Alshaya Group And Mastercard Unveil Game-Changing Aura Credit Card For GCC Shoppers

The retail industry in the region is flourishing with rising consumer spending. From 2021 to 2026, non-food retail sales in the GCC are expected to grow by approximately $39 billion. This growth is driven by favourable demographics, better macroeconomic conditions and a surge in tourism.

Seeing this upward trend, Alshaya Group has teamed up with Mastercard to enhance its loyalty programme, Aura. This collaboration will introduce an Aura co-branded credit card in several markets over the next two years, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. The initiative aims to boost the retail sector's growth across the GCC region and offer more benefits to Aura members.

Through this partnership, consumers will enjoy added value and extra perks when shopping at Alshaya's 70+ brands spanning dining, fashion, beauty and homeware.

Launched in 2022, Alshaya's Aura loyalty programme has quickly gained traction with 8.3 million members across Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. It stands as one of the most downloaded loyalty apps in the Middle East. The programme offers various rewards and benefits tailored to enhance customer satisfaction.

John Hadden, CEO of Alshaya Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: "At Alshaya Group, our customers are at the heart of our strategy, and we are always looking for new ways to enhance benefits and services in our stores and online with a focus on digital, including payments. We are incredibly proud of our game-changing Aura loyalty programme that has recently been globally recognised, and we welcome the opportunity to grow the pivotal role that Aura plays for our customers in partnership with Mastercard."

Mastercard's Executive Vice President for Market Development in EEA, Amnah Ajmal, highlighted their commitment: "Mastercard is enabling the retail sector to leverage innovative payment channels to reinvent the ways people pay for their purchases. We are harnessing the power of partnerships and are proud to partner with Alshaya Group, to bring seamless and secure payment solutions to consumers. We look forward to enhancing the shopping experience across the GCC through the Aura loyalty program."

Alshaya Group boasts a diverse portfolio featuring some of the world's renowned brands. Chipotle recently opened its doors in Kuwait under Alshaya's management and plans to expand into Dubai later this year. This expansion reflects Alshaya's commitment to bringing global brands closer to consumers in the region.

The collaboration between Alshaya Group and Mastercard is set to revolutionise how consumers engage with retail brands across multiple sectors. By integrating innovative payment solutions with a robust loyalty programme like Aura, both companies aim to provide a seamless shopping experience that meets modern consumer expectations.

The partnership signifies a strategic move towards digital transformation within the retail sector. As consumer preferences evolve towards more digital interactions, initiatives like these ensure that businesses remain competitive while offering enhanced value propositions.