Established in 2006, The Card & Payments Awards offer organisations – credit, debit, prepaid and charge card issuers, their co-branded affinity or retail card partners, merchant acquirers, payment processors, other payments companies and retailers – the unique opportunity to showcase their latest card and payments related initiatives and programmes to the industry. The awards will recognise, highlight and celebrate the contribution and success of those entries which demonstrate strong product development, best practice, innovation and customer service excellence.

The Card & Payments Awards are open across the different categories to credit, debit, prepaid and charge card issuers, co-brands, merchant acquirers, payment processors, retailers and other payments companies worldwide who are offering programmes or initiatives within or from the Middle East market. There are a range of categories covering key disciplines and offering organisations the opportunity to showcase all of their achievements.

Entries must be in the name of the organisation that has the direct interface with the end ‘payer’ or the merchant offering the service. Entries may be prepared by suppliers and other members of the value chain but the Award nomination needs to be in the name of the end consumer or B2B brand and needs to be authorised by that brand.

Please note: that the judges have the right to move your entry into a different category if they feel it is better suited.

The Card and Payments Awards is held annually on the first Thursday in February at the iconic JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane, Mayfair. 

In 2025, the prestigious ceremony will be held not only in its usual UK location but also for the first time ever in Dubai on April 17 at the Ritz-Carlton, DIFC.

The timings are as follows (but subject to slight change):

• 18.00 VIP Reception
• 19.30 Guests seated for dinner
• 20.30 Awards Ceremony
• 23.00 After Show Party

The Awards is a black-tie event.

The winner of each category will receive:

• A finalist seal to share on social media - for use for 1 year only from the awards date
• Social media tile for unlimited usage - for use for 1 year only from the awards date
• Digital email seal for unlimited usage - for use for 1 year only from the awards date
• A digital certificate - upon request
• A physical Winner's trophy presented on the evening at the Awards
• A magnum bottle of champagne presented on the evening of the Awards, by our Prime Sponsor, TSYS
• Inclusion in the Winner's list on the website
• Listed in the digital winners' magazine shared via mailing and on the website
• Dedicated posts on social media (Instagram & Linkedin)

All winners & finalists are at liberty to undertake their own post-win PR and marketing activity to leverage the most from the win.