Sharjah, 13th April 2021: The Sharjah Finance Department (SFD) has started the procedures for linking and integrating the smart receipt system “Tahseel” with the global digital payment wallets Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, in cooperation with Mashreq Bank, for e-commerce via the internet and apps. The move is considered the first of its kind in the United Arab Emirates, which aims to facilitate payment processes in completing government transactions.

Customers of the smart receipt system "Tahseel", currently about two million people, can now pay through digital wallets Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay, which provide customers with the ease of completing payments in a safe and seamless way, whilst maintaining privacy and security levels.

The first step of its kind in the UAE

His Excellency Waleed Al Sayegh, Director General of Sharjah Finance Department said, “Connecting the smart receipt system, Tahseel, with global electronic payment wallets is the first step of its kind in the UAE, and it comes as a continuation of the Department’s quality approach, and within the framework of our development strategy. The move aims to benefit from modern technologies in easing and speeding up procedures, whilst falling in line with precautionary measures taken by the UAE to tackle the coronavirus.”

Accelerate digital transformation

Huda Al Yasi, Director of Financial System Department at SFD, affirmed the keenness of the Department to provide the latest means of payment through smart channels for customers of the collection system, which raises the rates of customer satisfaction and facilitates them, in line with the directions of the Sharjah Government to reduce the burden on auditors from local government departments, companies, and individuals. The Department is one of the first government departments in the country to make this connection, which comes within the framework of its constant keenness to accelerate the pace of digital transformation and enhance the leadership of the emirate in building a sustainable knowledge economy.

Vibhor Mundhada- SVP, Business Manager- Acquiring & Strategic Alliances at Mashreq Bank, said, “ Mashreq is proud of its long standing partnership with Sharjah Finance Department. By facilitating new payment methods such as ApplePay, SamsungPay and GooglePay, Mashreq ensures that Sharjah Finance Department has a wide range of choices available to cater to the rapidly evolving demands of customers. Mashreq continues to strive towards providing innovative solutions to facilitate convenience, security and transparency in managing and conducting transactions across multiple payment channels.”

 "Tahseel" system

The “Tahseel” system is a comprehensive platform for processing digital financial payments in real time. It provides new and innovative means to pay transaction fees and services to the Government of Sharjah and meet the special needs of the SFD and its government partners, which go beyond what other platforms offer in the financial sector. The system provides several services for electronic payment of transactions through special payment channels, including: the electronic payment gateway, the smart application on smart devices, Rafid transactions through all Sharjah Islamic Bank channels, and Rafid transactions via the electronic chat application.

The vision of the Sharjah Finance Department is to seek financial leadership on a global level, by developing innovative technologies to achieve financial stability and sustainability. The vision relies on three main strategic directions: financial stability and sustainability, innovative financial services, and a stimulating internal environment.

The SFD works to achieve a number of strategic objectives that lie in managing, developing and providing cash liquidity, developing a performance budget system, implementing integrated and effective financial policies, building a global model in public finance, enabling smart transformation, and implementing seven-star services. The department strives to empower national human resources; developing a culture of excellence, innovation, and managing institutional performance.