Sharjah Finance Department partners with SIB to launch new payment service

By Leandra Monteiro

The Sharjah Finance Department (SFD) partnered with Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) to launch an easy payment service of government transaction fees in the Emirate of Sharjah.

Transactions can be made using the Emirates ID card and SIB’s ATMs, provided that the service has been activated prior to it. This is in line with the Sharjah Finance Department’s strategy to enable digital transformation in all aspects of finance and governance.

Huda Al Yasi, Director of Financial System Department at the SFD, said, “The Sharjah government is a pioneer at the local and regional levels, and is the first to accept the Emirates ID card as a preferred method for payment and collection of transactions fees for government services in the emirate. This is out of Sharjah government’s keenness to facilitate customers and enable them to obtain its services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without waiting in lines, from anywhere, and at a convenient time for them.”

She pointed out that the department now provides a wide variety of payment options to offer flexibility and security. These include the smart receipt system called ‘Tahseel’ card, all major credit and debit cards, and global digital payment wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, in addition to transactions through the official website.

Al Yasi further added, “The department plans to continue developing its systems and improve its services to enhance the efficiency of the financial system in the Emirate.”

Waleed Al Amoudi, Head of Digital Banking at Sharjah Islamic Bank, thanked the Sharjah Finance Department for its confidence in SIB. He said, “SIB is keen to facilitate the Sharjah government’s customers, and help them overcome any obstacles they might face in making payments. The bank’s modern and technologically advanced systems help meet the needs of government agencies when it comes to collecting fees and making transactions.”

Al-Amoudi praised the cooperation between government agencies in the emirate and Sharjah Islamic Bank, noting that the bank has all the digital capabilities in place to cope up with the increase in demand for advanced digital services.

In 2017, the Sharjah Finance Department signed an agreement with the Emirates Identity Authority to use the Emirates ID card as an electronic payment method for citizens in all Sharjah government-related transactions. This allowed people to open individual and filing accounts and use their ID cards in several banks and exchange companies – making the entire process quick, safe, and easy.

Making payments with the government-issued Emirates ID card helps reduce the number of cards a person needs to always carry. Thanks to the advanced security features of the ID card, users’ data and information remain secure, and they stay safe from fraud. This is the key factor enabling digital transformation in all government services in the Emirates of Sharjah.