"Himyan", the first national prepaid card, has been launched by the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) on 5 November 2022, with a registered Qatari brand in Qatar. This comes as part of the central bank's efforts to develop electronic payment services and enhance financial inclusion in the country.
The National Payment Card (Himyan)
Himyan is a registered trademark and the first Qatari national prepaid debit card. The card is named after the money bag used by merchants in ancient Arabia and is similar to electronic cards issued by global payment networks.
No minimum account balance required for issuance.
Contactless.
Supports/allows transactions at all sale points, ATMs and local online shopping websites.
Can be issued by banking and nonbanking customers to promote financial inclusion.
More secure since transactions are made locally via the NAPS network.
Lower transaction fees for issuers, acquirers and merchants.
As per QCB, the card will be launched soon.
