The Central Bank of the UAE has introduced a Universal Account Model as part of a broader initiative to strengthen financial inclusion across the country, particularly for individuals earning AED 5,000 or less per month.
Instead of being limited to salary credits from their employer, employees who currently receive salaries through payroll cards will now have IBAN-enabled accounts designed for broader financial access, not just salary collection.
For employers, the transition to Universal Accounts should not require changes to existing payroll processes. Salaries will continue to be processed through the Wage Protection System as they are today, while payroll providers are responsible for implementing the account upgrades required under the new model. The main change is that employees will gain access to enhanced account functionality, without employers needing to redesign their payroll operations.
What is a Universal Account in the UAE?
A Universal Account is defined by the Central Bank of the UAE as “a basic, digitally accessible current account, denominated in AED, designed for individuals earning AED 5,000 or less per month.”
These accounts are specifically meant for individuals who do not already hold a bank account in the UAE and must meet a set of minimum standards, including:
- IBAN-enabled: Each account is linked to a dedicated AED IBAN, allowing the holder to receive funds from multiple sources, not just their employer.
- No minimum balance requirement
- Digital-first account opening (including via mobile apps)
- Low or zero monthly maintenance fees
- Free basic usage including ATM withdrawals/deposits within limits and balance inquiries
- Salary and other income transfers
- Peer-to-peer fund transfers (domestic and international)
- Bill payments and point of sale payments (via card or mobile app)
- A mobile app available in at least English, Urdu, Hindi, and Arabic
- A debit card, subject to the employees consent
- No cheque book services
What Changes for workers?
The shift is simple, but significant.
Employees move from receiving salaries through payroll cards to having a more flexible financial account.
This means:
- Employees can now receive money from multiple sources, not just their employer
- They can send, store, and use funds more flexibly
- They become part of the formal financial system, rather than being limited to payroll flows
What Changes for Employers?
Payroll processing itself doesn’t fundamentally change. Salaries will still flow through the Wage Protection System. The difference is in what the employee receives on the other end: instead of a prepaid card limited to employer salary credits, they get a regulated account with an IBAN, broader functionality, and more control over their own finances.
For employers, the most visible impact is likely to be on the employee experience. As workers gain access to additional financial services and greater flexibility in managing their money, they may have questions about what changes and what stays the same. Clear communication, ideally in the languages your workforce speaks, can help employees understand and make the most of these new capabilities available to them.
How C3Pay is adapting
Edenred, which operates C3Pay platform serving over 2.5 million workers across the UAE, is already upgrading cards to a Universal Account model.
For existing C3Pay users and employers using Edenred payroll, this transition is being handled as an upgrade, not a migration to a new system. The core experience that companies and workers already rely on is being preserved while the account capabilities expand.
Specifically, the C3Pay upgrade includes:
- a dedicated AED IBAN linked to each card
- the ability to receive funds from sources beyond the employer (such as transfers from other banks or family members)
- continued access to international remittances, bill payments, and in-store or online payments
- fully digital account management through the C3Pay mobile app
- no minimum balance requirement, consistent with how C3Pay has always operated
For employers, this means no need to switch providers, re-onboard employees, or overhaul payroll processes. The transition is designed to be seamless.
Universal Accounts vs. Payroll Cards: What Is Actually Different?
| Feature | Payroll Cards | Universal Accounts |
| Product type | Prepaid payroll card | Basic regulated current account |
| Primary purpose | Salary disbursement | Salary + broader financial access |
| IBAN | Not available | AED IBAN included |
| Source of funds | Employer salary only | Salary + funds from multiple sources |
| Receiving transfers | Not supported | Supported (local and international) |
| Sending money | Peer-to-peer transfers (international only) | Peer-to-peer transfers (domestic and international) |
| Minimum balance | No minimum balance required | No minimum balance required |
| Monthly fees | Varies by provider | Capped |
| Digital access | Varies by provider | Mandatory mobile app in multiple languages |
| Role in WPS | Used for salary distribution | Evolving toward account-based salary delivery |
What should employers do next?
Universal Accounts represent a clear shift in the UAE’s payroll landscape.
They give employees broader access to financial services while maintaining the payroll processes employers already rely on today.
If you are paying your workforce with C3Pay cards, Edenred is already aligned with this transition and can provide specific details on the upgrade timeline and what it means for your account.
This article is for informational purposes and reflects publicly available regulatory developments as of April 2026. For specific compliance guidance, consult your legal or regulatory advisor.
