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Apple Pay Launches in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and UAE

Monday October 23, 2017 9:51 pm PDT by Juli Clover
As promised during Apple's third quarter earnings call back in August, Apple Pay today expanded to Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and United Arab Emirates.

Debit and credit cards from participating banks can now be added to the Wallet app in each country and can be used to make purchases wherever NFC-based contactless payments are accepted. Apple Pay also works within apps and on the web in countries where Apple Pay is available.


In Denmark, Jyske Bank (Visa debit cards only) and Nordea are supporting Apple Pay. In Finland and Sweden, Apple Pay can be used with debit and credit cards from Nordea and ST1. Edenred and N26 support will be coming soon to Finland, while Ticket Rikskuponger will support Apple Pay in Sweden in the near future.

In United Arab Emirates, the following banks and cards work with Apple Pay:

- Emirates Islamic (Visa credit, debit, and prepaid cards)
- Emirates NBD
- HSBC (Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards)
- mashreq
- RAKBANK (Mastercard credit, debit, and prepaid cards)
- Standard Chartered Bank

Dozens of locations in each country offer support for Apple Pay payments, with an official list available on Apple's Apple Pay website: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and UAE.

Following the launch of Apple Pay in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and UAE, Apple Pay is available in 20 markets. Apple Pay may also soon launch in the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, and Germany, based on rumors or hints of the feature that have been spotted on Apple's site, but Apple has not yet confirmed Apple Pay is coming to those countries, nor provided details on when.

Apple Pay in stores is available on the iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone SE, and all Apple Watch models. Apple Pay on the web and in apps is available on all of the above listed devices along with the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, and all iPad Pro models.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
[ 118 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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CB1234
9 months ago
I am in Dubai, UAE and can confirm I added my cards to Apple Pay and used it this morning to buy a coffee ( I didn't really need it, simply wanted to try Apple Pay). The look on the cashier's face was priceless !!!
Rating: 14 Votes
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MaximTV
9 months ago
Apple should really create a list of countries where Apple Pay isn't available (e.g. Germany :mad:).
Rating: 8 Votes
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Tinototem
9 months ago
Love it! been waiting for Apple pay in Sweden for a long while.
My visa card and master card are both NFC enabled so i have been able to pay by tapping the card on the card reader. But its nice to know that i can now use my mobile instead and do not have to bring up my wallet.

One of the great benefits we will get with this apple pay release is that a lot more customers will ask for nfc support and that will benefit us all. At the moment it is a bit rare for NFC support.
Rating: 5 Votes
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virginblue4
9 months ago
I accidentally left my wallet at a family members house on Sunday. Since then, I’ve purchased train fares, paid for car parking, purchased lunch and groceries, grabbed a coffee and tonight I will be going swimming. All paid with Apple Pay. I honestly can’t think of anywhere that I use that doesn’t take it. Even the allotment shop at my Granddads allotment accepts Apple Pay!
Rating: 4 Votes
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Json81
9 months ago

From what I've heard, Swish is the dominant mobile payment system in Nordic countries, set up by the countries' major banks. Those systems can be fairly engrained, like WeChat in China is.


Swish is mostly used for transfers between people and things like street markets.
It's generally not accepted in stores and restaurants etc even though some has started to accept it.
Also seen some online stores accept it.
But it has the drawback that it can only be connected to your bank account and the amount you can transfer is limited, I think it's 15.000 SEK now.

When we finally get Apple Pay here it's only supported by the crappiest bank and a gas-station card :(
Rating: 4 Votes
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Lozza013
9 months ago

If i was the CEO of Apple i would remove all Australian banking Apps from the app store until they agree to support Apple Pay, i'm soo over not being able to pay with my phone because of their bureaucratic system.

Because of Westpac's pathetic stance on Apple Pay, I've moved over to ING and am going to close my account with Westpac.
Rating: 4 Votes
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MjWoNeR
9 months ago

Swish requires that terrible BankID app which is very slow compared to Apple Pay. And in new stores you first have to scan a code or type in a phone number instead of just holding the phone onto a terminal. Apple Pay would just be much faster if Sweden wouldn't lack NFC terminals so badly.

Between friends, Apple Pay can be used in iMessages. Also much more convenient than Swish + BankID but I understand that it is very difficult to make people change their habits.

At least in Stockholm, nearly everybody has an iPhone. I rarely see any other phones here. Still, I give Swish the credit of being multi platform. That definitely has advantages.


I will test Apple Pay on my way home but yes, I doubt it will be nowhere as slow or complicated as Swish.
I know well that awkward 5-10 second feeling when paying at a store with swish. Type or scan the number, amount, phone switches to BankID, scans your thumb, phone switches back to Swish, complete. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is if you have a stranger on the other side staring at you, waiting. lol
Rating: 4 Votes
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Otaviano
9 months ago
Apple Pay comes to Sweden and my bank does not support it. :(
Rating: 4 Votes
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tob!
9 months ago

Why not Germany? Apple is able to roll it out in smaller, less-developed countries. So the problem is not with Apple, and the problem is not with less-developed less-wealthier countries. There is something in Germany that is preventing ApplePay.


Yes. It's 100% because of the fact that the banks are scared* of Apple. That's literally the only reason.
NFC Terminals are pretty much everywhere and they are widely used with much less secure 'kontaktlos' giro cards.

In addition they try to push their clunky customer 2 customer payment solution onto people which literally nobody wants to use. Ever.

They just don't get it.

* they would loose some transaction fees to Apple
Rating: 3 Votes
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deanthedev
9 months ago

I don't think it is about which is easier. I think it is about not having to carry a wallet. Although I do carry wallet when I am traveling long distances, I most of the times leave it at home, knowing that all cards I use are in my phone and contactless payment is on every corner here where I live.


There’s not much difference (convenience wise) between tapping your phone or your card. The main benefit is security since your real card number isn’t used. No chance of someone getting your card details.

That said, using my Apple Watch is better than my card or phone. Especially when going to a club or beach where the chances of losing either (or someone trying to steal them) is higher.
Rating: 3 Votes

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