The mada Pay is a mobile wallet app for Android phones that allows you to make secure, contactless payments, similar to Apple Pay or Google Pay. You can add your Alaan Visa or Mastercard to mada Pay and use it instantly wherever mada Pay is accepted.
The mada Card, on the other hand, is Saudi Arabia’s national payment network for debit cards issued by local banks. It connects mada debit cards to merchants and ATMs across the country. Many stores in KSA have separate POS machines: one for mada Cards and another for Visa/Mastercard.
✅ Key differences at a glance
| mada Pay | mada Card |
What it is | A mobile wallet app for Android phones | A national payment network for bank-issued debit cards in Saudi Arabia |
How it works | Add a Visa or Mastercard (like your Alaan card) to the mada Pay app and pay with your phone | Use a physical mada debit card linked to your Saudi bank account to pay directly via mada POS terminals |
Supported cards | Works with supported Visa or Mastercard cards | Only works with mada debit cards issued by Saudi banks |
Where it’s accepted | Anywhere mada Pay is accepted (mainly in KSA) | Widely accepted at nearly all merchants and ATMs across Saudi Arabia |
Main advantage | Digital convenience — tap to pay with your phone instead of carrying a physical card | A domestic card network that processes local payments |
If you’re an Alaan cardholder in KSA, you can add your card to mada Pay (Android only) and enjoy contactless payments immediately!