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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, November 12, 2026 — Mastercard has partnered with LiaPay, a payroll and employee financial services application operated by Liabify, to introduce prepaid salary cards and earned wage access for workers across four Gulf Cooperation Council markets. The collaboration is designed to let employees access wages they have already earned before their scheduled payday while using a Mastercard prepaid card for everyday purchases and payments.
The partnership marks Mastercard’s entry into the payroll and earned wage access segment as LiaPay looks to expand its employee financial services offering across the region. The development was reported on November 11 and featured in regional fintech coverage on November 12.
How the Service Will Work
Employees will receive a Mastercard Platinum prepaid card linked to the LiaPay app. The card is intended to support in-store and online payments as well as cross-border transactions. Through the earned wage access feature, eligible workers can request access to a portion of their accrued salary before the normal payroll date.
The model is designed around wages that employees have already earned rather than a conventional consumer loan. LiaPay’s service is supported by regulated financial institutions and is aligned with local Wage Protection System requirements. Mawarid Finance acts as the programme’s BIN sponsor, while Paymentology provides processing support.
Initial Rollout Across Four Markets
The first rollout is planned for the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, followed by expansion into Saudi Arabia and Oman. The companies say the partnership builds on LiaPay’s existing network and agreements with DEEL and Anvin ERP, which are intended to extend the service to more than 200,000 employees.
The scale of the planned network could help LiaPay reach workers through employer payroll relationships rather than relying only on direct consumer acquisition. The service’s adoption will depend on employer participation, employee eligibility and the terms governing early access to wages.
A Growing Market for Payroll-Linked Finance
Earned wage access has attracted attention as employers and financial technology companies look for alternatives to traditional short-term borrowing. By connecting payroll systems with payment cards and digital wallets, providers aim to give workers more flexibility over when they use income they have already earned.
For Mastercard, the partnership adds a new use case for its prepaid card network. For LiaPay, it provides access to global payment acceptance and cross-border capabilities as the company expands across the Gulf.
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