SHANGHAI, Dec. 03, 2025 — In November 2025, UnionPay, China’s foremost card payment service provider, achieved significant advancements in cross-border payment innovation and network connectivity within the Middle East. This included the introduction of a new multi-currency card and the launch of a QR code interoperability initiative.
Last month, UnionPay collaborated with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Turkey) Co., Ltd. (ICBC Turkey) to unveil Turkey’s first local multi-currency UnionPay debit and credit card. Concurrently, UnionPay signed a strategic cooperation agreement for QR code interoperability with BKM, Turkey’s national payment switching network.
The recently launched multi-currency UnionPay debit and credit card supports up to five currencies—Renminbi (RMB), Turkish Lira, British Pound, US Dollar, and Euro—and is accepted across UnionPay’s network, which spans over 180 countries and regions.
This card not only streamlines everyday financial transactions for local customers in the Middle East but also offers cardholders a flexible and efficient payment solution for use in China and for cross-border transactions, leveraging UnionPay’s extensive global acceptance network.
The QR code interoperability partnership with Turkey’s BKM represents UnionPay’s inaugural cross-border project of this nature in the Middle East.
Under this agreement, both parties will work together to enable UnionPay users to conduct scan-to-pay transactions within Turkey’s TR QR acceptance network via the UnionPay App and e-wallets partnered with UnionPay. Simultaneously, Turkish users will gain the ability to scan UnionPay QR codes worldwide using local wallets, thereby achieving a two-way opening of payment networks.
This collaboration is considered a pivotal milestone in strengthening the partnership between the two entities, establishing a precedent for UnionPay to pursue similar cooperations, such as QR code interoperability and digital wallet connectivity, with more countries across the Middle East.
As a major Chinese financial infrastructure provider and international card organization, UnionPay has long maintained a deep presence in the Middle East market. It currently serves 15 countries in the region, featuring near-complete acceptance coverage in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Turkey, and Pakistan, with millions of contactless and QR code terminals activated locally.
Regarding local card issuance, UnionPay has established extensive collaborations with financial institutions in Pakistan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other nations, leading to a cumulative issuance volume of tens of millions of cards, cementing its role as a significant bank card brand in the region.
Upholding principles of interconnectivity, joint development, and mutual benefits, UnionPay continuously enhances the payment ecosystem in the Middle East through technological innovation and localized partnerships.
Looking ahead, UnionPay plans to further deepen its collaboration with regional financial institutions and switching networks to advance the interoperability of payment standards and technical systems, providing sustained momentum for cross-border economic and trade exchanges and the growth of the digital economy.
Source: UnionPay
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