Last updated on November 10, 2026
The Central Bank of the UAE’s (CBUAE) Universal Account framework introduces an important development for eligible workers earning a total monthly income of AED 5,000 or less. It supports access to basic, AED IBAN-enabled accounts designed around everyday financial needs.
For businesses using Edenred payroll, C3Pay accounts are transitioning to the Universal Account structure. This change does not require a new payroll system. Employers can continue using their established payroll arrangements while following Edenred’s guidance on any actions relevant to their workforce.
This guide explains the universal account model, its relationship with WPS, the C3Pay offering and the practical considerations for HR and Finance teams.
What is a Universal Account in the UAE
A Universal Account is a basic, digitally accessible current account denominated in UAE dirhams. Each account has a unique International Bank Account Number (IBAN).
The framework is intended to improve financial inclusion for eligible residents who do not already hold another active current or savings account in the UAE.
Salary cards have helped workers receive wages electronically. Universal Accounts build on this foundation through an account-based structure that supports essential financial services.
For employers, there is no requirement to replace your payroll system. The distinction is simple: your payroll process determines how salaries are prepared, funded and submitted. The employee’s account determines how the money is accessed and managed after payment.
The initiative forms part of a wider effort to expand access to essential financial services for lower-income residents in the UAE.
Who is eligible
Universal Accounts in the UAE are intended for individuals who:
- Are legal UAE residents.
- Have a total monthly income of AED 5,000 or less.
- Do not hold another active current or savings account in the UAE.
For C3Pay, the individual must also be employed by a company that is an Edenred client when the account is created.
Account opening remains subject to identity verification, compliance checks and approval. Meeting the income threshold alone does not guarantee eligibility.
Employers are not expected to confirm an employee’s total income or banking history. You know the salary you pay; the employee’s own declaration and Edenred’s verification process determine the rest.
A company may employ people across different salary ranges.
- Eligible employees earning AED 5,000 or less may use a C3Pay Universal Account.
- Employees who hold another active UAE current or savings account can receive their salary into that account, or close it and use a C3Pay Universal Account instead.
- Employees who earn more than AED 5,000 should provide their bank account details. Employers can then pay their salary into that account through the Edenred payroll portal.
Where eligibility is unclear, seek guidance from Edenred before ordering a C3Pay card for an employee or changing payment details.
Why the account model matters for employees
C3Pay already gives employees convenient ways to manage their money between paydays, including supported bill payments, outward international money transfers and transaction reviews.
The biggest change is the dedicated IBAN, giving employees an IBAN salary account in the UAE. It enables eligible employees to receive supported local transfers beyond employer salary payments, helping them become more connected to the wider UAE banking system. For many workers, this marks the move from a salary card to an IBAN account.
Employers can offer their workforce a salary solution that moves beyond salary receipt to greater financial connectivity.
Edenred has a dedicated team on the ground that meets employees directly at their accommodation, providing practical guidance beyond account activation and helping them understand the C3Pay app.
For employers, supporting employee understanding can make routine conversations with HR more productive. Instead of attempting to resolve every account question internally, the company can help workers reach the appropriate support channel.
Salary Card vs Universal Account in the UAE
Traditional payroll-card arrangements are generally centred on salary access through a prepaid product. Universal Accounts introduce a basic current-account structure with an IBAN.
The difference should not be overstated. Some salary cards already provide useful apps, payments and remittance services. Features vary between products, so comparisons should focus on actual account terms.
| Salary card | Universal Account | |
| What it is | A prepaid card for receiving salary | A basic current account in AED |
| Has its own IBAN | Not usually | Yes |
| Can receive money from others | Usually salary only | Yes, supported local transfers |
| Can send money | Usually international only | Local and international |
| Minimum balance | None | None |
| App access | Varies by provider | C3Pay app in English, Urdu, Hindi and Arabic |
| Fees | Set by the card’s terms | Set by the account’s fee schedule |
| Role in WPS | Salary paid onto the card | Salary paid into an account with an IBAN |
For C3Pay, the card stays the same. Employees continue using their C3Pay Mastercard for ATM withdrawals and in-store or online purchases.
How Universal Accounts in the UAE relate to WPS
A WPS universal account works with your existing payroll. Salaries are still paid through WPS, now into an employee IBAN account.
