Several carriers in the Middle East have started accepting Visa and MasterCard cards issued by banks in Russia. In addition, travelers can settle their tickets using the fast payment system (FPS). This development was reported by the newspaper Izvestia, highlighting a shift in how payments can be processed on international routes.
The article explains that the ability to pay with Russian-issued cards has been enabled through the Russian central bank’s SBP network, which ties into arrangements with Air Arabia and Fly Dubai. With Air Arabia, customers can request payment options via a company representative in the Russian Federation, and a processing fee of 6% of the total ticket price applies. Fly Dubai delivers a payment option through an authorized intermediary for an additional charge of 2,000 rubles.
According to Izvestia, Emirates does not currently offer FPS payments. Instead, passengers can use a QR code payment method. To obtain the code, travelers must contact the airline’s Moscow office by email to receive the code details, after which they can book tickets with the support team and pay the code using any mobile banking app from a Russian bank. This approach provides a workable alternative for customers seeking Russia-based payment rails on international routes.
On March 7, Izvestia cited a statement from Jamila Isayeva, the Deputy Speaker of Kyrgyzstan’s Parliament, noting that Kyrgyz banks were actively working to implement transfers through the Russian SBP. This development is part of a broader trend toward expanding cross-border settlement options within the region, facilitated by the SBP infrastructure and related interoperability agreements.
Earlier, transfers via the SBP had already been available to Russian citizens traveling to neighboring states. In particular, customers of Tinkoff Bank have reported the ability to send funds to banks in EAEU countries, illustrating how Russian financial networks are increasingly integrated with adjacent economies. This evolving landscape reflects ongoing efforts to streamline cross-border payments while offering new methods for travelers to complete transactions across different banking ecosystems.