Sharjah Finance Department unveils new digital payment methods

Sharjah Finance Department (SFD) is participating in “Gitex Technology Week 2022” from Monday, Oct.10-14.

Featuring a wide presence of local government institutions and bodies from across the Emirate of Sharjah, the event provides a platform for the Sharjah Finance Department to launch its latest services.

As part of its relentless pursuit to enhance the financial services provided to government and private sector institutions and consolidate its financial leadership, the department launched a package of new digital payment methods from its headquarters in Jinan Park, Sharjah.

This comes from the SFD’s keenness to actively attend regional and international exhibitions highlighting the latest technology, digital practices, procedures, and smart systems related to the financial sector.

This aligns with the SFD’s vision to achieve financial stability and sustainability through financial services and encourage innovation.

Huda Al Yasi, Director of the Financial System Department at Sharjah Finance Department, said: “The SFD is adopting an ambitious strategic plan to upgrade services and delivery channels and build a smarter, more diversified and robust technology ecosystem by employing the best practices and digital technology systems.”

Huda Al Yasi added that the SFD, in cooperation with its strategic partners, has completed a package of new digital payment methods, representing support services for the smart receipt system (Tahseel) and providing more accessible, faster, and more flexible means of payment and communication.”

“The contactless payment function will enable customers to make quick payments using near field communication (NFC) technology using the second generation collection card, without inserting the card into the card reader.”

Huda Al Yasi continued: “The payment package using near-field communication (NFC) technology with a collection bracelet has also been launched. This uses the digital wallet to enable customers to pay small value transactions, ensuring a quick and convenient payment experience.”

The Sharjah Finance Department also launched a payment package from a collection card using the smart application “Tahseel” (SoftPOS).

Similar to the previous packages, it relies on a contactless payment system through the NFC feature available on most smartphones. After downloading the Tahseel application (SoftPOS), mobile users can accept payment using a second-generation collection card by swiping it near a smartphone or tablet without needing a card reader installed.

Among the newly launched contactless payment systems is the payment package using near-field communication (NFC) technology through the smart application of the smart receipt (Tahseel).

It is a contactless payment system similar to global electronic wallets such as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

The customer can use the machine reader through the e-wallet to make government transactions quickly and conveniently without the need to use the cards directly.

The SFD emphasised the need for customers to follow the steps for using payment packages by the smart application through the NFC feature.

To make a payment, customers should select the feature on the app, place the phone on the automatic reader, and wait until the process is completed and the payment notification is displayed on the Smart app.

Earlier the The Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Award for Public Finance - the first of its kind in the Arab world - announced the launch of the second cycle of the award, organised by the Sharjah Finance Department (SFD), in cooperation with the Arab organisation for Administrative Development. This comes after the award was suspended for four years due to the exceptional circumstances of COVID-19. This year’s award features 17 different institutional and individual categories, technical and organisational participation conditions, and the award nomination criteria.

Salem Yousef Al Qaseer expressed his pride in launching the new cycle of the award, which aims to strengthen and enable the success and sustainability of the financial sector in Arab countries, by evaluating the level of commitment to standards and requirements of excellence in government financial work by institutions and individuals.

He stressed that the objectives of the award are in line with the directives of the Government of Sharjah under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah - may God protect him - to enable and combine efforts to develop individuals’ skills, experiences, cultures, and creative abilities through creating value in businesses. He said this would lead to an economy that works to build an integrated nation with awareness and knowledge to achieve the sustainability and welfare of society.