The introduction of a different account structure does not remove the employer’s wage-payment responsibilities.
Businesses must continue maintaining accurate payroll information, arranging funding, submitting salaries through the appropriate channel and investigating payment exceptions.
Employers should also distinguish between successful submission and successful payment. Uploading a salary file is one step; reviewing processing results establishes whether further action is needed.
The new account does not change your responsibilities as an employer. If a salary amount is wrong or a payment is late, the account cannot fix that. Continue checking your payroll as you do today, including during the transition.
For additional official guidance, businesses can consult MoHRE’s New Employers’ Awareness Guide.
How C3Pay is adapting
Edenred is transitioning C3Pay to the Universal Account model while preserving the payroll relationship employers already use.
The C3Pay offering includes:
- A dedicated AED IBAN.
- Digital account management through the C3Pay app, including balance enquiries, transaction history and statement requests.
- A C3Pay app available in English, Urdu, Hindi and Arabic.
- Outward international money transfers, once the employee’s remitter profile is approved.
- Local money transfers using a UAE mobile number.
- Supported bill payments.
- A C3Pay Mastercard for local or international ATM withdrawals and in-store or online purchases.
- No minimum balance, so it works as a zero balance salary account.
Applicable fees, limits, terms and service availability apply.
Existing C3Pay cardholders will need to complete a few simple steps as part of the transition. Edenred will contact employees directly to guide them through the process and keep employers informed.
Further information is available in Edenred’s FAQs and the C3Pay Universal Account terms and conditions.
What the transition means for employers
For companies using Edenred payroll, salary processing continues exactly as it does today. You do not have to redesign your payroll operations because the account structure is changing.
An employer preparation checklist
A few simple checks will help keep salaries running smoothly during the transition:
- Confirm which of your employees are paid through C3Pay and earn AED 5,000 or less.
- Collect bank account details (IBAN) for employees who earn more than AED 5,000, or who choose to keep another UAE bank account, and add them on the Edenred payroll portal.
- Check that employee details on the Edenred payroll portal, including mobile numbers, are accurate and up to date.
- Raise any employee who cannot complete onboarding with Edenred before payroll submission.
- Make sure your HR and Finance teams know who to contact at Edenred with questions.
Information needed for onboarding
For new employees, you order a C3Pay card through Edenred using the employee details requested on the Edenred payroll portal.
Employees then complete onboarding in the C3Pay app. They will need:
- A valid Emirates ID. A passport may be used to confirm residency if the Emirates ID is not available.
- Their registered UAE mobile number.
- A live photo taken in the app to confirm their identity.
The account is opened and the card activated once verification is approved. If an application is not approved, the employee should be told within 5 working days, with the reason and how to appeal.
Communicating with employees
Edenred will contact C3Pay cardholders directly about the transition. It helps if your team can reassure employees that:
- Their salary will continue to arrive as usual.
- They can keep using their existing C3Pay card.
- They may need to complete a few simple steps in the C3Pay app.
- Fees and limits are listed in the C3Pay Universal Account terms and conditions.
Where possible, share information in the languages your workforce speaks. The C3Pay app is available in English, Urdu, Hindi and Arabic.
If employees have questions, they can contact Edenred through the C3Pay app (Help or Support, available 24/7) or on +971 600 567772 (9am to 5pm). Our team on the ground can also visit employees at their accommodation to help them use the app.
Choosing a WPS payroll provider in the UAE
With the introduction of Universal Accounts, WPS payroll is entering a new chapter. Beyond reliable salary processing, businesses can now consider how their payroll provider supports employees’ access to wider financial services.
For businesses exploring WPS payroll solutions, these are important factors to consider when choosing a provider:
Payroll reliability
Review how payroll submissions and processing results are handled. Your team should know how to identify an issue and reach the right contact promptly.
Onboarding support
Ask how employees are added, how missing information is identified and what assistance is available for incomplete cases, including employees who need to complete Universal Account verification.
Employee accessibility
Consider whether workers can understand instructions and use the relevant support channels including support for questions about IBANs, cards and fees. Employer convenience and employee usability both matter.
