater to their financial preferences. Visa, Commercial Bank, and local merchants are committed to providing cardholders with greater control over their finances through secure, accessible, and rewarding payment experiences.
07-05-2025
- Business
Dubai Cements Its Status as Global Hub for Tourism, Opportunity: Visa
Dubai is cementing its reputation as a global hub for tourism, talent, and technology, according to Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the GCC at Visa. Speaking at the MENA Capital Markets Summit, Jaffar praised Dubai's continued success in attracting visitors across sectors—leisure, business, and medical tourism—while noting sustained growth in both footfall and spending. 'Dubai has succeeded in attracting visitors from around the world,' she said, pointing to record tourism numbers and an environment ripe with economic opportunity. Jaffar also highlighted the UAE's rapid digital transformation, particularly in payments. Digital transactions now make up around 70% of all payments in the region, a steep rise from under 30% before the pandemic. 'The region is among the global leaders in contactless payments,' she said, with more than 90% of face-to-face transactions completed this way. She noted that the shift is supported by a surge in mobile commerce and high e-commerce adoption, while remaining cash payments are typically limited to minor purchases or rent. With digital growth comes new risks, and Jaffar emphasized Visa's focus on security. The company is using AI to analyse hundreds of data points per transaction, referencing a database of over 300 billion global transactions to detect fraud. 'We are doubling down on security as threats evolve, including those driven by generative AI,' she said. Looking forward, Visa is working with partners to build intelligent agents that can complete transactions autonomously, a step towards reshaping the payment experience to match the pace of digital change. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Zawya
07-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Dubai consolidated its status as global hub for tourism, opportunity: Visa
DUBAI: Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region at Visa, praised Dubai's global standing, affirming that the emirate has achieved remarkable success in attracting tourists and establishing itself as a city of opportunity. Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the third MENA Capital Markets Summit, Jaffar said, 'Dubai has succeeded in attracting visitors from around the world, encompassing diverse tourism segments such as leisure, business and medical tourism, while recording record numbers of visitors and sustained growth in spending across the city.' She added that Dubai continues to bolster its position as a leading global destination, with an economic environment rich in opportunities. 'There is effective dialogue between the public and private sectors, which enhances competitiveness and helps attract top talent,' she said. On the payments sector, Jaffar highlighted the rapid shift towards digital transactions in the region. 'Before COVID-19, digital payments made up less than 30 percent of total transactions, while they now account for around 70 percent across the region and in the UAE,' she noted. 'This rapid evolution reflects not only increased digitisation but also advanced levels of technology adoption. The region is among the global leaders in contactless payments, with over 90 percent of face-to-face transactions conducted through this method,' she added. Jaffar also pointed to the UAE's strong growth in e-commerce and high mobile usage in commercial transactions, adding that the remaining cash transactions are typically simple peer-to-peer exchanges, purchases of small items or rent payments. On technology investment and fraud prevention, she said Visa prioritises transaction security, especially in the face of increasing threats driven by generative artificial intelligence, including 'fraud as a service'. 'This has led Visa to double down on its security efforts, deploying advanced solutions,' Jaffar explained, noting that the company analyses hundreds of factors during each transaction, cross-referencing them with a database of over 300 billion global transactions to determine legitimacy. Visa is also leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies to combat this growing threat and ensure secure user experiences. Looking ahead, Jaffar revealed that Visa is collaborating with partners to develop an intelligent agent model capable of completing transactions on behalf of users, underlining the need to redesign the payment experience in line with evolving digital trends.
