noon payments and Visa Launch First-Ever Payment Passkey for Merchants Globally

noon payments,  a leading digital payments platform in the region, and Visa,  a world leader in digital payments, today announced the launch of Visa Payment Passkey, making noon payments the first globally as a payment service provider (PSP) to offer this innovative solution to its merchants and their customers.

This strategic collaboration introduces Fast Identity Online (FIDO)-based authentication for payments, leveraging the biometric capabilities of consumer devices for ecommerce authentication, designed to create a smoother, more secure, and password-free online checkout experience for consumers and merchants in the Middle East. By leveraging Visa Acceptance Platform solutions such as Payer Authentication and Authorization, this initiative further promotes passkey readiness while ensuring a secure and seamless payment experience across the region.

This innovative solution provides a next-generation approach to securing online transactions through eliminating the need for consumers to rely on static passwords, or one-time passcodes (OTP) at checkout by leveraging device unlocking methods such as biometrics (e.g. fingerprints, facial scans) or PINs This not only streamlines the payment journey but also significantly enhances protection against fraud and scams like phishing.

Visa Payment Passkey, which is built on open industry standards from the FIDO Alliance , ensures sensitive biometric data does not leave the consumer’s device while ensuring a secure, seamless and convenient payment journey across all devices and payment channels.

“Our goal is simple – to make payments easier and safer for everyone. Working with Visa helps us bring secure, convenient solutions to merchants and customers, and move online payments forward in the region.”

– Mosam Gadia, SVP, noon payments

“We are excited to partner with noon payments to introduce this cutting-edge authentication solution to the Middle East. By leveraging biometrics as the primary authentication method on supported devices, we are creating a more intuitive and trustworthy payment experience that not only increases security but also drives higher conversion rates for merchants. The partnership will initially focus on integrating Visa Payment Passkey across the noon payments network, with plans for broader adoption across the region.”

– Godfrey Sullivan, Senior Vice President Products and Solutions, Visa Central Europe Middle East and Africa