Several leading banks in the UAE have started informing customers that they will discontinue sending one-time passwords (OTPs) via SMS for online card payments, moving fully to app-based authentication.
According to customer alerts sent on December 31, 2025, banks said that from January 6, 2026, SMS OTPs will no longer be used for online card transactions. Instead, all payment verifications will be carried out through the banks’ smart mobile apps. This change follows a gradual transition that began in July 2025, when UAE banks started phasing out OTPs sent by text message or email in favour of more secure in-app verification for electronic transactions and money transfers.
