Samsung has gradually been expanding its mobile payments service in new markets across the globe over the past year and it’s continuing with the expansion efforts in the new year as well. Samsung Pay has now landed in the United Arab Emirates. Mashreq Bank customers get early access to the mobile payments service, the financial institution points out that it’s the first bank in the region to offer access to Samsung Pay.

All Mashreq debit and credit cardholders can now use Samsung Pay to make payments at almost any merchant where they can already pay by card since Samsung Pay has support for both Near Field Communication and Magnetic Secure Transmission technologies which make it work with conventional card readers.

For a limited time, new customers who apply for a Mashreq Solitaire, Smart Saver Global or Platinum Elite credit card will receive a new Galaxy S7 edge smartphone for free which will be preloaded with Samsung Pay.

“We thank Mashreq for its endorsement of our solution as the first Bank in the region to have early access to Samsung Pay as we expand the reach of Samsung Pay globally and realize its full potential for the consumer,” said Mohammad Gharaibeh, Head of B2B, IT and Mobile (IM) Division, Samsung Gulf Electronics.

Mashreq Bank customers can now use Samsung Pay on their Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S6 series handsets as well as the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy A5 (2016) and the Galaxy A7 (2016).