A card hold — or pre-authorization — reserves money on a customer's card without charging it. It is the modern way to take a security deposit in the UAE. Here is exactly how it works, how long it lasts, and why it beats cash.
A card hold is a pre-authorization: a business reserves an amount on a customer's card without actually charging it. The money is set aside from the customer's available credit or balance, so the business can capture it later if needed — but until it does, nothing has been paid. If no charge is made, the hold is released and the amount returns to the customer's available funds. For the plain-language definition, see what a pre-authorization hold is.
A charge moves money out of the customer's account and into yours; reversing it requires a refund transaction, with the bank delays and fees that come with it. A hold only reserves the amount — release it and no money ever moved. On a credit card, a hold touches the customer's available limit, not their cash. For a security deposit, that difference decides everything: refund speed, customer trust, and how much can go wrong in between. The full comparison is in pre-authorization vs charge.
A plain authorization typically lasts around 7 days before it lapses, though some card types support longer windows. That is fine for a weekend car rental and too short for a one-year tenancy. The solution is renewal: re-authorizing the hold before it expires so protection spans the whole agreement. A good deposit platform does this automatically — more in how long a business can hold a deposit.
Akara is built entirely on the card-hold model. Instead of charging deposits and owing refunds, you reserve them — and release or claim with documentation. Customers keep their money, you keep your protection, and nobody handles cash or cheques. See how it works for your industry: vehicle rental, property managers, healthcare, and equipment rental. Or offer deposit-free rentals without losing protection.
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