Al Etihad Payments' Aani platform surpassed 12.5 million registered users by April 2026. This represents an eightfold increase from the 1.5 million users reported in February 2025. Transfer volumes grew sixfold year-on-year throughout 2025. Average monthly growth held at 10%.
The platform now connects 74 licensed financial institutions, up from 57 at mid-2025. Coverage spans 85% of UAE banks, 10% of exchange houses, and 5% of digital wallet providers. Approximately 774,000 merchants accept Aani payments. Person-to-person mobile transfers average 25,000 per day. Transfers complete in an average of three seconds.
ACI Worldwide projected 161 million UAE instant payment transactions by 2028. The country recorded 58 million in 2023. Aani's registration and transaction growth suggest this estimate may need upward revision. Whether the platform can convert its large user base into consistent merchant payment volume will be the decisive measure of UAE's cashless transition.