Visa Expands Google Wallet Services to Jordan for Contactless Payments

Visa has officially introduced Google Wallet services in Jordan, allowing cardholders from Arab Bank, InvestBank, and Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation (Al Rajhi Bank Jordan) to add their Visa cards to the digital wallet starting March 12th, 2025. This move looks to expand contactless payment options in the country, enabling Android and Wear OS users to make more secure transactions wherever Google Pay is accepted.

The introduction of Google Wallet in Jordan is part of Visa’s broader efforts to enhance digital payment accessibility across the Middle East. The service employs tokenization technology, which replaces a card’s 16-digit number with a unique token during transactions. This extra layer of security protects user data by ensuring that actual card details are never shared during payments.

"We are excited to bring the enhanced security and simplicity of Tap-to-Add Card to Jordan," said Mario Makary, Vice President and Cluster Manager for Levant at Visa. “The solution provides cardholders with greater peace of mind when adding a card to a digital wallet, knowing their information is protected by advanced security measures. We believe that Tap-to-Add Card will be instrumental in driving further adoption of digital wallets in Jordan by addressing key security concerns and simplifying the user experience.”

According to DataReportal's ‘Digital 2025: Jordan’ report, mobile phone penetration in Jordan has reached 82.3% as of early 2025, making the introduction of Google Wallet a timely addition to the country’s evolving payment landscape. The global contactless payment market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.5% from 2024 to 2029, according to a report by Astute Analytica.

The launch aligns with broader trends in the MENA region, where digital payments are experiencing rapid growth. According to Visa’s MENA Retailscape 2020 report, the region has seen a surge in e-commerce and tourism-driven retail transactions, reflecting increasing consumer demand for seamless, secure payment solutions.

This initiative is part of Visa’s global expansion of digital wallet services, following similar launches in other key markets. Visa has been actively partnering with financial institutions and mobile payment providers to improve contactless transaction accessibility for its cardholders worldwide.