Tourism Breaking News
01-05-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and Visa Sign Strategic Collaboration to Drive Tourism Growth
Post Views: 107 The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Visa to facilitate further increases in international tourism inflows and elevate the visitor experience across the city. The MoU will harness Visa's data-driven insights to optimise marketing campaigns, streamline tourism services, and deliver tailored promotions for visitors. The collaboration aligns with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai's position as a leading global destination for business and tourism, and highlights the robust public-private partnerships that continue to drive the tourism sector's exceptional growth, evidenced by a robust Q1 performance in 2025. Dubai welcomed 5.31 million international overnight visitors in the first three months of this year, up 3% on the same period last year. The MoU was signed at the Dubai stand at ATM by His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of DET, and Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for GCC – Visa. Under the agreement, Visa will support DET's strategic objectives by leveraging VisaNet – the world's largest global payments network – to provide in-depth data-driven insights into visitor journeys, spending behaviours, customer preferences, seasonal trends and digital adoption. These analytics will empower DET to craft targeted marketing campaigns and customer-centric initiatives, ensuring seamless and enriching experiences for tourists. His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: 'Visa has been a driving force behind Dubai's vibrant tourism ecosystem, empowering travellers with seamless, secure, and innovative payment solutions at every step of their journey. This collaboration brings together DET's market insights and destination expertise and Visa's vast global network and data intelligence – creating new pathways to engage travellers, inspire visitation, and deliver exceptional experiences across every touchpoint. It also underlines the strength of public-private partnerships, which remain a cornerstone of Dubai's economic success, driven by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. As we work to deliver the goals of the D33 Agenda, our collaboration with Visa will further elevate Dubai's global visibility, enrich the quality of our tourism offering, and create greater value for our visitors, residents and businesses alike. Together, we're paving the way for increased visitation and unforgettable moments that showcase our city as a must-visit destination.' Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for GCC – Visa, added: 'We are thrilled to partner with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) to provide Visa's unique insights into global travel and tourism trends. These insights will enable DET to make informed decisions on campaigns and initiatives that will help drive more international tourist inflow to Dubai. Our commitment extends beyond data-driven insights; with our best-in-class security infrastructure and a US$10 billion investment in innovation over the last five years, we also aim to create seamless and secure experiences for tourists. Visa's partnership with DET not only reinforces Dubai's position as a global leader in tourism, commerce, and innovation, but also creates significant opportunities for local businesses and the broader UAE economy.' Visa's insights will guide initiatives to simplify travel and tourism services, enhancing accessibility and convenience for visitors. Additionally, Visa will support DET with marketing activities and exclusive promotions for cardholders across its network, spanning more than 200 markets worldwide and including major hotel chains, airlines, and retailers. These efforts will amplify the reach of Dubai's tourism operators, from malls and hotels to entertainment providers, generating opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses to engage with a global audience.
Arabian Business
01-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Dubai's DET partners with Visa to boost international tourism
The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Visa, a global leader in digital payments, to facilitate further increases in international tourism inflows and elevate the visitor experience across the city. The agreement, signed during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), is for harnessing Visa's data-driven insights to optimise marketing campaigns, streamline tourism services, and deliver tailored promotions for visitors. Boosting Dubai's tourism growth Visa's insights will guide initiatives to simplify travel and tourism services, enhancing accessibility and convenience for visitors. Additionally, Visa will support DET with marketing activities and exclusive promotions for cardholders across its network, spanning more than 200 markets worldwide and including major hotel chains, airlines, and retailers. The efforts are expected to amplify the reach of Dubai's tourism operators, from malls and hotels to entertainment providers, generating opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses to engage with a global audience. Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the collaboration brings together DET's market insights and destination expertise and Visa's vast global network and data intelligence – creating new pathways to engage travellers, inspire visitation, and deliver exceptional experiences across every touchpoint. 'It also underlines the strength of public-private partnerships, which remain a cornerstone of Dubai's economic success,' he said. Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for GCC – Visa, said the company is thrilled to partner with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) to provide its unique insights into global travel and tourism trends. 'These insights will enable DET to make informed decisions on campaigns and initiatives that will help drive more international tourist inflow to Dubai,' Jaffar said. The collaboration aligns with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate the city's position as a leading global destination for business and tourism. It also highlights the robust public-private partnerships that continue to drive the tourism sector's exceptional growth, evidenced by a robust Q1 performance in 2025.
