Visa has introduced its global Agentic Ready program in the UAE, marking another important step in the country’s journey toward becoming a leading hub for artificial intelligence and digital payments.

The initiative is part of Visa’s broader expansion across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), and is designed to help banks, fintech companies, and payment providers prepare for a future where AI agents can independently assist consumers with shopping and payments.

As AI technologies rapidly reshape how people interact with businesses, the UAE is emerging as one of the earliest adopters of next-generation commerce solutions.

AI Agents Could Redefine Online Shopping

Visa’s Agentic Ready program focuses on enabling a new form of commerce powered by artificial intelligence.

In the future, AI agents may be able to search for products, compare prices, choose the best options, and complete purchases on behalf of users — all while following individual preferences and spending controls.

The technology is expected to make shopping more seamless and personalized, helping consumers save time while improving the overall buying experience.

However, Visa says the success of agentic commerce depends heavily on building trust and ensuring security.

The company has therefore placed strong emphasis on:

  • Secure digital identities
  • Fraud prevention systems
  • Transaction monitoring
  • Risk management frameworks
  • Consumer consent and payment controls

These safeguards are intended to ensure that AI-powered transactions remain safe, transparent, and fully under the user's control.

Major UAE Banks and Fintech Firms Join the Initiative

Several of the UAE’s leading financial institutions have already joined the first phase of the Agentic Ready program.

Participating organizations include:

  • ADCB
  • ADIB
  • Emirates NBD
  • Emirates Islamic
  • Mashreq
  • Al Ansari Exchange
  • Tabby
  • Wio
  • Ziina

The involvement of major banks alongside rapidly growing fintech companies highlights the UAE’s strong appetite for innovation and its readiness to embrace AI-driven financial services.

Industry experts believe the collaboration between established institutions and digital-first startups will accelerate the development of secure AI commerce ecosystems across the country.

Building a Safe Environment for AI Payments

During the initial phase of the rollout, Visa is enabling participating institutions to test AI-initiated payment experiences in controlled environments.

The program allows financial institutions to:

  • Test AI-generated payment requests
  • Simulate real-world shopping scenarios
  • Validate payment workflows
  • Evaluate customer experience and security measures
  • Build trusted AI commerce environments

Visa says the platform combines advanced identity technologies with fraud detection systems and secure payment credentials to create a robust framework for AI-enabled transactions.

This approach is designed to help banks and fintech companies experiment with emerging technologies while maintaining the highest standards of security and compliance.

UAE Continues to Strengthen Its Digital Economy

The launch of Agentic Ready aligns closely with the UAE’s broader ambitions to become a global leader in artificial intelligence and digital innovation.

Over the past few years, the country has invested heavily in:

  • AI adoption strategies
  • Advanced digital infrastructure
  • Cashless payment ecosystems
  • Innovation-friendly regulations
  • Fintech development programs

These efforts have helped create one of the region’s most advanced digital economies, attracting technology companies, investors, and startups from around the world.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into daily life, initiatives like Agentic Ready are expected to play a significant role in shaping the future of commerce across the UAE and beyond.

Businesses Are Increasingly Interested in AI Commerce

Recent research conducted by Fast Company Middle East in partnership with Visa suggests that businesses in the UAE are already preparing for this transformation.

The study found that:

  • Nearly 60% of businesses are actively exploring agentic commerce solutions
  • 33% believe AI commerce can strengthen customer loyalty and retention
  • 28% see AI-powered commerce as a key driver of future revenue growth

The findings indicate that companies are viewing AI not simply as an efficiency tool, but as a strategic investment capable of creating entirely new customer experiences and business opportunities.

A Growing Regional Ecosystem

Visa says it is working closely with banks, fintech firms, technology providers, and digital commerce platforms to create the infrastructure required for the next generation of AI-driven payments.

The company believes that collaboration will be essential as the industry moves toward more intelligent and autonomous commerce models.

With its strong regulatory framework, advanced digital infrastructure, and innovation-focused ecosystem, the UAE is expected to become one of the region’s leading markets for agentic commerce.

Looking Ahead

The launch of Visa’s Agentic Ready program signals that the future of commerce may be closer than many expect.

As AI evolves from a supporting technology into an active participant in everyday transactions, financial institutions are beginning to prepare for a world where intelligent agents can shop, pay, and make decisions alongside consumers.

For the UAE, this represents another opportunity to strengthen its position at the forefront of digital transformation — shaping not only how people pay, but how commerce itself will function in the years ahead.