UAE Banks to Scrap SMS OTPs on 6 January; Biometric In-App Approval Becomes Mandatory
From 6 January 2026 SMS codes will vanish from UAE online card payments; users must approve transactions inside bank apps with biometrics or secure PINs. The move promises fewer payment failures for travellers but requires immediate action by expatriates and corporate cardholders to register and set up authentication before the deadline.
Jan 3, 2026
