UAE: Sharjah Islamic Bank rolls out 'SIB Pay'; QR code and smartphone tap-to-pay now available nationwide

Sharjah Islamic Bank ( SIB ) has launched SIB Pay , a new digital-payments platform aimed at accelerating cashless transactions in the UAE. The platform offers QR payments, soft-POS, e-commerce gateways and pay-by-link tools for businesses and government entities, positioning SIB as a growing player in the country’s payments ecosystem.

Turning your smartphone into a POS machine
The most groundbreaking feature of SIB Pay is its commitment to simplifying payment acceptance for merchants. The platform's tools significantly reduce the need for bulky, traditional payment hardware:

• Soft POS Functionality : This feature is a game-changer for small and mobile businesses. It allows merchants to transform any existing Android smartphone or tablet into a fully secure, contactless payment terminal using Tap to Pay technology. No extra hardware is needed—just the app.
  
• Pay by Link Tool: For businesses that deal with remote payments or invoicing, the "Pay by Link" feature allows them to generate an instant payment request and send it directly to a customer via SMS or email.
  
• Card Tokenization: SIB Pay enhances security for repeat customers. It encrypts and securely stores card details, enabling safe, convenient recurring or one-click payments without needing to re-enter sensitive information.

Complete payment toolbox for you
SIB Pay is a comprehensive solution that supports all modern transaction types, whether in-person or online.

How to access SIB Pay
For businesses and government entities ready to adopt the SIB Pay platform, the process involves engaging directly with Sharjah Islamic Bank's retail and business services team. Since SIB Pay is a unified, secure banking platform, users must first be registered merchants or clients of the bank.

Here is the essential sequence for getting started:

• Contact the Bank: Interested merchants and institutions must initiate contact with Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB), specifically their Retail Banking or Business Services division, to express interest in the SIB Pay platform.
  
• Merchant Registration & Setup: The bank will guide the business through the necessary paperwork and compliance checks to become a registered SIB merchant and set up a digital payments account.
  
• App Provisioning: Once the account is set up, the bank will facilitate the download and activation of the SIB Pay mobile application. This specialized app (likely distributed directly or through controlled links for security) is what enables the Soft POS functionality on any compatible Android device.
  
• Integration Activation: For e-commerce and Pay by Link features, the bank's technical support team will work with the business to integrate the SIB Pay payment gateway into the company's website, mobile app, or invoicing system.
  

By centralizing the access process through the bank, SIB ensures that all users of SIB Pay—and especially those using the Soft POS to turn their phones into payment terminals—meet the necessary security and compliance standards.

A revolution in customer experience
The launch of SIB Pay reflects a major step in the UAE’s digital financial landscape.

According to Nabil Abou Alwan , Head of Retail Banking at SIB, the platform is a strategic move to "empower businesses and simplify transactions in innovative and secure ways." He further emphasized that SIB Pay is set to “revolutionise customer experiences and open new horizons” for companies looking to adopt smart, efficient payment solutions.

By streamlining payment methods, providing robust security, and supporting the national digital mandate, SIB Pay enhances the competitiveness of businesses while making life easier for consumers proving that the future of banking in the UAE is fast, fully digital, and built for growth.