UAE to End SMS and Email OTPs for Bank Transactions Starting July 25

Starting July 25, 2025, all banks in the United Arab Emirates will begin phasing out SMS and email-based one-time passwords (OTPs) for financial transactions, according to a report by Emarat Al Youm. The change will impact both local and international money transfers as well as other online transactions.

In place of OTPs, customers will be required to use their mobile banking apps to verify transactions through in-app authentication features.

The shift follows directives issued by the Central Bank of the UAE, aiming to enhance security and minimize fraud risks linked to traditional OTP methods.

An official notice referenced in the report confirmed that the transition will be implemented in phases. Bank users are encouraged to update their mobile banking apps and enable app-based verification to continue making secure transactions.

This move is expected to strengthen the UAE’s digital banking infrastructure by ensuring safer, faster, and more reliable methods of transaction verification.