Aiming to bridge financial gaps and empower underbanked communities, Al Fardan Exchange has partnered with ABHI Middle East Limited to introduce a new Salary Advance service for Wages Protection System (WPS) customers.
Al Fardan Exchange, one of the UAE’s trusted financial service providers, has partnered with ABHI Middle East Limited, a fast-growing regional fintech backed by Hub71, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), and Commercial Bank International, for a new Salary Advance service for Wages Protection System (WPS) customers.
The Wages Protection System (WPS) is an electronic salary transfer system established by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) to ensure workers in the private sector are paid their wages accurately and on time.
The Salary Advance initiative represents a major stride toward advancing financial inclusion across the UAE, providing unbanked and underbanked workers with flexible, responsible access to their earned income. Through the new service, customers can access up to 50% of their salary before payday, helping them manage urgent financial needs and remit funds to their families without delay.
Accessible via the AlfaPay app and Al Fardan Exchange’s nationwide network of more than 90 branches, the Salary Advance service combines the company’s deep market reach with ABHI’s cutting-edge fintech capabilities. The collaboration brings a seamless digital and in-person experience, ensuring workers have simple, secure access to liquidity whenever they need it.
This new service can be a game-changer for a large share of UAE employees. A recent survey found that 53% of UAE residents struggle to meet monthly expenses, suggesting many households are under cash-flow pressure. Living costs in the UAE have been rising rapidly, so over 50% of local residents have reported spending more than they earn, and about 50% could only cover two weeks or less of expenses without a steady income.
The launch comes amid strong economic momentum in the UAE. With the International Monetary Fund projecting 4.0% GDP growth and inflation expected to remain around 2.1% in 2025, the country’s stable financial environment provides fertile ground for innovative products that enhance access to credit and empower everyday earners.
Together, Al Fardan Exchange and ABHI are setting a new benchmark for inclusive, technology-driven financial services in the UAE, one that enables greater financial flexibility, resilience, and trust for millions of workers.
