Dubai passes its 2026 cashless target, with 90.1% of payments digital
Dubai Finance says 90.1% of transactions in the emirate are now cashless, just above the 90% goal set for the end of 2026.
DubaiDubai has reached the main goal of its Cashless Strategy ahead of schedule, Dubai Finance said on Friday. Its cashless transactions index stands at 90.1%, against a target of 90% for 2026, and the department puts the economic contribution of the programme at more than Dh8 billion.
The strategy was launched in October 2024 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, with a two-year timeframe. Its final report was presented to the Dubai Strategic Affairs Council.
Other figures in the report: government services are fully digitally enabled, 99.66% of government collections in the first half of 2026 were cashless, and Dubai Finance signed more than 70 partnerships with public bodies and businesses. The data came from the Central Bank of the UAE, payment companies and government entities.
Dubai Finance said the next phase will focus on keeping these results and adding more digital payment options.
