Mastercard champions safe and secure payment transactions in Middle East & Africa with increase to contactless payment limits

Mastercard champions safe and secure payment transactions in Middle East & Africa with increase to contactless payment limits

Dubai, UAE - 6 April 2020 - Mastercard announced today that it is championing efforts to increase contactless payment limits across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region as people look for safer ways to pay in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.. In MEA, the company has worked with various industry partners and sectors in multiple markets to increase the use of digital and contactless payment technology in an effort to enhance safety, security, speed and convenience in the payment experience for cardholders.. Today almost 1 in 9 Mastercard transactions at point-of-sale (POS) terminals in MEA are contactless.. Central banks across the region in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Egypt have already increased the cardholder verification method (CVM) limit, which will ultimately improve purchase experiences for people across the region, making them safer and more convenient for consumers and businesses alike.. In the current environment, we are grateful that contactless payments are available so consumers can follow social distancing recommendations, and that people are embracing these safe and hygienic solutions as their preferred form of payment every day.. We will continue to work with our industry partners to guide and support them through this