If you use a Visa or Mastercard in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), your next shopping might not need a single click. This is because the two payment giants are introducing a futuristic concept known as AI-powered agentic commerce, where AI will act as your personal shopper for searching, comparing, and paying for purchases on your behalf. However, the new system is powered by Visa Intelligent Commerce and Mastercard AgentPay. Moreover, it is created to make buying online as effortless as giving a command.
AI-Powered Agentic Commerce: From Search to Self-Checkout
Imagine telling your AI assistant, “Book me a flight to Bali and find a matching swimsuit”. It scans websites, compares prices, selects the best options, and pays automatically – all within the spending limits that you set. That is what Visa’s Intelligent Commerce and Mastercard’s AgentPay promise.
Mastercard’s AgentPay, developed with Microsoft, connects directly to Mastercard’s secure payment network. However, it allows the AI system to plan, source, and pay seamlessly. Similarly, the intelligence commerce of Visa is created in collaboration with OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic, and Stripe. Hence, it transforms the generative AI into a trusted shopping agent, which is capable of completing transactions as safely as a human.
UAE: A Perfect Market for AI Shopping
According to data from Statista and Magnitt, the UAE ranks among the most connected economies in the world due to more than 99% smartphone penetration and 70% of consumers using digital wallets or mobile banking apps. Hence, this makes the country an ideal destination for testing AI-driven payments.
Banks and e-commerce platforms in Dubai and Abu Dhabi could soon integrate these systems into their mobile apps. Hence, it will allow shoppers to make voice-activated or automated purchases.
Convenience is already a lifestyle for residents in the nation. Now, AI will act, make sure the purchase follows your rules, preferences, and budgets with AI-Powered Agentic Commerce
What Consumers Think
According to Visa’s global survey, 71 per cent of customers are open to using generative AI for shopping assistance. On the other hand, 58 per cent already prefer AI tools over old search engines.
In contrast, the level of confidence is a little lower, as satisfaction fell from 41% to 37% last year. Hence, it reflects growing alert around trust and security. Therefore, Visa and Mastercard are focusing on advanced security measures to make AI shopping as safe as possible.
Security for the AI Age
Both companies are introducing the next generation of the safeguard. However, the following is the list of those protections:
- Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol verifies every AI agent with digital credentials and spending limits.
- Mastercard’s tokenised payment system replaces real card numbers with encrypted tokens for data protection.
- CloudFlare’s Web Bot Auth, developed in collaboration with both firms, uses cryptographic signatures to verify AI shoppers before they can make payments.
These innovations means your AI can only spend where and how you approve. Therefore, they prevents misuse or unauthorized purchases. Moreover, they are turning trust into code as Mastercard put in.
Everyday Impact for UAE Residents
AI Shopping could soon transform daily life for shoppers in Dubai, Sharjah, or Abu Dhabi. Hence, your AI assistant could perform the following tasks:
- Compare grocery prices across Carrefour, Noon, and Talabat Mart
- Automatically pay DEWA, Du, or Etisalat bills
- Reorder groceries or household essentials before they run out
- Book weekend getaways under Dh1,500, including hotels and transport
Remember, these transactions would all occur within your preset budget and under security protocols. In short, they will make your life easier than ever before.
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