About Magnati
Magnati is an Abu Dhabi-based payments company that grew out of the merchant acquiring business of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE's largest bank. Established as a separate company in 2021, it provides payment acceptance, processing and related services to merchants across the UAE and beyond.
The company's core service is merchant acquiring: enabling businesses to accept card and digital payments in stores, online and through mobile channels. Magnati provides point-of-sale terminals, e-commerce gateways and payment links, along with the processing that moves money from a customer's card to the merchant's account.
Beyond basic acceptance, Magnati offers services designed to help merchants run their businesses, such as reporting and analytics, loyalty integrations and solutions for specific sectors like hospitality, retail and government services. Modern terminals increasingly act as business devices, supporting apps and features beyond payments.
Magnati also works with banks and fintech companies, providing processing and payment infrastructure that partners can use to build their own products. This business-to-business role allows the company to reach more of the payments market than direct merchant relationships alone.
When Magnati was created, global investment firm Brookfield acquired a majority stake, with FAB retaining a significant shareholding. The partnership gave Magnati both international investment backing and the continued relationship with one of the region's largest banks.
The UAE has one of the most advanced payments markets in the Middle East, with high card usage, widespread contactless payments and growing adoption of digital wallets. Government initiatives to reduce cash usage and modernise payment infrastructure continue to drive demand.
Competition in merchant acquiring is strong, with banks, international payment companies and fintech startups all offering payment solutions. Providers compete on pricing, technology, speed of onboarding and value-added services.
Magnati's origins inside a major bank, combined with its independence as a dedicated payments company, give it a distinct position in the UAE market. Startups UAE lists it among the country's leading payment processors.
The company's core service is merchant acquiring: enabling businesses to accept card and digital payments in stores, online and through mobile channels. Magnati provides point-of-sale terminals, e-commerce gateways and payment links, along with the processing that moves money from a customer's card to the merchant's account.
Beyond basic acceptance, Magnati offers services designed to help merchants run their businesses, such as reporting and analytics, loyalty integrations and solutions for specific sectors like hospitality, retail and government services. Modern terminals increasingly act as business devices, supporting apps and features beyond payments.
Magnati also works with banks and fintech companies, providing processing and payment infrastructure that partners can use to build their own products. This business-to-business role allows the company to reach more of the payments market than direct merchant relationships alone.
When Magnati was created, global investment firm Brookfield acquired a majority stake, with FAB retaining a significant shareholding. The partnership gave Magnati both international investment backing and the continued relationship with one of the region's largest banks.
The UAE has one of the most advanced payments markets in the Middle East, with high card usage, widespread contactless payments and growing adoption of digital wallets. Government initiatives to reduce cash usage and modernise payment infrastructure continue to drive demand.
Competition in merchant acquiring is strong, with banks, international payment companies and fintech startups all offering payment solutions. Providers compete on pricing, technology, speed of onboarding and value-added services.
Magnati's origins inside a major bank, combined with its independence as a dedicated payments company, give it a distinct position in the UAE market. Startups UAE lists it among the country's leading payment processors.