Telecommunications service provider Etisalat, banking group Emirates NBD, digital security services provider Gemalto and Visa have joined forces to launch mobile contactless technology in the UAE.

As a result of the partnership, Emirates NBD Visa cardholders will be able to buy products and services via their Etisalat contactless mobile phones and make payments by waving the NFC-enabled phone in front of the payment terminal. Purchases will be charged directly to the customer’s Emirates NBD Visa credit card account. Etisalat has also announced plans to bring NFC enabled mobile phones from handset manufacturers like Samsung to the UAE market.

The company has showcased the NFC solution at Gitex Technology Week 2009. At this event, Etisalat and Gemalto have also exhibited the use of mobile contactless technology as a retail marketing tool via smart posters and coupons.

In other news, Etisalat received approval from the Central Bank and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to provide mobile money transfer services in the region.