Apple Pay launches in 4 new countries, including United Arab Emirates

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Apple in talks to bring Apple Pay to Israel
Apple Pay is continuing to expand to new markets.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple Pay has launched in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates.

Taking the mobile payments service to four additional markets brings the total count to 25 countries since Apple Pay launched in the United States in October 2014.

In Denmark, Apple Pay is available to debit card customers of Nordea and Jyse banks. In Finland and Sweden, it’s available to those who use Nordea and ST1 bank.

In the United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, Apple Pay is supported by Visa cards at Emirates Islamic, Emirates NBD, HSBC, mashreq, RAKBANK (Mastercard) and Standard Chartered Bank.

Apple Pay is starting to pay off

Three years down the line, Apple Pay is gradually gathering momentum — although it’s not been easy. Although it is the leading mobile payments solution, new data revealed by payment systems consultant First Annapolis suggests that only around 27 percent of eligible iPhone owners have ever used Apple Pay. Only 8 percent use it on a weekly basis.

However, Apple is working to increase functionality, including bringing Apple Pay to Wells Fargo ATMs earlier this month. The company also plans to launch Apple Pay Cash this year.

Recently, Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue confirmed that Apple has designs on bringing Apple Pay to India, the world’s biggest market after China by population size.

Are you an Apple Pay user? How do you find the service? Let us know in the comments below.

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