Updated September 28, 2026
What is Central Bank of the UAE?
In short
The monetary authority for the United Arab Emirates, which authorises the banks and payment service providers behind the cards in this comparison.
Central Bank of the UAE is the monetary authority for the United Arab Emirates and the body that authorises banks and payment service providers there. For a reader comparing prepaid, debit and virtual cards used in the Gulf, it is the place that confirms whether a company may hold and move money. Botim Money, Liv, Wio and YAP are the providers attached to it in this comparison. Keep the register name to hand when you open an account, and read the fees and currency costs alongside it rather than afterwards.