Suitability for your business
Review whether your existing payroll process supports your workforce size, operating locations, hiring patterns and payroll responsibilities, and whether it will meet your future needs. A company hiring regularly across several sites may need different coordination from a business with a small, stable workforce.
Where a bank, exchange house or intermediary is involved, also confirm who provides the employee account and who resolves account-related exceptions.
Setting up WPS payroll or reviewing your provider? Request a payroll consultation with Edenred to discuss your workforce and onboarding requirements.
Why consider Edenred
Edenred serves more than 20,000 businesses and 2.5 million employees across the UAE.
Whether you employ ten people or ten thousand, in one location or across several emirates, our payroll solution is built to fit the way your business works.
- One platform for every employee. Pay employees through C3Pay or into their existing bank accounts, all from the Edenred payroll platform.
- Suitable for any business. We support companies of every size and industry, from small businesses to large employers with workforces across multiple sites.
- Ready for Universal Accounts. Universal Accounts for C3Pay cardholders will be ready by December 2026, in line with regulatory requirements, in partnership with RAKBANK.
- Support on the ground. Our dedicated team meets employees directly at their accommodation to help them use the C3Pay app and get the support they need.
- Everyday financial access for employees. C3Pay gives employees a C3Pay Mastercard and digital access to international transfers, bill payments and their account through the C3Pay app.
You can also explore workforce insights through Edenred’s Blue-Collar Wages in the UAE Report 2026.
When making an enquiry, share your company name, employee count, contact details and whether you need a new WPS setup or are considering switching providers. This helps the team respond to your requirements.
Frequently asked questions
A Universal Account for employees in the UAE is a basic AED current account with a unique IBAN, designed to improve access to essential financial services for eligible UAE residents.
Applicants must be legal UAE residents, have a total monthly income of AED 5,000 or less, declare that they have no other active UAE current or savings account, and be employed by an Edenred client. Verification and approval apply.
No. C3Pay Universal Accounts have no minimum balance requirement. The monthly maintenance fee is up to AED 2 (including VAT), and other service charges apply.
Yes. Employees can make outward international money transfers through the C3Pay app once their remitter profile is approved, subject to applicable fees, limits and service availability. Receiving international transfers into the account is not supported. They can also send money locally using a UAE mobile number.
The account is linked to a C3Pay Mastercard for supported ATM withdrawals and in-store or online purchases.
No. You can continue processing salaries exactly as you do today. Existing C3Pay accounts are transitioning to the Universal Account structure. Employers should contact Edenred if they have any questions.
For new employees, employers order a C3Pay card through Edenred. Employees cannot apply for the account on their own. Employees complete the required digital onboarding and identity verification on the C3Pay app, with activation following successful validation.
No, employees will not need a new C3Pay card for their C3Pay Universal Account. They can continue using their existing card as usual. The transition to the Universal Account structure for their C3Pay account will be managed centrally by Edenred.
Employees who hold another active UAE current or savings account can receive their salary into that account, or close it and use a C3Pay Universal Account. Employees who earn more than AED 5,000 should provide their bank account details so their salary can be paid into that account through the Edenred payroll platform.
No. Cheque-books are not included with Universal Accounts.
Withdrawals at C3Pay and RAKBANK ATMs are free for C3Pay Universal Account holders. Charges at other ATMs depend on the network, transaction and account terms. Employees should consult the current fee schedule in the C3Pay Universal Account terms and conditions.
Raise the case with Edenred before payroll submission so the outstanding requirement and appropriate resolution can be identified.
No. Opening a Universal Account does not automatically provide a loan, credit card or overdraft.
Discuss your payroll requirements with Edenred
Already an Edenred client? Your payroll process stays the same. Edenred will guide your employees through the transition and let you know if anything is needed from you. If your employees have questions about their account, ask them to contact Edenred through the C3Pay app (Help or Support, available 24/7) or on +971 600 567772 (9am to 5pm).
This article is for informational purposes and reflects publicly available regulatory developments as of November 2026.The official terms and conditions of the C3Pay Universal Account govern our products and services and should be relied on in the event of any discrepancies between the contents of this blog post and the official terms which can be found here: https://edenred.ae/c3pay-universal-account-terms-and-conditions/ or within the C3Pay App.
