The UAE is a distinctive market where most of the resident population is made up of foreign nationals, and Dubai draws more than 10 million international visitors a year, giving cards issued abroad a large share of payments. Discover is a card network operated by US-based Discover Financial Services, mutually accepted in many countries through partner networks such as Diners Club International, UnionPay, and BC Card. In the UAE, it's meaningful less as a card issued locally and more as a complementary method for residents and visitors using cards issued in the US and elsewhere abroad.

Travel, hospitality, and global commerce businesses with a high share of American or East Asian customers, or a high proportion of international visitors, may consider accepting Discover-network cards alongside Visa and Mastercard. If your sales are centered on local consumers, it's more efficient to prioritize the other methods in the table below.

When a customer enters a Discover (or affiliated brand such as Diners Club) card number at checkout, or pays with a saved card, approval runs through the Discover Global Network and the transaction amount arises in AED. Hecto Financial receives this amount in the local currency, converts it, and settles it to the Korean merchant in whichever currency — USD, KRW, or JPY — was chosen under the contract. Given the card-not-present nature of the payment, authentication requirements such as 3-D Secure should be confirmed via the technical documentation before integration.

Through Hecto Financial integration, Korean businesses can consider accepting Discover-network cards without contracting directly with a local UAE acquirer. Actual coverage, fees, and settlement terms vary by industry and transaction volume, so confirmation with the sales team is needed before contracting.

• Business registration country

  Confirm whether contracting is possible on the basis of a Korea-registered business

• Sales channel

  The integration approach differs depending on whether you sell online only or also operate offline stores in the United Arab Emirates

• Product categories handled

  Advance confirmation is needed as to whether your products fall under restricted categories per Discover's merchant policy

• Compliance with local regulations

  Confirmation is needed that you comply with the United Arab Emirates' payment and foreign exchange regulations (see official sources below)

UAE transaction amounts made with Discover cards are tallied in AED, and Hecto Financial receives this in the local currency, converts it, and settles it to the Korean merchant in whichever currency — USD, KRW, or JPY — was chosen under the contract. The cycle and fee rate follow contract terms. Refunds and chargebacks apply both the Discover network's rules and Hecto Financial's operating policy, so please confirm the processing turnaround in advance.

• Central Bank of the UAEOfficial information on the United Arab Emirates' payment systems and related regulations. If actual regulations differ from this page, the official source takes precedence.