Doha, Qatar, 30 November 2015- QNB, ‘The Leading Financial Institution in the Middle East and North Africa’, has signed an agreement with Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) to issue a multipurpose co-branded card, called ‘Hawiyati’ that will create a cashless-spending environment in QF’s flagship development, Education City.
The new card will provide QF members with a unique payment solution, while giving them access to multiple services and utilities in a safe and secure manner. It is part of Qatar Foundation’s vision to collectively foster a progressive society and encourage the adoption of sustainable solutions.
According to the agreement, QNB and QF will issue and manage the prepaid smart card, which will serve as a multi-purpose ID card for students, staff and their families, QF joint ventures, and centers, as well as the employees of Sidra Medical and Research Center and its visitors. The programme will be supported by MasterCard Worldwide and MasterCard Processing who are a key business partner of QNB.
Ms. Heba Al Tamimi, General Manager of Group Retail at QNB, said: “We are proud to partner with Qatar Foundation in another program that will mark a new era of smart payment solutions. Besides being a payment card, Hawiyati will ensure that QF will progress to being the first ‘Cashless City’ in its entirety in Qatar, and maybe in the region.”
“Hawiyati is a two-phased project that will enable its holders to have a two-in-one smart card. While providing its users with a unique photo ID that allows them smart access to Qatar Foundation’s campus, the card also enables them to make payments perform e-Commerce, and have a multi-currency wallet,” added Al- Tamimi.
Engineer Saad Al Muhannadi, President of Qatar Foundation, praised the joint initiative, saying: “We are delighted to be partnering with QNB on this innovative concept that will transform Education City into a cashless zone. The card will provide Qatar Foundation members with ease of movement and payment as it will incorporate state-of-the-art technology allowing for contactless payment and entrance access.”
“The Hawiyati card was conceived as part of a wider, on-going mission to drive innovation while seeking environmentally-friendly solutions, and it is set to take us one step closer to achieving our ultimate goal of transforming Education City in a sustainable, thriving community – a ‘smart-city’. We aim to promote productive change at home and across the region, and, as the first organization to adopt this access card in Qatar, we are setting a benchmark, and helping to create a prosperous, knowledge-driven nation. We look forward to presenting this card to the wider Qatar Foundation community,” Eng Saad concluded.
Raghav Prasad, General Manager for Gulf Countries, MasterCard commented: "Qatar has already begun its journey towards realizing its 2030 ‘Cashless City’ vision. Taking this a step further, in collaboration with QNB, we are looking to go beyond traditional means and envision a society where payments are made using digital and biometric technology.”
Hawiyati is a dual-faced card. One side will include the QF details, such as photo, name, department or university, and logo, the other side will include the QNB payment requirements, such as magstripe, signature panel, account number, and CVC2. The card will also come with a sticker that incorporates Near Field Communication technology, allowing the customer to make contactless payments securely.
Combining a range of high-tech features in today’s modern payment solutions, customers will be able to use Hawiyati both domestically and internationally with the Multi-currency wallet. Created as a series of wallets, the primary currency of the card will be Qatari riyals. The customer will have the ability, through the Customer Care Portal, to move funds from Qatari riyals to UAE dirhams, British pounds, US dollars, and Euros. The wallet will also allow customers to shop on-line in the currency of where the e-shop is located.
An extra added value of the Multi-currency wallet is that customers will be able to know in advance the exchange rate and mark-up being charged before moving the funds. For example, if the cardholder is in the UK and has filled the GBP wallet, the transaction will be authorized in GBP with no further fees or charges.
Hawiyati is an Arabic name meaning “My Identity, هويتي”. Based on the current business, QNB and QF will issue around 55,000 cards in the first three years of the program.
QNB Group’s presence through its subsidiaries and associate companies extends to more than 27 countries across three continents providing a comprehensive range of advanced products and services. The total number of employees is more than 15,000 operating through more than 635 locations, with an ATM network of more than 1,350 machines.