Gold enters the everyday: etisalat money and OGold forge partnership to democratise precious metals ownership

A strategic collaboration brings the timeless appeal of gold and silver savings into the digital wallet, starting from just one dirham

The convergence of digital finance and precious metals ownership has arrived in the UAE. etisalat money, the nation’s first digitally regulated payment service licensed by the Central Bank, has partnered with OGold, a Shariah-compliant precious metals platform, to weave gold and silver into the fabric of everyday financial management.

Announced at the Dubai FinTech Summit 2026, the partnership reflects a deeper shift in how people approach wealth. Rather than treating precious metals as a separate, ceremonial asset class, the collaboration embeds them into a digital ecosystem where customers manage their entire financial picture. Starting from just AED 1, users can buy, hold or sell gold and silver through the etisalat money application at any hour, with complete transparency: all holdings are backed by physical metals stored in insured vaults, with insurance registered under each customer’s name.

The architectural elegance lies in its simplicity. etisalat money customers gain access to a Shariah-compliant earnings feature that allows eligible account holders to generate variable annual returns on their precious metals holdings. When the time comes to transition from digital to tangible ownership, redemption options through recognised brands such as SAM, Emirates Gold, PAMP and Auriz provide a seamless bridge between the intangible and the physical. This flexibility, Melike Kara Tanrikulu, Chief Executive Officer of etisalat money, suggests, honours how modern consumers navigate wealth: beginning modestly, building incrementally, and maintaining choice about the form their assets take.

As we reported in our coverage of etisalat money’s recent expansion of cross-border payment capabilities through Visa, the digital payments platform continues to broaden its financial infrastructure. This partnership with OGold extends that vision into the realm of asset preservation and wealth creation, recognising that financial inclusion encompasses not merely transaction capacity but the meaningful opportunity to build and diversify holdings.

Bandar Alothman, Founder of OGold, positions precious metals within the context of technological possibility. Gold and silver have traditionally served as wealth guardians; what shifts now is the access mechanism. The integration of OGold’s infrastructure into an established digital ecosystem removes traditional barriers, making the ownership of tangible assets no longer the province of the wealthy few but a practical reality for the many.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The partnership embodies the UAE’s commitment to financial innovation and digital economic expansion. It aligns with the We the UAE 2031 vision and the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, which targets a doubling of the digital economy’s contribution to national GDP by 2032. By democratising access to precious metals ownership through an accessible digital platform, the initiative strengthens the nation’s position as a hub for progressive financial services and inclusive economic participation.

For Abu Dhabi residents and entrepreneurs, this represents a tangible expansion of wealth-building tools. The ability to begin precious metals accumulation at minimal entry points, combined with the convenience of 24/7 digital access and the optionality to redeem physical assets, creates a new avenue for financial prudence and long-term wealth strategy. The partnership reinforces the emirate’s broader architecture of financial opportunity, positioning Abu Dhabi as a place where innovation serves accessibility and where traditional concepts of value are reimagined through contemporary technology.

Source: WAM