Visa Named Founding and Official Payment Partner for Coca-Cola Arena

Visa (NYSE:V), the world leader in digital payments, has announced a strategic partnership with Dubai’s new Coca-Cola Arena - the region’s largest multipurpose indoor arena. The multi-year partnership presents Visa cardholders and clients with exclusive pre-sale access to world-class events and unprecedented experiences for them including backstage experiences.

The partnership aligns with Coca-Cola Arena’s cashless ambition and goal of becoming the region’s most technologically advanced arena by leveraging Visa’s digital payments expertise. Recently, Visa hosted Coca-Cola Arena representatives at its regional Innovation Center in Dubai to showcase Visa’s latest payments technology and explore creating solutions to enhance the arena’s customer experience. 

The Coca-Cola Arena has 100 percent contactless acceptance with contactless-enabled POS terminals across all concession stands. There are plans to eventually transition to cash-free concession stands in the future. Visitors will be able to experience Visa’s multi-sensory branding including sound, animation and haptic cues when they pay with Visa at the arena.

Located at City Walk, the Coca-Cola Arena is capable of hosting live shows all year round with a capacity of 17,000, including international touring artists, local events, sporting tournaments, e-gaming, comedy, theatre and musical performances, conferences, and gala dinners.

Guy Ngata, AEG Ogden’s CEO of Coca-Cola Arena, commented: “Coca-Cola Arena is delighted to welcome Visa on board as newest Founding and Official Payment Partner. We look forward to working closely with Visa from showcasing the very best events and providing world-class experiences for our patrons and clients. There is no doubting our partnership with Visa will further support our ambition to be the leading entertainment arena in the MENA region which is at the forefront of cashless technology.”

Marcello Baricordi, Visa’s General Manager for MENA, said: “Visa has long been committed to enabling a cashless future and delivering enhanced experiences for customers everywhere. Our partnership with Coca-Cola Arena underpins this commitment and allows us to be at the forefront in bringing forth the necessary payment infrastructure and innovative technologies to power secure and frictionless transactions for our cardholders. We are looking forward to developing exciting new solutions for visitors to the new Coca-Cola Arena and promoting the UAE as a top host destination for the world’s prestigious events.”