Tanzania’s Airtel Money & TerraPay to offer mobile money services within UAE

By Delisha Fernandes

Airtel Money Tanzania, in partnership with TerraPay, a cross-border payments network, has launched an international remittance service enabling Airtel Money customers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to make purchases at points of sale terminals using their Airtel Money accounts at no extra cost.

Andrew Rugamba, Airtel Money Director, said, “Airtel Tanzania is committed to offering innovative solutions that cater to our customers’ daily needs and provide value. With the launch of Airtel Money in partnership with TerraPay in the UAE, we aim to address the payment challenges our customers encounter when traveling to Dubai. We recognize the government’s commendable international diplomatic policies fostering stronger trade relationships with various countries, including the UAE.”

Rugamba added, “The rising number of Tanzanian travelers visiting the United Arab Emirates for diverse purposes, such as trade, tourism, official visits, and government missions, is a clear reflection of the increasing demand. Our partnership with TerraPay eliminates the need for travelers to carry large sums of cash or go through the hassle of currency exchange each time they journey to the UAE.”

To access Airtel Money’s cross-border merchants’ payments through TerraPay, Airtel Money customers can follow the simple steps outlined below.

Step 1.  Airtel Money customers need to visit any branded merchant location in the UAE.
Step 2. The Merchant initiates transaction at the POS terminal.
Step 3. The Airtel Money customer will receive a prompt to enter their pin and confirm transaction.
Step 4. The Airtel Money customer will receive a confirmation SMS once the transaction is done.

Willie Kanyeki, Regional Director for East and Southern Africa at TerraPay said, “The partnership is a strategic initiative aimed at advancing financial inclusion in the country and encouraging the transition to a cashless economy. Airtel Money and TerraPay’s partnership demonstrates the commitment Airtel Money has towards its customers. They continue to offer products and services that customers enjoy anytime, anywhere, a policy TerraPay lives by.”