Dubai’s push to move payments away from cash has added more than Dh8 billion ($2.18 billion) to the emirate’s economy, meeting its main financial goal before the end of its two-year timeframe. The cashless transactions index has also climbed to 90.1 per cent, above the 90 per cent target set for 2026.
The Dubai Media Office released the results in a statement on Friday, citing figures from Dubai Finance, the emirate’s government finance department. The strategy was given a two-year timeframe, so the targets were reached ahead of schedule. The Dubai Cashless Strategy was launched in October 2024 with the Dh8 billion economic contribution as its headline target. Digital Dubai led the programme, which aims to make secure digital payments available across both government and the private sector.
Other measures have also passed their goals. The government digital enablement index reached 100, which officials say shows digital payment methods are now available across institutions and businesses. The strategy’s three pillars scored 97 per cent for governance, 95 per cent for society and 93 per cent for innovation. A community happiness index reached 90.1 per cent, again ahead of a 90 per cent target. The report added that operations were kept running without interruption so the results could be sustained.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, credited the result to a model built on clear direction, close work between government and the private sector, and technology. Hamad Al Mansoori, director general of Digital Dubai, said the move to a cashless society was “not a technological objective in itself” and described it as part of a wider connected digital city. Helal Almarri, director general of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said efficient transactions matter to businesses, residents and visitors, and that more payment options improve the experience for tourists.
The strategy forms part of the Dubai Economic Agenda, known as D33, and supports the emirate’s goal of ranking among the world’s leading digital cities. With its original targets now met, attention turns to how Dubai builds on the result. In April 2026, The National reported on the role of tokenisation and cashless payments in Dubai’s property sector. Banks, fintech firms and merchants will be looking for the next set of targets once the current programme reaches the end of its two-year term.
