Tie up sees launch of Alshaya Group loyalty programme Aura and Mastercard co-branded credit cards

Retail franchise operator, Alshaya Group, has partnered with Mastercard to expand its loyalty programme, Aura.

This will see the launch of an Aura co-branded credit card in multiple markets over the next two years including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.

John Hadden, CEO, Alshaya Group, says: “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 is enabling the retail sector to leverage innovative payment channels to reinvent the ways people pay for their purchases,” says Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA, Mastercard.

“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 programme.”

Alshaya Group’s portfolio includes Chipotle, which recently opened in Kuwait and will serve customers in Dubai later this year.

Introduced in 2022, Aura has 8.3 million members in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, and is one of the most downloaded loyalty apps in the Middle East.