Emirates NBD Launches AI Travel Assistant With Visa
The assistant asks users about their budget, preferred activities, and travel style. It then uses those details to recommend destinations, prepare itineraries, and highlight lesser-known attractions. Additionally, users can discover relevant Visa cardholder benefits, including hotel discounts and car rental offers.
The platform draws on Tripadvisor’s database of more than one billion reviews and eight million listings. Furthermore, it offers enhanced recommendations for the 15 destinations most popular with UAE travellers.
Importantly, the service is free and available in English through the Emirates NBD website and a dedicated Tripadvisor page. Users do not need an Emirates NBD account or bank login to access it.
Banks Expand Into AI-Powered Lifestyle Services
Rohit Garg, Group Head of Retail Products and Chief Digital Officer for Retail Banking and Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, said the initiative reflects the bank’s focus on customer-centred digital services. He added that combining AI with partner insights can make travel planning easier and more relevant to individual needs.
Meanwhile, Salima Gutieva, Visa’s Vice President and Country Manager for the UAE, highlighted the role of personalised digital experiences. She said the collaboration helps Visa cardholders discover destinations, plan journeys, and access travel benefits through a more connected experience.
The launch also reflects a wider shift in banking. Financial institutions increasingly connect payment services with travel, shopping, and other everyday activities. As a result, AI assistants could help banks engage customers beyond conventional banking transactions.
However, the long-term impact will depend on how useful and reliable the recommendations prove in practice. Emirates NBD has not yet published adoption figures for the new assistant. For now, the launch gives UAE travellers another way to research destinations and compare travel options through a conversational interface.
