Al Etihad Payments appoints Aref Al Ramli as CEO
Al Etihad Payments (AEP), a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), has appointed Aref Al Ramli as its chief executive officer, effective November 2, 2026.
Al Ramli brings more than 24 years of experience in financial services, with a background in digital banking, payments and financial technology.
He joins AEP from Al Hilal Bank, where he served as chief digital officer. Previously, he was CEO of Emirates Digital Wallet, leading a payments initiative involving 16 banks to support financial inclusion and the transition towards a cashless economy.
During his tenure at Mashreq, Al Ramli led digital banking and innovation, overseeing the launch of Mashreq Neo and Mashreq NeoBiz. He also chaired the UAE Banks Federation's Digital Committee from 2017 to 2020, working with member banks, the Central Bank and government entities on industry-wide digital initiatives.
Focus on expanding UAE's national payment infrastructure
In his new role, Al Ramli will lead AEP's efforts to develop the UAE's national payment infrastructure and increase the adoption of its payment platforms.
He will work with financial institutions and payment service providers to expand payment services supporting the country's digital economy.
AEP's national payment platforms have continued to grow in 2026. Its instant payment platform, Aani, has recorded 14.7 million enrolled users and processed more than 192 million transactions worth Dh545 billion.
The company also began issuing Jaywan cards through financial institutions across the UAE earlier this year. In addition, it announced partnerships with Mastercard and UnionPay International as part of its efforts to strengthen the country's national payments infrastructure.
Al Ramli will oversee engagement with financial institutions to broaden the use of these platforms across the country.
AEP targets wider adoption of digital payments
Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, chairman of the Board of Managers at Al Etihad Payments, said the appointment would support the organisation's next phase of development.
He said Al Ramli's experience across digital banking and payment services would help strengthen national payment capabilities and encourage wider adoption among businesses and individuals.
Al Ramli said his priority would be to make AEP's platforms an integral part of everyday payments for people and businesses across the UAE.
He highlighted the importance of reliable infrastructure, partnerships with financial institutions and services that offer clear benefits to customers.
AEP said it would continue working with financial institutions, payment service providers, merchants and other partners to develop the UAE's national payment infrastructure and support the growth of the digital economy.
