The UAE is a market where debit cards linked to salary accounts are widely used for everyday payments, and with a large population of European residents and visitors, there is also demand for payments with debit cards issued in Europe. Maestro was Mastercard's flagship debit brand for these European-issued cards, but since 2023 Mastercard has stopped new issuance in Europe and is replacing it with Debit Mastercard, so its user base is gradually shrinking. Accordingly, in the UAE it is reasonable to approach Maestro conservatively, as a supplementary method for customers who already hold the card.

Hotel, travel, and retail businesses with a high share of payments from long-term European residents or travelers may still find real value in continuing to accept existing Maestro cards, but for a new integration it is safer to first confirm whether the successor brand, Debit Mastercard, is supported alongside it. Compare the alternative methods in the table below to set your priorities.

When a consumer attempts a payment with a Maestro debit card, authorization based on the account balance happens instantly over the Mastercard network, and the transaction amount is generated in AED. Hecto Financial collects the funds in the local currency, converts them, and settles them to the Korean merchant in whichever contracted currency — USD, KRW, or JPY — was agreed. However, Maestro's support for online (card-not-present) payments can be limited depending on the issuer, so this needs to be confirmed before integration.

Korean corporations can consider accepting Maestro through Hecto Financial. However, given the brand's declining trend, it is recommended to check, before signing a contract, both the realistic scale of expected transaction volume and whether the successor brand (Debit Mastercard) is supported in parallel.

• Country of business registration

  Confirm contract eligibility for businesses registered in Korea

• Sales channel

  The integration method differs depending on whether sales are online-only or also include offline stores in the United Arab Emirates

• Product category

  Advance confirmation is needed as to whether your category falls under restricted industries per Maestro's merchant policy

• Local regulatory compliance

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

Maestro transaction amounts are generated in AED, which Hecto Financial collects in the local currency and, after currency conversion, settles to the Korean merchant in a single currency chosen at contract signing among USD, KRW, and JPY. The settlement cycle and fee rate are determined by the contract terms. Given the nature of debit cards, refunds are returned to the original account, so the processing timeline, which follows Mastercard network rules and Hecto Financial's operating policy, should be confirmed before signing the contract.

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