Dubai-built fintech attracts more than 170 account registrations organically, with early customers completing over 100 card transactions before a formal public launch
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — 20 July 2026 — Sinder, a Dubai-based travel fintech, today announced the staged UAE beta of its AED account and Mastercard Platinum Debit travel card for eligible UAE residents.
The Sinder Founder Card is designed for people who spend internationally from the UAE. Foreign-currency transactions settle at the Mastercard Exchange Rate, with 0% Sinder FX markup within an AED 40,000 monthly worldwide allowance. The Founder plan has no annual fee, monthly subscription or minimum balance, and its pricing is grandfathered for life for eligible early customers.
Through the Sinder mobile app, customers can complete digital onboarding using UAE PASS, open an AED account with a local IBAN, receive a virtual or physical card, fund their account, manage spending and access travel tools. These include Sinder’s “Where Can I Go?” destination finder, which helps residents explore destinations based on visa requirements, flight time, cost and trip suitability.
The beta follows a controlled production pilot that generated demand without paid acquisition or a formal public launch. As of 20 July 2026, 173 accounts had been created, 62 customers had become active and 33 had funded their accounts. Eleven early transacting customers completed 106 card payments totalling more than AED 8,400, while available customer balances exceeded AED 48,000.
“The UAE has no shortage of payment cards, but the true cost of spending abroad is often obscured by exchange rates, additional fees and complex eligibility conditions. We built Sinder so customers can spend internationally from one AED balance with pricing they can understand and verify. The strongest early signal is not account creation alone; it is that customers are already funding their accounts and using the card repeatedly before we have formally launched.”
— Chris Hughes, Founder and CEO of Sinder
The Sinder account and card are issued through Ruya Community Islamic Bank, with Network International supporting the underlying card-processing infrastructure and Mastercard providing the international card network. Sinder provides the customer app, travel tools and pricing experience.
Sinder was founded in Dubai by Chris Hughes and Artem Kuchumov. The founding team brings product, engineering, payments and operating experience from companies including Revolut and Tamara.
The beta is expanding in stages as Sinder increases onboarding capacity, accelerates card fulfilment and prepares for a broader rollout. Eligible UAE residents can learn more and access the iOS and Android applications through the Sinder Founder Card page:
Sinder Founder Card — apply for UAE beta access
About Sinder
Sinder is a UAE-based travel fintech building a travel-focused financial account for residents. Its product combines an AED account with a local IBAN, a Ruya-issued Mastercard Platinum Debit card, transparent international-spending pricing, spend-management features and practical travel tools. Sinder is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
