AUSTRIACARD wins SAMA Certification for mada payment cards

By Vriti Gothi

AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS has obtained Card Chip Profile certification from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) for the national mada debit card scheme, enabling the company to supply chip-based payment cards to banks and financial institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

The certification (Certificate No. CV071) confirms that AUSTRIACARD’s chip card products comply with the technical and security standards required under the mada scheme, Saudi Arabia’s domestic payment network. The approval follows SAMA’s certification process, which assesses adherence to specifications governing card security, interoperability and performance.

Mohamed Chemloul, Group CTO of AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS, said the certification reflects the company’s focus on meeting international payment technology standards. “This certification stands as a testament to our team’s dedication to excellence and our commitment to delivering world-class payment solutions,” he said, adding that it enables the company to serve banks and financial institutions in the Kingdom.

Burak Bilge, EVP for Türkiye, Middle East and Africa at AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS, noted that the approval allows the firm to introduce its full range of payment card solutions to the Saudi market. He said the company aims to support digital transformation initiatives in the Kingdom and across the broader Middle East region.

Saudi Arabia represents one of the fastest-growing payments markets in the Middle East, underpinned by the government’s Vision 2030 programme, which prioritises digital transformation and financial sector development. The mada scheme plays a central role in the country’s payments infrastructure, processing high volumes of domestic debit transactions and supporting the shift toward electronic payments.

For international card manufacturers and payment technology providers, certification under domestic schemes such as mada is a prerequisite for market entry. AUSTRIACARD’s approval positions it to compete for issuer partnerships in a market characterised by rising card penetration, expanding point-of-sale infrastructure and increased demand for secure chip-based payment products.

Headquartered in Vienna, AUSTRIACARD operates nine manufacturing facilities across Europe and the United States and provides identity and payment solutions globally, with a focus on digital transformation technologies and proprietary platforms.