Apple Pay coming to India and Iraq
Across the weekend The Core Apple news noted that Apple was recently declared a trusted digital service provider in Iraq. Today we learn the company may be preparing to introduce Apple Pay support there, as well as in India.
Seeking growth in emerging economies
The Paypers cites a statement from Credit Bank of Iraq confirming that the service will soon be introduced in Iraq and separate reports pointing to an Indian rollout as early as October 2026.
Both launches represent the ever unfolding set of chapters to the company’s ongoing Apple Pay story with the service now available in 90 markets.
Credit Bank of Iraq is a subsidiary majority-owned by the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), which already offers the service in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Bigging up the basis points
Apple Pay in India is expected to be launched at the end of September or in October, though supported cards may be limited to Visa/Mastercard credit cards at first, as the company has some obstacles before offering its service with local banks.
Seeking growth, Apple is asking for 15-20 basis points per transaction made through this service, but banks want ten points.
A basis point is a very small amount, about 0.01%, or a hundredth of one percent – that’s a tiny amount on one transaction and a huge amount on tens of thousands of them.
Tap-and-pay card transactions are gaining ground rapidly in India, accounting for up to a third of total card swipes,
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