Emirates NBD Launches Region's First Real-Time Payments on Partior

NBD has become the first financial institution in the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye region to enable real-time cross-border payments through the Partior blockchain-based clearing and settlement network, marking another milestone in the adoption of blockchain technology within traditional banking.

The launch represents the first phase of a broader expansion strategy that will gradually introduce additional currencies, settlement channels, and participating financial institutions as the Partior network continues to grow.

Emirates NBD Brings Blockchain to Cross-Border Payments

The new service enables Emirates NBD's corporate and institutional clients to process real-time U.S. dollar payments through blockchain infrastructure, providing faster settlement and greater payment transparency compared with traditional cross-border payment systems.

The rollout follows the successful completion of live U.S. dollar transactions on the Partior network, with JPMorgan acting as both the settlement bank and beneficiary institution. Corporate clients can now settle U.S. dollar transactions in real time while beneficiaries continue to maintain their accounts with JPMorgan.

The launch follows Emirates NBD's strategic investment in Partior and highlights the bank's transition from supporting blockchain innovation to deploying the technology within its regulated banking operations.

Strengthening Digital Payment Infrastructure

The initiative reflects Emirates NBD's broader strategy of integrating emerging technologies into its financial services to improve payment efficiency and modernize treasury operations for institutional clients.

By leveraging blockchain for payment infrastructure, the bank aims to simplify cross-border transactions, reduce operational complexity, and accelerate the movement of funds between financial institutions.

The development also demonstrates how distributed ledger technology is increasingly moving beyond pilot projects and into production-grade banking infrastructure.

Strategic Partnership Expands Global Payment Network

Commenting on the launch, Aneeth Daniel, Group Head of Transaction Banking Services at Emirates NBD, said the growing needs of corporate and institutional clients continue to drive demand for faster and more efficient payment solutions.

He noted that moving from a strategic partnership to live implementation on the Partior network enables the bank to offer real-time U.S. dollar settlement for JPMorgan beneficiaries while improving treasury management capabilities for its clients.

Daniel added that the rollout demonstrates the bank's ability to deploy secure, scalable payment infrastructure capable of supporting cross-border transactions with global counterparties.

Meanwhile, Humphrey Valenbreder, Chief Executive Officer of Partior, said the collaboration combines Emirates NBD's regional banking expertise with Partior's blockchain-based clearing and settlement infrastructure to improve the speed and transparency of international payments.

He added that the company is now focused on expanding the network across additional currencies and markets as more financial institutions join the platform.

Blockchain Adoption Accelerates Across Banking

The launch reflects a broader shift within the global banking industry toward blockchain-powered financial infrastructure.

Banks worldwide are increasingly exploring distributed ledger technology to improve settlement speed, increase transparency, and reduce the costs associated with cross-border payments and liquidity management.

Emirates NBD plans to continue expanding its connectivity with additional banks on the Partior network while introducing support for more currencies, faster settlement capabilities, and programmable liquidity management.

UAE Continues to Advance Digital Financial Infrastructure

The Emirates NBD Partior integration further reinforces the UAE's ambition to become a leading global hub for digital financial innovation.

As blockchain adoption continues to accelerate across banking, payments, tokenization, and digital assets, the country has increasingly positioned itself at the forefront of financial infrastructure modernization by combining regulatory support with large-scale institutional implementation.

Rather than remaining limited to proof-of-concept initiatives, blockchain is now being integrated into critical banking operations that support everyday payments and international capital flows. With financial institutions increasingly adopting blockchain-based settlement networks, the UAE continues to strengthen its role in shaping the next generation of global financial infrastructure.